The Best Engine -- Opinions please

[bonus12]

there is a used '88 supra turbo manual that i have found online. it is only $500 because it needs a new engine and steering wheel column. 200k miles are on the chassis.

my questions are: Assuming everything else is fine, is it advisable to purchase this investment fix-me-up supra in terms of money and time? Where can i fine a rebuilt engine for this car? i found one website, but the engines are around $2k (this is not the norm, right?).

car has nice interior and good paint. how much do you think a total fix-up would cost me?

THANKS

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

Hey Bonus... You could buy a perfectly running 89+ for that much money. That seller must be insane

Edit... Unless that 5000$ was supposed to be 500$

 

[JustAnotherVictim]

$5000 and you need a new engine?? I'd talk him down.

A LOT

 

[xarewhyayen]

you could get a used engine for ~1200... a rabid chimp 1 year warranted engine for 2000... and a car with a bad motor for $1000... if you want to spend 5 grand on a car u need a motor for, you can buy mine .. shyt ill even give it to ya for 4 grand

 

[fiyota]

$5000 and you need a new engine?? I'd talk him down.

A LOT

check out the cars for sale section on here to see what kind of prices are out there for mk3's.... I paid $3000 (canadian) for mine with a blown headgasket, needs paint, and the brakes were shot... I overpaid... take a look around.

 

[bonus12]

Haha. it was supposed to be 500 dollars. my bad.

 

[Big Wang Bandit]

Oh.
Thats a good deal. Jump on it buddy! Where in CA are ya?

 

[JustAnotherVictim]

Ok better.
Any engine you get you'll want to do a rebuild, it's all about personal preference when it comes to picking.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

I bought mine in March, I think. $3,700 for my '90 Turbo/Targa with a perfect carfax and 183K on the chassis. Small dent in the passenger rear quarter panel and fading paint. Recent JDM swap with new main and rod bearings, new front struts, hoses throughout, water pump, oil pump, radiator, and a few more odds and ends.

Oh yeah, and a blown head gasket that I missed when looking it over. Add $750 and a few weeks of my time to take care of that.

Overall I think I overpaid based on everything I've learned on this forum since then. Look in the 'Cars for Sale' section of SM for some comparisons, and when you get serious about buying any Supra post the details of what you're considering along with some good pics. I've seen several people helped in making a buying decision here, and I wish I would've done the same before I bought mine. That said, she's coming along, running great, looking better by the day, and it's the best car I've ever had - period. :bigthumb:

Edit: Missed the $500 correction. I wish I paid that for mine!

 

[bonus12]

how much does it cost for the labor to install an engine? I am just wondering if it is worth it.

i am also looking at another '88 supra 5sp that is in good working condition and had its HG recently replaced. this car has ~160k miles and costs $2800.

Assuming everything else is OK, which is a better deal?

Thanks. (see 1st post for info about other car)

 

[Adjuster]

I'd buy the one for 500.00, and then pull the motor and see what it needs to rebuild it.

Pistons, bearings and the machine work are not that bad, but if you don't have some basic skills to assemble the motor, figure about 3k for the rebuild on the low end, and 5k or more for the upper end rebuilds with forged pistons and other goodies.

You will not know untill you take apart the engine however. It could be just a BHG, and if that's the case, you might luck out and have a nice runner for a total amount of less than 1500.00 when your all said and done. (Assuming you want to do a tune up, and make sure a few other things like your brakes, hoses and other maintence items are all new, or in great shap.)

 

[annoyingrob]

Yeah, "needs new engine" on a supra is more then likely "needs new head gasket"