New engine for my civic

[alexwang]

Hi guys this is hopefully my first of many posts,
I've got a 1992 EH Si Civic, 5 speed manual, and recently the harmonic balance ****ed up and consequently it has worn the crank shaft.
I can't bring myself to offload the problem onto someone else by selling the car, so I was wondering what my best course of action is.
There's a few other things wrong with the car as well.
Should I get a second hand engine put in? If so, how much would the operation cost?
I've heard profix specialise in Hondas and that sort of thing, but I'm sick of being done in the ass by mechanics (especially since I don't know a heap about automechanics).
Any help?
Thanks guys.

[Terrible One]

Easiest and cheapest way to repair it would be to buy a second hand tested engine from the wreckers and get it installed. Most wreckers will supply some sort of warranty with an engine.

Probably not a bad idea to do timing belt, water pump, cam/crank/rear main oil seals while it's out.

[alexwang]

I know the answer to this question is relative to a lot of other things, but what kind of money am I looking at? Like, would it be around $1000? $2000? Any ideas?
Also, would I need to get an engine identical to the one in there now?
Thanks for the answer Terrible One.

[shadou]

cheapest option would be to buy a 2nd hand motor as he said above, but in saying that 1-2k will not be enough to fit and supply a 2nd hand engine, depends on the mech you use but most would charge a bit more in labour + other costs, I would guess $2.5-3.5k would be more realistic.

[alexwang]

Whoa, that's a lot more than I expected.
That's probably more than the value of the car at the moment.
Could be even cheaper for me to fix the crankshaft rather than get a new engine.
Surely it couldn't cost more than 2k to fix the crankshaft? I realise they have to pull apart the engine.
I've just paid $600 to have all the belts replaced too becuase when the harmonic balance went I got all the belts replaced.

[Joel The Mole]

cheapest option would be to buy a 2nd hand motor as he said above, but in saying that 1-2k will not be enough to fit and supply a 2nd hand engine, depends on the mech you use but most would charge a bit more in labour + other costs, I would guess $2.5-3.5k would be more realistic.

it depends on the motor, im getting a second hand motor fitted up here on the coast for $900 and thats including the engine, so it really varies on what motor is in teh car and where u go to get it fitted.

[alexwang]

Anyone know a place in Adelaide that's reputable for this kind of work?
I don't trust anyone.

[shadou]

any mechanical shop can do this, it's just old one in and new one in. I would go to one that gives warranty to work carried out and get warranty on motor (+ labour charges if possible) in the long run it'll be better but more expensive I think.

[SeverAMV]

well for the motor, you could head to adelaide jap if you want an imported motor, or if you just want the same motor, head down the end of eastern parade in the gillman-ish area and buy a motor from the honda wreckers.

if its the same motor, i dont think it'd cost too much because it should be a straightforward drop. D&D motors on tapleys may be able to do it for ya, but they're usually really busy. you could also head down to city dismantlers on port wakefield for a motor, and they should have someone there that can give you a more accurate quote.

[kraiye]

really you just gotta call the wreckers and ask... how much for engine, how much for labor.
then ask here if anyone in Adelaide from O/H could fit it cheaper (don't forget to add the cost of freighting the engine to their place... just need a trailer or a ute realy). also, give them a hand and learn while you're there - it's not much more then bolts, screws and wiring plugs.
i can't imagine an EH engine would be too much and you can take the belts etc off your current engine and swap em over before the new one goes in :thumbsup: