[Shotimes] New engine for 92 MTX SHO

George Fourchy George Fourchy" <krazgeo@jps.net
Thu, 30 Jan 2003 18:40:29 -0800


On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 08:08:50 EST, BilliamsSFC@aol.com wrote:

>Hi, I have been wanting to ask another SHO owner where and how to obtain a 
>new crate motor or get a good rebuilt engine. 

What we have learned over the last 5 or so years when we tear down SHO V-6 engines
is that the rings and cylinder walls seem to last more or less indefinitely.  Even
engines torn down all the way after over 200K miles still have their factory honing
marks visible on the cylinder walls, and the rings are usually just very slightly
worn, and good for plenty more miles.  I've never heard of a teardown that revealed
any significant cylinder wear.  The majority of folks that have already replaced
their engines usually look for one with anything under 125K or so....obviously the
younger the better, but while the engine is out of the car all the known wear points
are addressed, and you wind up with a pretty good engine, ready for another easy
100k miles, at a minimum.   These wear points include crankshaft bearings, mostly
rod bearings, but if the bottom of the engine is staring at you, do the mains, too. 
Oil pumps are out of production, but if you can find a good one, you might install
it.  Give it a valve job, to include guides.  Front and rear seals should be
changed, as should the clutch, and use a ceramic throw-out bearing.  Then do the
standard 60/100K stuff, like the timing belt, all the sensors, and the waterpump,
and you should be in good shape.  Put on a new thermostat, gauge temp sensor, oil
level sensor gasket, and oil pressure sender, because these are common trouble
points.

The '90 that I bought new now has 258K miles, with one 60K service, and it is
running strong, if a little noisy at startup, due to the timing chain tensioners
flopping.  It'll soon be replaced with two more '90s, one with a 3.2 transplant
(basically a zero mile new car, bumper to bumper), and the other with 160K original
miles.  I'll do something to that engine later, to make it happier, but nothing
major.

You don't need a 'crate' engine (don't exist anyway), or a professional $5K
rebuild...total waste of good money.  The engines from donor cars are better than
that for the cost.  Get one and do the preparing yourself....ask us, learn, and save
bucks.

George and the Lowrider