engine replacement?

[egremontrusset]

hello....

I'd really appreciate some advice for a complete novice.

i have a 1986 T25 (just bought). It overheated (temp warning light came on), steam up underneath the dash and into the cabin. I stopped. The engine had splatters of antifeeze everywhere (see pics) and the water container was empty. I let it all cool down. re filled with water and coolant (happily had some) and got it home (slowly). It's parked up now and I"m wondering what to do next. Oil is now dripping - situation doesn't look good.

According to a garage (very good garage) it "Looks like you'll be on for the head seals on that, which as you're probably aware may turn into an engine replacement."

I don;t doubt their diagnosis... see link to photos... I'm just trying to think through the cost implications (the garage are crazily busy and haven't got back to me with estimates). What would one expect to pay for either scenario? I'm looking for a 'functional' solution.

A) Head seals fixed (not quite sure what that entails).

b) engine replacement (i guess a swap rather than a fancy reconditioned engine).

Are we talking hundreds or a thousand or two. More?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a74vs9tq2kht ... 0big%20Van

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

[R0B]

Your link requires login details fella.

[egremontrusset]

sorry... does this work?

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a74vs9tq2kht ... 0big%20Van

[ajsimmo]

Looking at picture 2, your garage's advice looks spot on. What they mean is that there is a big risk of head studs snapping when removing the heads to replace the seals (they sit in the coolant and rot away when wrong antifreeze is used). This is very bad news and often results in engine replacement rather than repair. There may be some good news - the staining is pink, indicating that the correct coolant may have been used (but for how long?). If so your heads may come off easily and you are looking at the low hundreds to get the whole job done (assuming overheating hasn't done any other damage).
Option 2 is a good used engine. A bit pot luck but often a satisfactory way forward. There's one on the bay of fleas atm, but don't know if it's good (he says it is, but don't they all...). Can get a decent one for £350-500 plus fitting. Make sure you buy the late cooling system engine, it will make the job a lot easier and quicker (ie cheaper) for your garage to fit.
Option 3 is a recon. Budget one is about a grand, lots more expensive ones are available, but I can't say who's best. There's lots of conflicting opinions around on that subject! If you're thinking of going to the expense of a full recon, bear in mind it will be exchange so best not to try getting your heads off first. Snapped studs will probably mean a surcharge on your exchange unit.

BTW, other observations from your pics.
Your breather tower is on wrong way round, and the pipe is special.
Looks like there's been recent work on the cooling system, homemade bleed return rail around engine bay (made from fuel hose - not designed to take the heat!), and repair joint in hose from choke housing. Whatever you do, find and fix cooling circuit problems whilst fixing or replacing engine!
Extra filter in the petrol line from pump to carb. Not required, just replace the one near the tank.

[ghost123uk]

I was in this situation about 7 years ago.
After my experiences =

A) Buying a used engine for top dollar that turned out to be a wreck (and a DF not a DG as advertised )
B) Spending AGES and lots of hassle to get my money back off the seller.
C) Getting a local garage to sort the leaky engine resulted in a load of hassle. The job went horribly wrong (not broken studs). I had that engine in and out 3 times at the side of our road. Then an argument to get my money back off him (I did get a refund, but it resulted in us falling out and he still is unpleasant towards me when our paths cross)
D) Got a used engine off billy739 on here (~£400) and fortunately that turned out just fine (and still is )

All in all I was off the road for 3 months, had loads of stress, lay on my back on the road in the winter for longer than I care to think about and spent too much money doing it (oil anti-freeze etc).

If I was in this position again, I for sure would get it delivered to Elite VW and get THEM to fit one of their reconditioned (repaired) engines with their warrantee which by most accounts is good. I say get THEM to fit it to make sure the warentee is not violated and they are also doing this week in week out so they know what they are doing.

@ Andrew (Campershack), are you Elite fitting agents ?

[ajsimmo]

@ Andrew (Campershack), are you Elite fitting agents ?

Not official "agents", although they do deliver engines direct to me for fitting, and they are happy to honour their warranty to the customer on this basis.
Replaced a tired DF with an Elite DG a few weeks ago, along with a VW Speedshop stainless exhaust. It runs really sweetly, customer is chuffed to bits with it and is coming back next week for LPG conversion. (As far as I know, Elite are the only company who are happy to extend their warranty to cover LPG converted engines.)

[jamesandtheopenroad]

They've got a 2.1dj in eBay at the mo...

Check out this item I found on eBay:

End time: 11 Apr 2013 19:35:36

Item: T25/T3 DJ 2.1 Transporter Engine

URL: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1022818590

Alt URL: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T25-T3-DJ-2-1 ... 1022818590

(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)

[ghost123uk]

They've got a 2.1dj in eBay at the mo...
Alt URL: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T25-T3-DJ-2-1 ... 1022818590

Ah, "they" are Elite
That looks and reads as well cool, and 100% good feedback too. If I needed a motor I would be buying that one

Plus =

also we do a fitting service and a recovery service

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Yeah, if I had a spare 1300quid, I'd buy it.

[egremontrusset]

[quote="ajsimmo"]Looking at picture 2, your garage's advice looks spot on.

thanks so much for the advice... my choice is to sell up on ebay (for parts) and lose quite a bit on what i paid, or spend and loose about the same but have a camper that'll take me to special places, slowly. Second option obviously.

Dan

[egremontrusset]

[quote="ghost123uk"]I was in this situation about 7 years ago.
After my experiences =

A) Buying a used engine for top dollar that turned out to be a wreck (and a DF not a DG as advertised )
B) Spending AGES and lots of hassle to get my money back off the seller.
C) Getting a local garage to sort the leaky engine resulted in a load of hassle. The job went horribly wrong (not broken studs). I had that engine in and out 3 times at the side of our road. Then an argument to get my money back off him (I did get a refund, but it resulted in us falling out and he still is unpleasant towards me when our paths cross)
D) Got a used engine off billy739 on here (~£400) and fortunately that turned out just fine (and still is )

Thank you... this is exactly what i need to know. You story puts it into perspective. I have a dread of this situation getting worse. I did consider doing it myself... give up my job and spending six months of my life learning how do to it... JUST TO PROVE A POINT. I just spoke to elite now and they can do the job in a couple of weeks and they were very friendly and straight forward... i can't afford it but i'm going to do it anyway. I'm going for one of their reconditioned engines. I suppose the worst thing that could happen is that they find lots of terrible things along the way. Surely that won't happen!

What kind of engine do i have? And am i mad to think i could drive this beast to Essex from leeds, filling up with water every 50 miles. I could always get AA to do it...

[jamesandtheopenroad]

Think they will collect for a fee.

[egremontrusset]

If I was in this position again, I for sure would get it delivered to Elite VW and get THEM to fit one of their reconditioned (repaired) engines with their warrantee which by most accounts is good. I say get THEM to fit it to make sure the warentee is not violated and they are also doing this week in week out so they know what they are doing.

My camper's been towed to Essex and they're starting work to fit a recon engine tomorrow.... will be ready on Saturday. Watch this space!