Blew my engine, what to do... (Z24)

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Jeff Olsen - 04 Mar 2005 08:56 GMT

Hello!

THe head gasket went, badly, in my '86 Nissan 4x4, 720 series, Z24 engine.
170K miles. My wife had to keep driving it and while it made it home, it
was not pretty! Jets of steam, knocking, etc. So I'm guessing I need a new
engine. Anyone have an opinion on what I should do? As I see it, the scale
runs from rebuild it myself to buy a warrantied, remanufactured engine and
have it professionally installed. I don't know how much rebuilding it
myself would cost, and it'd be the first time I did that. A reman engine
installed is about $2000.

I'd hate to give up on the truck; I've had it since 50K miles and while it's
old, it's still a good farm truck and I need a farm truck! OTOH, I hate to
dump 2 grand into what is probably a $2500 pickup!

Thanks for any advice...

-jeff

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Striker - 04 Mar 2005 10:23 GMT

They are tough little engines, my 86' lasted a little over 300,000 you may
be surprised to find that you only need a new head gasket. also oil and
filter due to contamination.

Olliec
remove bond to reply

> Hello!
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> -jeff

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Butch Davis - 04 Mar 2005 14:35 GMT

Agree that it is worth trying to get by with a new head gasket, oil, filter,
etc. But, make sure the head is flat and true before proceeding down that
road.

If the engine is truly shot it makes little economic sense to replace or
rebuild the engine. When all is said and done a replacement truck would
cost little more.

OTOH, if you would like to keep the vehicle forever for sentimental reasons
it is well worth the expense, IMO.

Good luck with simply replacing the head gasket, etc.

Butch

> They are tough little engines, my 86' lasted a little over 300,000 you may
> be surprised to find that you only need a new head gasket. also oil and
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>>
>> -jeff

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Steve T - 05 Mar 2005 01:45 GMT

> Hello!
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> new
> engine. Anyone have an opinion on what I should do?

Get a used engine installed..

> As I see it, the
> scale runs from rebuild it myself

Waste of time if it got this hot.

> A reman engine
> installed is about $2000.

Is that a "guess" or did someone actually quote you this price? That sounds
awful low for a "reman engine" installed.

>OTOH, I hate
> to dump 2 grand into what is probably a $2500 pickup!

Do you plan on selling it?

Signature

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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Jeff Olsen - 05 Mar 2005 07:07 GMT

>> Hello!
>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Get a used engine installed..

My fear there is that pretty much any Z24 engine is going to be about 20
years old... that's a pretty old used engine!

>> As I see it, the
>> scale runs from rebuild it myself
>
> Waste of time if it got this hot.

Damn! I was just getting excited at the idea of trying a new head gasket
only, as suggested by a couple other replies. I may pull the head just out
of curiousity to see how bad it really is...

>> A reman engine
>> installed is about $2000.
>
> Is that a "guess" or did someone actually quote you this price? That sounds
> awful low for a "reman engine" installed.

It was $1450 for the engine with a 3-yr warranty and $650 for the install...

>> OTOH, I hate
>> to dump 2 grand into what is probably a $2500 pickup!
>>
> Do you plan on selling it?

No... I actually kind of need a pickup (I live in the woods) but it does not
need to be a NICE pickup. The last long trip that truck took was 2 years
ago to elk camp. Now it's just for getting gravel, going to the dump,
getting 2x6's, etc.

-jeff

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Steve T - 05 Mar 2005 20:55 GMT

>>> Hello!
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> My fear there is that pretty much any Z24 engine is going to be about 20
> years old... that's a pretty old used engine!

Yet yours was fine till you overheated it wasn't it?

>>> As I see it, the
>>> scale runs from rebuild it myself
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> only, as suggested by a couple other replies. I may pull the head just
> out of curiousity to see how bad it really is...

You can always try it. My experience has been once these heads get hot
enough to warp, you've anealed the aluminum and they will continue to blow
gaskets. I know I wouldn't spend very much fixing it. Throw a gasket on it
and if it doesn't work out, you don't have a ton of money in it. I would
NOT spend hundreds rebuilding a core that was overheated like this.

>>> OTOH, I hate
>>> to dump 2 grand into what is probably a $2500 pickup!
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> not
> need to be a NICE pickup.

Then what it would sell for isn't even an issue was my point.

Signature

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

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