The truck is dead, long live the truck

OK, I finished loading the truck in Canberra this morning, then when I
went to start it to head back to Melbourne...no go.

Pulled out the plugs, noted the substantial oiliness on #3 and #4.
Hmm.

All of the joins in the cooling system were leaking coolant, just from
cranking it over on the starter - didn't think that the water pump had
*that* much pressure...

The haemorrhage from the sump had also increased enough to drop the oil
level from the lower mark on the dipstick to "no reading" in under
150km. Bummer.

The air bubbles coming from the radiator were the final proof of an
ex-head-gasket.

However since the motor was worn-out when I bought it, and I've done
90,000km in it since, I can't complain *too* hard. I unpacked the
truck, pushed it into the backyard, and booked a cheap flight home.

Can anyone recommend a suitable garage in Canberra who can source and
install a reconditioned 2-litre petrol motor in an Econovan within the
next 3 weeks? I'm valuing reliable, speedy service more highly than
price.


BTH

 

I've had joy with Braddon Mechanical Repairs on Lonsdale street. It's a
little hole in the wall between a phone shop and the Discount Tyre Service
shop. Just up a bit from TJ's Tyres.

Anyway, I've not had any major work done there but what I have had done was
timely and satisfactory. It's run by an older bloke and he has 1 or 2 other
workers there. He must do OK as the garage is never empty.

25 Lonsdale St Braddon ACT 2612
ph: (02) 6248 8060 Engine Reconditioning

 

Bloody hell, It must be catching
Last week I had to put a reco in my Econovan. Had done 270thou when it
finally let go.

As an idea of price it was $3600 for the motor (Melb) & it was all done
including new clutch + bits in a week.

Greg

 

You should have imported a good used engine from a wrecker in NZ.
It would have cost you NZ$600 to 800 plus about $250 freight.

 

Then what happens if its fucked and you want warranty?

 

They do give a 30 day warranty. You need to get a friend in New Zealand
to look at it first and hear it run before buying it. There might be
fishooks
if it wasn't as good as it seemed, but you'd need to take that into
consideration.
The prices are good compared with a recon in ozz. Probably better to buy
from the larger well known wreckers here. By the way I'm not in that
business
and don't give a stuff whether or not you buy an engine, it just seemed
obvious
to me that you guys could save money on a used engine. Don't they have
wreckers
or used engine importers in Ozz?

 

You can get used engines no prob, but you have no idea of it's history.
Reco gives you 6mths or 25k warrenty & you know what your getting.
As BT said; reliable speedy service is whats needed!
For piece of mind the reco was the better option.

Any local ford dealer should be able to point you in the right
direction.

Greg

 

I'd prefer to recondition my own engine, but unfortunately time and
relative location of me/it won't allow that.

I have a cousin in Canberra who works for a dealer (as a mechanic)
during the week and a wrecker on weekends, so I'll be asking his advice
too.

By the way, $3600 seems a little steep - is yours a newish model or a
diesel or something?


BTH

 

yep true , but then again an import for $600-$800 from a reputable
importer could be a far better option cost wise

I wouldnt talk to any ford dealer , dumb fuckers are worse than talking
to a brick wall

yep he will prob have the best idea

reco motors dont come cheap, round a couple of grand

then labour to R+R , new clutch , oils, plugs,hoses etc and easy comes up
to $3600

 

When we had our old Subaru fitted (1.8OHC L series) with a recon engine and
new clutch a few years ago it was $3500

Al

 

Shoehorn a 454 into it mate!

 

That'd be good in the winter!

Sadly true - 6.5km/l is the best I've ever gotten out of it.


BTH

 

Thats not good! The worst i've ever had is 7.6km/l & an av of 8. Seen 9
on the odd ocassion but only after tappets have been done.
I stopped running it on gas years ago, motor couldn't take it.

 

I've got the LWB truck, not the van. It weighs ~1800kg when it's
empty.

And if I HADN'T been running it on LPG, the motor would have reached
this state long ago. ;-)


BTH

 

$3080, and they'll arrange the tow from Gordon (~30km) for an extra
$60.

He seemed pleased that he'd been recommended by someone, although he
didn't know who "DG" was. ;-)


BTH

 

Promotive, Park St Belconnen, great bunch.

Gary

 

Eight GPX motors? (With open pipes of course)

Postman Pat

 

Hmm, a 16 cylinder 2-litre motor. don't they use them in some kind of
racing car? ;-)


BTH

 

Is a 1.5 litre V-16 near enough?
http://www.billzilla.org/BRM-loudpass.mp3

Al

 

Might be a bit too peaky for a truck. ;-)


BTH