Brand new engine for my BX

m_2975 · Post by **m_2975** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:41 pm

Just having a look through the Citroën catalogue and found out that I can buy a brand new engine for my BX if I wanted to. They are in stock and ready to ship!

Only one problem.

The engine is about 4000pounds!
Not to mention the brand new gearbox at a mere 2500pounds

It's all cheap if you have the money!

Not me though.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 2:56 pm

Err no thanks, you can buy a recon one for a heck of alot less than that.

m_2975 · Post by **m_2975** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:37 pm

tim leech wrote:Err no thanks, you can buy a recon one for a heck of alot less than that.

I've learnt the hard way that Recon ones are crap, whatever the claim. They are worn and although have new bits and pieces they are still a used engine (with unknown mileage when you get it).

The block is fatigued and you just don't know if something's been missed and you've gone to all the work of fitting it, only to find it's no good.

I bought reco drive shafts for my BX numerous times and they are really crap. While they work (and that's probably all that most people care), they weren't what i'd expect when i've forked out so much money to buy them expecting them to be 'as good as new' as they claim.

Michael

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:26 pm

Never bought a re-con engine, but what you say, figures

I've seen a guy who sells re-con washing machines, now I know what the con bit means

Post by **docchevron** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:32 am

I know a few guys in Bristol that re-con engines, and there standard of workmanship is second to non.
I've re-conned god knows how many engines, and they've gone on to do huge mileages..

It's all about selecting the right engine to re-con in the first place.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 10:31 am

I thhink that's probably the whole issue there Doc.
I've seen supposedly recon engines offered over the years on Auto Trader and the likes and being honest I can't see how they could possibly be 'properly' recon'd at the prices they charge as they wouldn't be able to buy the part alone for what they charge.
I have heard some places used buy engines out of scrappies, perhaps replace a couple of gaskets, paint them up and sell them on as recons. That way if it doesn't fail within 3 months (or whatever the warranty period is) they willl be laughing and if it does they'll just chuck another scrap yard find in until the original warranty has expired. Money and old rope spring to mind.

kermit the frog · Post by **kermit the frog** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:29 pm

Nothing wrong with high milage engines they make the best blocks for racing engines (the higher the milage the better)
Just ask BMW.
When they wanted a turbo engine for F1 they took the blocks from high milage company pool cars as the starting point.
It used to be the practice to bury engine blocks in the ground for years to de stress the castings before using them to make good race engines
It is also common to allow the bores of a race engine to acumalate some surface rust before honing to create small holes in the bore surface to hold oil helping the engine to run better (when i say small i mean microscopic).

Regards Kermit

Not many high powered engines come from new blocks (BMW's F1 turbo engine procuce in excess of 1300 bhp from 1500 cc NOT BAD)