main bearing gone...... now what?

[LUMPY 8]

hey a few weeks back i picked up a black vs wagon dirt cheap. The only problem is the main bearing has gone.

Now my questions are...

1. would it be cheaper 2 replace the main bearing or replace the motor

2. and whats easier?

[westbad]

either way the engine needs to come out, if its just the big end shells thats gone there pretty easy to replace, so long as its not done any further damage

[hako]

I'd figure that a motor with stuffed mains is probably a basket case. It's not common for the main bearings to fail, and if they do it will be either from high mileage or lack of oil/coolant both which would mean the rest of the motor is 'tired'. Easiest in my opinion is dead motor out and fresh one in. Decent donks go for anything from $400 upwards and the swap is easy.
Good Luck.

[Reaper]

^^^^

What he says. Unless there is something particularly unique or special about the motor then I'd get another one.

Reaper

[rob_rob]

i did a big end in my vr when i got it.
my options were either buy a second hand motor and hope it lasts or buy a brand new recon job
i oped for a full recon motor sure it was 2k but did the swap myself new h/d clutch as well easy day job,
replaced whole cooling system aswell so its basicly all new and should last the next 15yrs :P
btw the v6 are a ****ing small engine when its out of the car lol

[deanos70]

Hi

I need to pull the dead engine out of my vr auto v6 wagon in the next week or so and put a 2nd hand engine back in

is there any tips or tricks getting it out

is it easy to take out with the auto transmission and engine in 1 piece if i need to get the tranny out as well , looks like transmission could do with a few gaskets replaced as well

cheers guys

sorry posted this in the wrong place , meant to start a new thread, but now i cant find how to delete my post here

[westbad]

its easier to take them out together than it is to just take the motor out by its self.

[deanos70]

its easier to take them out together than it is to just take the motor out by its self.

Hi Westbad

thanks for the reply , think i will do it that way, ive got an engine crane and engine leveler so it should be ok then
can have a good look at the transmission at the same time and fix up a few small leaks too

thanks again

[LUMPY 8]

only special things about the motor thats in it now is the high flow injectors.... the motor has been rebuilt not that long ago but the old owner ran it dry then it siezed up. When it cooled down he over filled it with oil and drove it from adelaide back 2 victor and thats when the main bearing went.... i may have sourced a motor 4 $200 bux from a mates shop wich has came out of a car that was looked after b4 it went in2 a tree backwards

[westbad]

If it has been ran dry it will of worn the big end bearing shells nearest the back of the block no doubt, They are designed to wear out before you wear anything else, when they wear thats when you get the knocking noise as the con rod becomes loose at the crank end.
They are pretty easy to change, all you have to do is take the sump off and undo the end caps slide the con rod up a little and the shells will fall out, put your new ones in (soak in oil 1st) do them all back up and your done ;-)
If it was me i would have a go at fixing it 1st, but if you got a new motor for $200 you may aswell fit that.
Good luck

[slepar]

depending how mechanicly minded u are, personaly id rebuild the whole motor as second hand motors might be ok for a short time but u never know were theyve been or what theyve been through but atleast if u rebuild yours you know its like new and its guna last a while but if your not very mechanicaly minded it would be much quicker and easier to change the motor

[LUMPY 8]

ive pulled a buick apart and put it back 2gether.... ecotecs are ruffly the same yeah? but ive heard this motor run and there is very little tapping noises and it has a full service history... im also not planning of keeping the wagon at this stage so if any1 wants a back vs wagon en quire with in lol

[slepar]

if u get the motor for 200 rebuild it man there not hard at all its basicly just fremembering how it goes back together is the main thing, also it may up the value of the car to

[LUMPY 8]

pulled apart as much of the engine as possible and nothing is bent or broken so its a good sign. So what im gonna do is replace the main bearing and entre it in a burnout comp and blow it up then put the other motor/trans/diff and what ever breaks in ;P..... If i play my cards right i can have the wagon on the road 2moro