Cost to rebuild a 2.3

[stielow775]

I am thinking about buying a low mileage 1984 svo for 1500 dollars all original, the owner said it has 98000 miles, but cylinder number 4 has low compression. He said that he just recently put a new turbo time chain etc into it. My question is what does it cost to rebuild a 2.3 engine? If I was to take it out and put it back in what machining costs and part cost do I have?


Do you think it could just be a blown head gasket? How can you tell?


Thanks

Matt

[8T6 SVO]

Has the car been sitting for a long time? The motor does still turn over right?

Bottom end is pretty strong - I'd bet it's a head gasket.

You can probably buy a rebuilt short block for $500. Do you have the skills to pull it out & put it back in?

[stielow775]

Well to be honest with ya, I have only ever dealt with chevy engines, is the svo really hard to put together? What about all the vacumn hoses, and wiring is it really complicated. Is there a way to test if its a bad piston versus a head gasket?

Do you have any recommended books i could read to help with the rebuild of the 2.3?

Thanks Matt

[Henson]

Might be burnt exhaust valve, #4 seems to go first. The engine is simple to work on. Eitherway, valve or gasket, tear down and replacement 2 hours plus retiming. Next day start up.

[stielow775]

Any good manuals that you guys recommend? What is the appx cost for a complete rebuild for an engine?

Thanks

[lonewolf]

cost is going to vary greatly on your skills. Are you going to build it your self, have a machine shop build a short block and you finish the rest, or have them do the hole thing.

[8T6 SVO]

Well to be honest with ya, I have only ever dealt with chevy engines, is the svo really hard to put together? What about all the vacumn hoses, and wiring is it really complicated. Is there a way to test if its a bad piston versus a head gasket?

Thanks Matt

If you put a cheby together, you can put a Ford together.

Your problem (if you have low compression) is either:
1. Bad intake valve
2. Bad exhaust valve
3. Blown head gasket
4. Cracked head
5. Bad piston
6. Bad ring
7. Or a combination of any/all.

Do a compression test and a leak down test to try and pin point your problem. Then go from there. You might be able to determine if it's from just the head. Does it run?

[stielow775]

Yeah it runs but it runs like crap it smokes when you give it any throttle.

[8T6 SVO]

Head gasket - Simple fix really.

Don't quote me on that, but that's what it sounds like to me.

Do a compression test and I'll bet you have two adjacent cylinders with low compression.

[stielow775]

So to replace the head gasket do you have to set valve lash and all that stuff or is it pretty straight forward bolt on bolt off set timing? Sorry I know nothing about these 4 cylinder engines whatsoever? Any links are appreciated.

Matt

[8T6 SVO]

So to replace the head gasket do you have to set valve lash and all that stuff or is it pretty straight forward bolt on bolt off set timing? Sorry I know nothing about these 4 cylinder engines whatsoever? Any links are appreciated.

Matt

All you have to do is change the head gasket. This is a stock set up right?

I also should say that you should be sure that the head and block deck is flat and all of the other things you do when you replace a head gasket. If you are not rebuilding the head and are using the same cam, followers and HLA's, no adjustment is required.

[stielow775]

Yeah stock setup. So 1500 for a 84 svo thats a smokin deal with a bad head gasket is a good deal eh?

[8T6 SVO]

I haven't seen any pictures - but yeah, sounds like a good deal.

[stielow775]

Ok I got an update, the car runs, however they did a compression test and one of the cylinders had absolutely no compression. What do you guys think that could be a blown head gasket or a messed up piston or valve?

I am going to pick it up sunday, but I would like some input first


Matt

[stielow775]

Oh and lastley the outer left turn signal light is broken, are those hard to find?

Thanks