How to Rebuild a Cheap Car Engine
Usually when a car engine goes bad the owner is quick to get rid of the malfunctioning car, because replacing the engine is a costly expense. In some cases replacing an engine can cost more than the car is worth, but there are ways to rebuild a cheap engine that will save you a bundle.
Materials Needed
- Torque wrench
- Ring expander
- Ring compressor
- Rings
- Pistons
- Water
- Remove as much dirt and debris from the car engine. Dirt and debris can greatly affect the performance of the engine and cause major problems down the line when rebuilding the engine.
- Remove the oil cap and drain all of the oil from the engine. Move the engine to a clean work space and disassemble the engine via the manufacturer’s instructions. Inspect the engine parts for any discoloration or melted aluminum that may have stuck to other parts while disassembling the engine. Discoloration is a sign that the engine part may be bad and if it is not fixed it will probably fail you at a later date.
- Inspect all cylinder heads. If the engine overheated and shut down, then the cylinder heads may have cracks in them or the cam heads may have been warped due to lack of upkeep. When replacing the cam heads, invest into cast-iron heads, as they are more likely to last longer than aluminum made cam heads. Clean all the cylinders with warm water and install new rings and pistons. Use a ring expander to install the new rings on the pistons. Once the new rings are installed use a ring compressor to connect the piston assemblies to the block.
- Lubricate the engine and cylinder walls thoroughly to protect all of the new engine parts.
- Reassemble the rest of the engine via the manufacturer's instructions.