BearTranserv@aol.com wrote:
>I want this to be a 2-3 day a week commute to work car. The question is, do
>I overhaul the existing engine, or do I change out to a non-British late
>model Nissan or Toyota?
>
I think a stock engine will win on both cost and reliability. My engine
rebuild -- just about everything -- cost just over $3000 in parts in
2000, but that's worst case replacing everything. Your choice B might be
reasonable, you'll know more when you start to pull it apart. Fitting a
salvage late model Nissan/Toyota engine and transmission won't
necessarily be cheaper, since in addition to the cost of the car/truck
you'll spend some money getting it to fit and customizing controls and
such. I had a British car mechanic rebuild mine, but the work was done
in my garage in just one week (long story). Most of my smoke was from 5
broken compression rings and one broken oil control ring.
Then I drove it as a daily driver for the next four years and almost
35,000 miles. I drove it year round in urban traffic around Denver,
Colorado. I don't think I missed more than a couple days here and there
for repairs, mostly waiting for parts from Moss. I checked the oil every
morning, just like the owner's manual says. I'm still driving it, but I
don't commute so I'm putting on far fewer miles. And when my side of
Denver started to seriously salt our roads I bought a Volvo wagon for
the winter. I've had a few breakdowns, but only a couple I couldn't fix
and drive home. And with a couple more gaskets in my boot there's only
one that would have left me stranded. Oddly now that I don't need the
car every day, in the past year I've replaced the differential, head,
tranny, and front hubs. That's after 42 years and around 80,000 total miles.
A non-standard Nissan or Toyota engine will likely be less reliable
because you're adding complexity. They're reliable engines, but in a
vehicle designed for them. Melding the engine management system to youor
TR4 probably won't be a trivial effort. I'm not sure where you put a
check engine light on a TR4 dash? ;) TR4 engines are easy to work on
and maintain, and run well with attentive maintenance. Even with neglect
they often give better service than you should expect.
--
Steven Newell
Littleton, CO
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