Advice needed: Buying a reman engine vs. salvage yard.

300 Mag · Mar 9, 2009

I am looking for advice/thoughts/opinions etc. regarding purchasing a used complete engine from a salvage yard vs. buying a remanufactured engine from an auto parts store. Engine is Chevy vortec 5.0L (305 cid). Salvage yards want $850-1000 depending on miles, the $1000 motor has less than 100K and comes with one year warranty. Auto parts stores prices start about $1400 and go upwards of $2200, plus core charge. Warranty for these is 3 year/100K miles for most. I have tried Autozone, O'rielys, and Napa, Autozone was the cheapest and Napa most expensive.

Anyone have experierence buying remanufactured engines?? How about buying from salvage yards?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JT · Mar 9, 2009

Depends on what you are planning on doing with the vehicle. If you are gonna drive it for a while, I would spend the extra 400 and get a reman. If I was gonna drive it for a little, then get rid of it, then I would go with the junk yard engine. But, I woul dhave to hear it run before I bought it. that is a lot of work to put in and find out it does not work, then have to take it out.
Jim

Mike (WA) · Mar 9, 2009

Sounds expensive for your average basic "there it sits- should be OK" junkyard engine. Would have to hear it run for those prices. Reman would be a much better buy, IMHO, if you plan on keeping the rig.

rhouston · Mar 9, 2009

I had a salvage engine installed in my 97 RAM 1500. The Garage owner went to an auction bought a 2000 Dodge of some kind. Drove it 2 hours back to the shop removed the engine and sent the rest to a salvage yard. Engine had 30K miles I've added 50K more without issue. Price was right and the engine was fine. It is a gamble as there was no warranty and that is the sticking point some you win and some you loose. In this case I made out just fine.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 9, 2009

You have given a big range of price but remanufactured vs junkyard is less gamble to go for the rebuild.Did you try Jensen engines for a quote?

CaseChev · Mar 9, 2009

Go to a GM dealer. They have GM engines new for replacement that include warranty coverage and they are always doing discounts on the 305 cu. in.

Bus Driver · Mar 9, 2009

For reasons I do not understand, the 305 seems not to be nearly as good an engine as the 350. Same basic engine, many parts will interchange. My 305, 1977, pre-fuel injection days, was a real piece of crap. I do not know what is involved in using a 350 as replacement in the later models with electronic controls. No more 305 for me.

wfw · Mar 9, 2009

I would try to find a machine shop that will remanufactor your engine, I have had this done twice with good results. one engine was a 2.6 mituboshi engine, cost $800 plus tax, complete rebuild with 12 month 12000 mile warrenty. the 2nd was a 5 liter chevy iroc z engine, same price and warrenty. both remanufactored by poteats engines in kanapolis, nc

Ray · Mar 9, 2009

I bought one of those guaranteed junk yard engines and that's all i got Junk! The engine had a knock and i had to go to the trouble and expense to take it out and return it.They wouldn't give my money back,so i took another engine.I never installed it.

usetob · Mar 9, 2009

if you go with the salvage yard engine, have someone do a compression, and, a leak down test on it first, and hear it running

300 Mag · Mar 9, 2009

Thanks for all the replies, definitely getting good advice. I think the salvage prices are high and am leaning toward a reman. Truck is/was my daily driver, but if the cost to fix is going to exceed the value then I will just replace the truck. I have had several 305's and this is the first problem I have encountered. Tomorrow I will visit the GM dealer for a quote. Maybe if I get my truck fixed I will get around to working on my tractor!

omahagreg · Mar 9, 2009

I have had good success with a junk yard engine in a chrysler minivan. My BIL bought a 4 cylinder chevy motor from advance auto parts, and it never was right, AND they refused to make it right! If it was mine, I would have a local machine shop repair what I got. Greg

Larry from MD · Mar 9, 2009

Don't buy from ATK their engines are crap and no warrenty.

e · Mar 9, 2009

Here you go, brand new GM GoodWrench crate engine from Summit Racing for $1960 (if you have a first gen vortech). Forget rebuilt or used. Way too much of a gamble either way since a new one costs only a little more.
Summit Racing

I need a handle · Mar 9, 2009

The salvage yard wants WAY too much!. Personally, I would not want to give any more than $500 for a running take out. Just because it has under 100,000 miles does not mean that its good.

