Engine replacements: Opportunity or headache?

Motor, Aug 2003 by Seyfert, Karl

PERs handle thousands of engines a year, which means it's likely they've remanufactured an engine just like your customer's more than once. They'll be able to do the job more efficiently, which lowers the cost. It also means they'll be aware of any original equipment (OE) design defects or other problems that must be addressed while the engine is being remanufactured. One of the advantages of taking an engine apart several years after it was built is that you know what might have made it fail or wear out in the first place. The appropriate modifications or improvements then can be incorporated into the remanuiactured engine.

PERs are set up for distribution on a national scale. Your engine should arrive promptly in a special shipping container, which also makes returning the core engine to the supplier that much easier. Special instructions or warnings, where necessary, are included.

OEM Reman Engine. Several original equipment engine manufacturers also are in the engine remanufacturing game. This allows you to buy a fully remanufactured engine directly from the company that built the original engine.

The customer is assured of receiving all-new, OE parts, including pistons, rings, main bearings, rod bearings, cam bearings, timing chain and gears, etc., as well as all gaskets and seals required for installation.

"Buying a reman or new engine from the OEM gives you the benefit of the company's ongoing engine research and development capabilities," says Cliff Cohen, Portfolio Manager for GM Goodwrench Powertrain Products. Any design changes or enhancements that have occurred since the original engine was manufactured are incorporated into the remanufactured engine.

Some customers prefer to keep their vehicles as "original'' as possible. Buying a reman engine from the OE vehicle manufacturer allows you to satisfy their wishes. It also allows you to handle the transaction locally, through the carmaker's franchise dealer parts department or an authorized parts jobber.

OEM New Engine. In some cases, a brand-new engine may also be available from the OEM. This may be a long-block, including all of the major engine components (heads, block, etc.), or it may be a so-called crate engine, many of which offer a performance upgrade over the standard engine. If your customer happens to own a performance vehicle or one that could benefit from a performance increase, an engine failure may provide the opportunity to consider a crate engine replacement.

Once again, buying a new or crate engine from the OE manufacturer allows you to make the purchase locally. The dealer will usually provide delivery of the new engine, and arrange for piclorp of the core engine, if a core exchange is required. Taking these steps out of your hands may simplify the process somewhat.

Local Wrecking Yard Engine. A used engine is often considered the budget choice, as it will usually cost less than a new or remanufactured engine. But what's the customer getting for that budget price? What warranty, if any, does the wrecking yard offer? Will they reimburse your shop for your expenses if the replacement engine fails and another engine replacement becomes necessary? Can they verify the actual mileage of the donor vehicle? Is a service history of the donor vehicle available? The answer to all of these questions is, Probably not.