Kenny
09/01/2014, 08:10 PM
So back in June my engine gave up on its steady diet of a quart every month or so, and just binged on half its oil supply in one day. So it pretty much sounded like ball bearings in the engine.
Original post here:
http://vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=25711
After a month of digging around and looking at my options I settled on a re-manufactured 2003 Axiom Engine. I chose this as it was easy to get through a nearby autoparts distributor and it comes with a 3 year 100,000mile warranty.I did try to consider a used Axiom Engine from a wrecker 500 miles away, but it was over $2,300 with getting it to my door, where the reman was $3,000 (with core return). Made sense to spend the extra to get close to "New".
I went to a shop I use that's just a few blocks away, that had enough experience with engine swaps, mostly domestic. They quoted just under $2,000 + fluids for the the whole swap. Quite fair I thought from a few other prices I got that were around the same.Swap went off without any major hitches, but they did have more work than they expected - and this is why I like these guys: is that they stuck to their quote even though I figure it took them longer than anticipated.
I had one guy I got a price from that said he had to lift the body off to get at the engine (probably saw that online video) so his price was higher... That doesn't have to happen. My mechanics however had to pull out the front differential and axles. Not sure if that was truly required by someone familiar enough with VXs... Anyways, a few interesting tid bits I learned/saw:
- with pulling the axle apart they noticed a torn CV boot and said the joint was a bit worn, so I ordered a new axles from Indy4X and it arrived the day after they put the axle together :(, so I replaced it when I got the VX home. Unfortunate timing.
- It made sense to get the thermostat replaced as it was easy to get at when the engine was out.
- They had to disassemble the A/C lines to get access, and forgot to recharge the system - so I'm going back.
- They had to disassemble some power steering components and ruined an O-ring, so it leaked enough that they held onto it for a few hours to fix.
- Fluids that I gave them and they actually used: Oil and filter and power steering fluid.
- From sitting for over two months, the rear brake pads crumbled a bit and started squealing, so I replaced those along with the half shaft. (Then noticed I had a seized pin in the caliper and couldn't get it out :mado:- so a new caliper got into the work)
Funny thing with all the parts swapped off the old engine onto the reman, It was hard to tell it was "new"- the reman was all shiny and it pretty much got covered in old covers, headers, tubing, etc...
Anyways, it runs smooth, no ECM issues or engine codes so far. And since these engines are "old school", I'm having to do a nice break in period. ;) Interesting how they don't really say to do that anymore with new cars...
Some Pics:
Engine Out:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/all_gone_2.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/All_gone_1.jpg
Build-up under existing headers:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/Under_Existing_Head.jpg
Old Engine out (pan was FULL of metal bits ;eeko;):
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/Old_Engine_botton.jpg
Shiny reman Engine:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/REMAN01.jpg
Original post here:
http://vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=25711
After a month of digging around and looking at my options I settled on a re-manufactured 2003 Axiom Engine. I chose this as it was easy to get through a nearby autoparts distributor and it comes with a 3 year 100,000mile warranty.I did try to consider a used Axiom Engine from a wrecker 500 miles away, but it was over $2,300 with getting it to my door, where the reman was $3,000 (with core return). Made sense to spend the extra to get close to "New".
I went to a shop I use that's just a few blocks away, that had enough experience with engine swaps, mostly domestic. They quoted just under $2,000 + fluids for the the whole swap. Quite fair I thought from a few other prices I got that were around the same.Swap went off without any major hitches, but they did have more work than they expected - and this is why I like these guys: is that they stuck to their quote even though I figure it took them longer than anticipated.
I had one guy I got a price from that said he had to lift the body off to get at the engine (probably saw that online video) so his price was higher... That doesn't have to happen. My mechanics however had to pull out the front differential and axles. Not sure if that was truly required by someone familiar enough with VXs... Anyways, a few interesting tid bits I learned/saw:
- with pulling the axle apart they noticed a torn CV boot and said the joint was a bit worn, so I ordered a new axles from Indy4X and it arrived the day after they put the axle together :(, so I replaced it when I got the VX home. Unfortunate timing.
- It made sense to get the thermostat replaced as it was easy to get at when the engine was out.
- They had to disassemble the A/C lines to get access, and forgot to recharge the system - so I'm going back.
- They had to disassemble some power steering components and ruined an O-ring, so it leaked enough that they held onto it for a few hours to fix.
- Fluids that I gave them and they actually used: Oil and filter and power steering fluid.
- From sitting for over two months, the rear brake pads crumbled a bit and started squealing, so I replaced those along with the half shaft. (Then noticed I had a seized pin in the caliper and couldn't get it out :mado:- so a new caliper got into the work)
Funny thing with all the parts swapped off the old engine onto the reman, It was hard to tell it was "new"- the reman was all shiny and it pretty much got covered in old covers, headers, tubing, etc...
Anyways, it runs smooth, no ECM issues or engine codes so far. And since these engines are "old school", I'm having to do a nice break in period. ;) Interesting how they don't really say to do that anymore with new cars...
Some Pics:
Engine Out:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/all_gone_2.jpg
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/All_gone_1.jpg
Build-up under existing headers:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/Under_Existing_Head.jpg
Old Engine out (pan was FULL of metal bits ;eeko;):
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/Old_Engine_botton.jpg
Shiny reman Engine:
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/3328/REMAN01.jpg