Replacing an Engine?

[Ian]

Been scouring eBay for a replacement engine and I've come across this (My car is a 1999 1.6 8v Si):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2000-Renault-...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item33570c109e

Firstly, is there anything I need to be wary of before contacting the seller/placing a bid?

Secondly, what will I need to actually replace the engine - equipment, nuts, bolts, fluids, filters etc?

Thirdly, if I go ahead will I need to inform my insurers, or anything like that?

Would really really appreciate some help with this, as I need to get my car back on the road.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[f0xy]

1. service history, proof of mileage etc
2. shouldnt need anything bolts wise. you'l need general tools, jack, engine crane. fluids...engine oil, coolant, gearbox oil. Then decide if you want to do the clutch while its out, or timing belt if there is no proof of it being done before?!
3. You could update the engine number with the DVLA if its present on the block, but most of the time (in my experience) there hasnt been a code present.

 

[Ian]

Glad you've seen this lol.

1. Reet will ask them about that and the timing belt
2. So it's just a case of draining all the fluids and detaching things from the engine and then vice versa once the new one is in? Not had any problems with the clutch, but might consider it and/or gearbox.
3. Good stuff

Cheers Jord.

 

[f0xy]

If they have no recollection of the belt being done, just change it anyway while its out, 100x easier and a worry out of the way (Just get kit from factors, dont bother with gen renault)...

Yep...literally drain coolant, remove radiator, remove gear linkage, remove exhaust downpipe....drain gearbox oil, undo driveshafts and remove....unplug loom/battery/etc.....hook up crane and lift.......there's the basics lol!

 

[Ian]

So gonna end up hooking up the webcam on MSN lol! Gonna need the Renault timing tools to do the belt won't I? How much is the kit roughly?

 

[f0xy]

Eurocarparts show the belt only to be 18 quid, so id imagine a local factors would be able to get a kit for 35-40 quid to be honest, at the most.

Unsure if you need the tools to do it, hopefully someone will confirm on here!

 

[Ian]

Alright, no worries - if anyone does know if I'll need the tools or not that will be a great help. £40 aint bad either, compared to the quotes I've been getting to just do the headgasket!

I'll send the eBay seller an email or whatever and try and find out some more information anyway in the meantime. Cheers for the help Jord.

 

[f0xy]

If your planning on keeping the car for a while, and want to guarantee its going to be fine, swap the headgasket while the cambelt is off lol. They arent much money at all (half the cost of cambelt kit, if that), so you know its perfect.

Literally just undoing 10 headbolts, lift the head off, swap gasket, head back on (if it needs skimming thats £15-20 on top though), then do your cambelt. So so so much easier out of the car...last thing you want is the headgasket going in 5-10k after the effort of swapping the engine! Il see if I can dig up the 1.6 8v engine assembly manual.

 

[theduck]

Would you not be better swapping to the 1.6 16v instead? or do you particularly want to stay with the 'original' engine?

 

[Ian]

Just off to work, but quick reply..

Yeah might as well do it I suppose, if you've got a 1.6 8v manual that would be mint. I've got the Haynes manual, but I don't know how detailed it is and it's not usually too specific to my car either.

Apparently changing to the 16v would take as much work as a 2litre conversion - new loom, ECU etc, so 8v is my only option really!

 

[Jonny1*2]

why you changing the engine Ian? yours broken?

 

[theduck]

fair enough. tbh i like the 1.6 8v. is very responsive to breathing mods.

 

[mini-valver]

If you change the HG, make sure you put new head bolts in. TBH though, I'd just pressure test it.

 

[Moz168]

Would you not be better swapping to the 1.6 16v instead? or do you particularly want to stay with the 'original' engine?

This man speak sense

 

[Brett]

Hope it gets sorted soon Ian. You planning on doing the work yourself.

 

[Ian]

why you changing the engine Ian? yours broken?

Yeah, headgasket failure - but I drove it a fair distance before I could pull over, as in a good 15-20 miles, so I reckon it's pretty well fubared. Think replacing the engine will work out cheaper anyway, if I can do most of it myself.

fair enough. tbh i like the 1.6 8v. is very responsive to breathing mods.

It may just be a case of fixing it and trading it in for something else, but I'll bear that in mind if not.

If you change the HG, make sure you put new head bolts in. TBH though, I'd just pressure test it.

Ok will do!

This man speak sense

Lol, if the rumours are true it's waaay too much effort, otherwise I'd be straight on to you pal!

Hope it gets sorted soon Ian. You planning on doing the work yourself.

Cheers mate; yeah trying to keep costs down so hoping I have the basic levels of competence needed to do an engine swap..

 

[Jonny1*2]

boo, could you not just change the HG first to see if it fixes the problem. Saying that, it's probably cheaper to get the new engine, and see bits of yours for parts.

 

[Ian]

Could do, but like you say it appears to be cheaper just to buy a new engine tbh! Plus, it partially failed back in January I think it was and I fixed (bodged) it with K-Seal, so it's really not in the best condition lol.