How about a GM Goodwrench engine? Those seem to be affordable and look promising.

Hobo,NC · Mar 9, 2009

If its not worth a new GM crate engine junk it,,, do not buy uses from someone you do not know,,, the salvage dealer has nuttin to lose they do not pay labor :!: ,,, think about it if its a bad'n its a bad'n they have lost NUTTIN :!: neither do auto parts dealers,,, if you have a warranty claim its you and the builder,,, the auto parts dealer has NUTTIN :!: to do with it,,, the builder could care less about your pain

Not all GM's new'ns are good but they will stand behind it and swap the engine out are pay labor,,, all you got to do is make sure you have your end right

Anonymous-0 · Mar 9, 2009

You already have one junk engine so why would you want another? There is no substitute for a NEW GM crate engine.

Leland · Mar 10, 2009

Call around to different GM dealers some have some decent prices on factory remans ,right now they are hurting and will deal

Mike M · Mar 10, 2009

Do a google on Pace they are a GM dealer in Ohio and specialize in engines. Scroggins Dickey does too.
You should be able to get a BRAND NEW 350 for around $1,500 !

I would only go used if $500 or less. Trucks aren't worth much now you can buy a complete truck cheap.

cornfarmer · Mar 10, 2009

I have a reman engine from Autozone in my old '80 F350, so far no problems. I have less than 1,000 miles on it, though.

dhermesc · Mar 10, 2009

The salvage yard price sounds pretty high. We bought a 3.8 with less than 100K to drop into a 2002 Buick Park Avenue - $300 with everything including the starter.

As pointed out there are several other suppliers out there that can supply rebuilt engine a lot cheaper than Autozone. Depending on what 305 you need these guys are $1000 to $1200.

http://www.autoguide.net/apf/chevy-car_engines/index.html

Roy in Ga · Mar 10, 2009

why not rebuild it yourself? what happened to your old engine? for the $ the GM crate engines are great very affordable and you get a good warranty. In most cases you can have your heads rebuilt for around $250-$300 and about $300 in machine work on the block to have it bored and cleaned with new cam bearings. just a side note most of the 305s use the same computer as the 350s so you could go for a more common,more power engine.

buickanddeere · Mar 10, 2009

Crate engine from GM. I had the local professional shop owned by NAPA built a 4.3 Snoretech. Three times and it still wasn't correct. Wrong bolts in the rear main cap, wrong bearings for the balancer shaft and miss timed the camshaft.
Used trucks from 2002-2007 are going so cheap an old vehicle isn't worth repairing.

26Red · Mar 10, 2009

Been there myself. I went with a cheap remanufactured long block with very bad results despite the warranty. I have been plaged by oil pressure problems. Next time I will go with a salvage yard engine, and rebuild the old motor myself.

NawlensGator · Mar 10, 2009

Jasper!

I bought a remanufactured 3.0L V6 for my daughter's Ranger P/U from Jasper. From all the vendors I talked to, I decided Jasper sold the best engine. They have approved country wide installers they ship the engine to and they pick up the old engine after its replaced. Truck was in the shop only 2 or 3 days. Good people to work with. Also found out there are some real bullsh!!ters posing as vendors out there.

Cheapest is to rebuild the engine yourself. I haven't the time.

300 Mag · Mar 10, 2009

Okay, i am back after a day of more engine searching. Gm dealer can get a new long block 5.0L for $2200 with a 3 year/100k warranty. Spent about an hour talking through my options, talked about replacing with a 5.7L (350) but the conversion might not work because of my trans. Engine has coolant in the oil and in two cylinders (#'s 3 and 5, next to each other). engine already was using oil, so it is probaly time to consider replacing, has almost 200K miles on the engine. Not many shops left that rebuild engines, last shop i worked with burned down over 5 years ago. Really don't want a monthly truck payment, and I have to have a 4X4. I greatly appreciate the input and ideas, thanks to everyone!!!

Advice needed: Buying a reman engine vs. salvage yard.

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