Easiest engine to rebuild? 

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-) 01/08/2017 at 21:09 • Filed to: None

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Ok another hypothetical. But this one actually has a decent chance of happening in the next five years unlike last night’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

So I wanna rebuild an engine. Not for power or for a project car, just to do it. A likely candidate would be something cheap preferably barely or not running. So afterward it could be sold and most of the money recouped.  

So to clarify the exact question is.

“Which car/engine combo would be best for a noob to rebuild?”

Would it be something small like a 4 cyl out of a Hyundai Accent? Or an old Chevy small block? Or perhaps a AMC 4.0 (which I think is pictured below.)

The focus is ease of overhaul, parts availability, and availability the car/engine to purchase. I know their would be a considerable investment in tools up front for the machinist precision type work to be done. However it doesn’t look like parts would be bad actually cost wise for a basic engine rebuild. (Bearings, rings, seals, gaskets etc.)

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Yeah, it’s in stupid metric money, but it’s still not bad price wise.

Pic of I think AMC 4.0

Bonus question: Same question, but for an automatic transmission!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:13

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any small block Ford or Cheby has a multitude of parts avaiable from cheap to kill me expensive. They are pretty simple as well. Stick with an old carb engine from 60's or 70's and you should be fine.

Also each has plenty of guides and such on the internet

bob and john > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:15

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Engine, im going to have to say rotary. No valves, no timing chains, there is like 25 moving parts in the engine.

Trans, im thinking a turbo 350 or a 4l60 or something

DipodomysDeserti > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:16

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Just make sure if you plan to sell it that you tell the buyer it is the first engine you’ve ever rebuilt.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:16

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Air-cooled VW

It’s super basic, and you don’t really need a hoist.

DipodomysDeserti > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:17

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Just make sure if you plan to sell it that you tell the buyer itnis the first engine you’ve ever rebuilt.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:18

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That can’t be a 4.0, it’s not coated in oil.

All kidding aside I’d start small, like a lawnmower or dirtbike engine. You can get overhaul kits for them that include gaskets, valves, and piston rings for <$100. Buy a non-running unit on craigslist for dirt cheap and practice on it before you move to a car.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:22

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Any old american push rod V8.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 01/08/2017 at 21:24

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The problem with that is getting a cheap enough car though. Since even shithouse classics seem to command 5 figure prices. My best bet with that direction, I think, would be an old Fox body with a 302.

Not a bad idea still.

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:24

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Wartburg 2 stroke, a total of 7 moving parts.

S65 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:25

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Turbo 400 Transmission and Mazda Wankel 

jimz > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:25

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gen 1 or 2 Chevy small block. Tons of parts out there, and dirt cheap.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/08/2017 at 21:25

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This is actually a good idea. Some what familiar territory since the only trans I’ve removed was a D-series Honda. I just lowered it out of the car with a floor jack lol.

CodyVella > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:26

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Honda EW2 from the 1983-1987 Civic/CRX HF. The EW1 is the more common of the EW family, sold in USDM Civics. But the EW2, sold in Canadian market Civics had a dual barrel carb, and made like 12hp more. It’s also a good opportunity to learn how to rebuild and tune a carb. These carbs are super simple as they had no electronics, and a manual choke & primer. The bonus is, you can probably pull one of these motors from a junkyard for like $250.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:27

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That and, DUNE BUGGY!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > bob and john 01/08/2017 at 21:28

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Hmmm. The point’s kind of to learn for potential future necessity. But getting a dirt cheap RX-8 and getting 30k miles with full compression sounds very tempting.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:29

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A little pushrod 4 cylinder out of an S10 would be insanely easy to tinker with. Smaller and even more simple than a small block Chevy and no demand for them at all so it’d be laughably cheap to buy.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > DipodomysDeserti 01/08/2017 at 21:29

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lol of course. I’d probably drive it for a few thousand miles myself to break it in/test it.

BorkBorkBjork > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:29

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2-Stroke Outboard.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > CodyVella 01/08/2017 at 21:32

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Is that what the D-series is based off of? It looks very similar. Same timing belt routing/setup. It’d also be good doing a single cam. Probably make doing the heads alot easier.

lone_liberal > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:32

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Air-cooled VW actually is pretty good, but I’d lean towards a SBC due to the overwhelming amount of both knowledge and parts there are out there. I’d go TH350 for the same reasons. Any junkyard will have ample examples of both.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > CodyVella 01/08/2017 at 21:33

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I also remember the manual for my D-series Civic saying the motor can be rebuilt while mounted in the car. Probably a pain in the ass, but could save some garage space lol.

For Sweden > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:34

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Air-cooled VW is far and away the best answer.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 21:34

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Are these even in America?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:35

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yea usually you can find cheap beaters with a small block

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > jimz 01/08/2017 at 21:35

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The question would be finding a cheap specimen though. Even ratted out El Caminos go for 5k.

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:37

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Doug drove a Trabant, also had a 2 stroke engine. If this is here, I’m sure there is one or two wartburgs running around.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > BorkBorkBjork 01/08/2017 at 21:38

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But I have no boat :(

Or bodies of water near by for someone else’s boat :(

daender > S65 01/08/2017 at 21:38

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Wankel

Good:

Few moving parts; less to replace.

Bad:

Rebuilding the engine often because apex seal failure.

Berang > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 21:40

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It would probably be more difficult than you think, given the roller bearing crankshaft needs to be pressed apart to get new bearings on.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 21:40

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I think he said it was imported though. Personally I mean.