 

[Jonny1*2]

lol, dont say that if you're considering selling bits

 

[Ian]

Not sure there's anything worth selling from it lol.

Message back from the eBay seller:

Hello, I buy these engines from a insurance agent that deals with there disposal, I do not get any service history but have heard the engine running prior to removal, the cam belt should be changed before refitting into the vehicle as it is much easier to do out of the car, thanks

What do you reckon?

 

[sideways danny]

i'd fix the engine you have TBH, but if you get another one, do the timing belt no question, whatever is claimed about it.

No special locking tools needed

 

[Ian]

Cheers Danny. Just had a look in my oil and it's extremely milky, so the headgasket has well and truly gone. The RAC guy mentioned that it may have bent a piston too, but I don't know how he can tell? Car won't start anymore, feels like it's resisting turning over. Can't get it to jump start, so I'm not holding out too much hope for the current engine?

 

[sideways danny]

probably got a bore full of water causing a hydro-lock. could have caused rod damage, but unlikely unless it stalled because of the water in the bore. I'd have a go at fixing it, done a couple of these recently and they're not hard to work on

 

[Ian]

Sorry, just got home.

Ok, so if I am to repair the current engine, what's the correct procedure for getting my engine from the state it's in, back to fully operational? I guess I need to get the head off the engine to assess the damage / clear any water? Can that be done with the engine in the car?

The filter and all that are built on to the top of my engine as in the photo of that engine on eBay if that makes any difference?

 

[f0xy]

head off in the car isnt hard really nope

 

[Ian]

Sweet. So I take all the air filter etc off and then underneath that there are bolts holding the head on to the rest of the engine?

 

[f0xy]

nah the head bolts will probably be under the rocker cover, so that would have to come off first.....

If you are going to take it off on a weekend and im not doing anything I can pop up and have a look while you're doing it if you want

 

[Ian]

I'll be honest mate, I'd really appreciate your supervision on this! I don't mind doing all the work, but it'd be good to know I'm doing the right thing. Are you free this Saturday/weekend?

 

[Ian]

Right, just swapped the battery from my mum's car and the engine turns over and starts fine, so that's solved that one. Exhaust fumes coming out from near the manifold and loads out of the exhaust. Going to try some more of that K-Seal stuff as my dad wants to. I'd rather replace the gasket and get it running properly, but we'll see how it goes. :S

 

[Whiteley]

Good that it runs still. Get the gasket swapped, trying to seal it again is only delaying the inevitable. Gasket and headbolts aren't a great deal of money.

 

[sideways danny]

Right, just swapped the battery from my mum's car and the engine turns over and starts fine, so that's solved that one. Exhaust fumes coming out from near the manifold and loads out of the exhaust. Going to try some more of that K-Seal stuff as my dad wants to. I'd rather replace the gasket and get it running properly, but we'll see how it goes. :S

dont fill it full of crap!!!!!!! you'll never get it out and you'll never have fully effective cooling/coolant flow.

if the headgasket has blown, fix it

 

[Ian]

S'alright, can't get the engine to turn over at the moment with my battery and the Ford battery has different terminals, so can't use that; so stalled putting the K-Seal in for now as the engine needs to be up to temperature. Still gonna end up with it in at some point though. :dapprove:

Does anyone know the code for the 1.6 8v? Is it K7M or something like that?

 

[Jonff]

Lol. Talk about jumping in at the deep end mate. Can't really offer much advise as I've never done anything this advanced. My limits end at suspension/brakes and engine mounts lol.

Good luck with it though and if you need a lift with anything just give us a shout.

 

[Ian]

Cheers mate, just need to get the damn thing running again one way or another. Without the engine running it's pretty much worthless.

 

[MarcoB]

Good luck with this. If I was closer Id come and help but its a big trek

 

[f0xy]

Im at RSTuning all day saturday Ian.......might be around sunday if thats any use?!

 

[Ian]

Im at RSTuning all day saturday Ian.......might be around sunday if thats any use?!

Yeah possibly, will let you know by tomorrow, cheers.




Had my battery on charge over night, tried it this morning and it still isn't working. Also tried the Ford battery again and now that's not working either. Is there anything I might have done that's causing a short, or any after effects of using the Ford battery etc?

 

[Ian]

Not gonna have any parts ready for Sunday, so maybe do something next weekend instead Jord? Got a quote from NW Performance for the headgasket and headbolts, so might get them. They're non-Renault though, is that ok?

This battery thing has really got me stumped, I don't get how an oil change can stop the car from starting up? (Ford battery worked before, doesn't after).

 

[iimushroomzii]

You wont need any parts yet if you're gonna have a go at fixing it mate, get the head off first and get it sent to be skimmed/pressure/leak tested

 

[f0xy]

Should be around next weekend if my cars working Ian

As said, it will most likely need skimming anyway so just need to get it off and check it out