Should I fix old engine or buy new.

[therollingbrick]

Hi,
I'm a relatively new user and I have used the forum and wiki to help me buy my camper. She is a lovely Devon conversion with a 1.6td. The issue I'm having is big. She was getting harder to start and idling a bit rough. I drove her home from uni, around 100 miles and as we came to a stop she stalled. She wouldn't start after that. Sounded like she was getting air in some where. Took her to the garage and they say the crankshaft pulley has come loose and the timing has gone. He says it'll cost about £100 in labour to find out the damage. I've had a bit of a look about and I can get a reconditioned for around £1600 which is a bit much for me. Or I can get a second hand 1.9 more modern engine of around £500 - £750 and then get that fitted. I would like to be able to pull a small trailer so the extra power would be nice. I'm just looking for some advice on where to spend my money as I don't have enough to waste on the wrong thing.

Thanks in advance guys

Paul

[tommin]

If it just the timing, find a really good repair shop that know their stuff, get the timing sorted and any other update you can afford within your budget. No point changing the motor just because the timing is out

[therollingbrick]

Sorry. I didn't explain myself properly. The mechanic reckons that at least the valves are bent and maybe worse but he won't know until he strips it fully. My question really should have been do I spend money trying to fix it and potentially run up a bill that could have bought a new motor? Or buy a new motor?

[kevtherev]

Personally I would buy a scrap/cheap car with the AAZ engine fitted, there are loads of vehicles fitted with it.
Lots of information on the wiki and on Brickyard about this very popular transplant.

upgrade to AAZ... it's the future