Probenja > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:41

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Also 2CV engine, like the VW but with half the number of cylinders.

MM54 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:41

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Others have engines pretty well covered but for an automatic trans, I’d say a Powerglide. Super simple and as a side-benefit you’ll learn very clearly how an automatic works. If you want something with more gears, a TH350/400 is probably pretty reasonable as well.

E90M3 > Berang 01/08/2017 at 21:43

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I didn’t realize those had roller bearing cranks.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Probenja 01/08/2017 at 21:43

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If we got those in America theirs hardly any left.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 21:43

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Looks suspiciously like a 3-cylinder. I see three pistons, three wrist pins, three connection rods, and one crankshaft. That’s 10.

E90M3 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:43

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Right, I was assuming that someone had also imported a Wartburg, people collect all kinds of cars.

Berang > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 21:49

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Wartburgs were sold in the U.S., it’s a fascinating story. Trabants never were though.

E90M3 > Berang 01/08/2017 at 21:50

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I honestly did not know that, I’m sure that story is pretty great.

CodyVella > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:54

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Yup! The D-Series was developed from the EW series. So they share a lot of the same components. The EW came in either 1.3L or 1.5L. It’s a very robust engine as well due to its simplicity.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 21:59

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As much as I’m a fan of the JEEP 4.0 (what’s pictured is definitely Jeep, it’s got the coil packs on the plugs that came out just prior to MY2000 IIRC) inline sixes while generally having fewer parts than a V8 also end up more difficult to work with because the block is so long, so you’ll have to shell out for bigger/beefier engine stands, have to lift heavier heads and crankshafts, etc.

As others have said, the Chevy Small Block is very available with a huge amount of cheap parts and can be found anywhere. I’d look at 80's examples myself, as they still end up caught in the old-enough-to-be-junk but not-old-enough-to-be-classic for most people. Maybe stretch to early 90's. Any non-running truck, or an older Caprice (or Bonneville if you’re Canadian). Although not starting will probably be something other than engine-rebuilding-needing problems, so maybe fix that before pulling the engine out.

If you really want light-weight but something maybe a little more complex, my first (and so far only) engine rebuild was a Honda CBR600RR engine. I picked it up and set it down on the workbench. Actually that’s not true. I did once tear down and rebuild the B&S 4hp in my parents’ lawn mower, although I’d hardly say I rebuilt it. But 15 years later they’re still using it, which is better than that RR-block that dropped a valve at 14,000rpm on the dyno and went kablamo. But the point is that bike engines are smaller and lighter.

sdwarf36 > E90M3 01/08/2017 at 22:03

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Actually, they are a PIA. Done a few. (as SAAB’s-virtually identical as the Wartbug). You install the crank/rods/pistons from the bottom-as an assemble. And the 3 cylinders are 120 degrees apart from each other. Getting the rings started in the bottom of the bores is tricky-and someone has to hold up the crank while the process goes on (times 3 cylinders). Easy to break a ring. And you wouldn’t know until too late.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 22:06

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use a jack. people have been crushed thinking they could muscle it in from underneath.

Also a vw engine is super simple and with push rods.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 01/08/2017 at 22:36

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good info. Yeah I’ll probably start with some small power equipment motors (I don’t know how to ride a bike, but maybe in the future) Since I don’t have the space to do a car at the moment.

Also from looking a CL it’s looking like a 80's truck will be the best bet. I was hoping for a VW bug or old Civic. But here in Texas it’s looking like truck or bust.

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/08/2017 at 22:38

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I would. That’s what I did with the Civic trans. The video I watched how to do the guy just bench pressed it in and out. I was just like, well the car’s on jackstands all ready. Might as well use the jack lol.

Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/08/2017 at 22:41

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Look for a truck or van. They used old school small blocks into the 2000s. Alternatively air cooled VW’s are pretty fool proof to rebuild, and you can make a big bore stroker for the around the same money as a stock rebuild. At least you still could a few years ago.

Amoore100 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 02:05

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_two-stroke

sonicgabe > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 07:12

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The Suzuki G10 three cylinder that was in the first gen Geo Metro. Cheap, readily available, easy to gets parts, and not difficult to work on.

Years ago, an ex of mine had one. She dropped it off for an oil change one day. She had me call the shop as they called her to say it needed something else done. So, I call and the guy says it needs a new timing belt/chain (I forget which one it had, but that’s not really important). I ask how long will that take and how much more will it cost. He tells me he can have it done in no time at all and it’ll be the cost of the belt/chain plus another whatever their bare minimum labor cost is. This was 1997, so that was probably $20 or so. When I took her to pick it up later that day, he shows me how easy it is to do on that engine. It was maybe three or four little bolts. Undo them, remove cover, old belt/chain off, new one on, bolt the cover down. They did most of the job while the oil was draining.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 08:12

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? :O

You know your engine is fairly simple if all parts of it fit on 2/3rds of one single-bed sized sheet and the block fits within a t-shirt! :P

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/09/2017 at 12:56

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Unfortunately old Fiat’s are all but extinct in the US, much like the Jedi. A VW Bug would be an option, but they go for stupid money for the shape their in. :( 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 01/09/2017 at 21:16

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The 126 is also a FIAT that was never sold here, though the engine is essentially a bored out version of the same one that was found in later classic 500s.

VW would be my suggestion if you want simple though!

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time 08/12/2020 at 09:17

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You have a bathtub, right?