I just looked at an Amigo for my daughter. It's a red 1993 XS with a clean exterior, new tires, new top and a good interior (driver's seat is worn, that's about it).

The only hitch is the engine runs and sounds like crud. She took it to a mountain mechanic a couple of years ago for the timing belt, and about 1,000 miles later, it lost power, etc. etc. Been sitting since then. It will start and run, but makes loud valve ticking noises and is very rough.

I am trying to figure out if it is worth it to get and then find a used/replacement 2.6L that I can put in easily/quickly. I've looked at www.car-parts.com , but the engines there are all around $1000 or so.

Any other ideas in the Denver area? OTher opinions?


oh - they are asking $800, but I can probably talk them down. But if I have to spend a lot on an engine, I don't think it is worth it.

probably just needs the top end redone

I would check to see if the timing belt skipped a tooth or two
and do a compression test to see if you have any bent valves

good ideas. The gal told me that the mechanic took it back apart to see what was wrong, and told her that there was scoring on the cylinder walls, etc.

My brother lives in the area and says the guy is not very competent, so I suppose the mechanic was just covering his butt for screwing up the top end and the timing belt, and MAYBE there is nothing wrong with the bottom end, but in any case, I don't think I can take it as another project right now - I would hate to get into the top end and find out that there are bottom end issues as well...

oh, what to do, what to do...

And he put it all back together in running condition. That means he would have to pull the head to know that. something aint right here

sorry if I am confusing things.

They took it back to the mechanic when it started acting up - losing power, etc. etc. They said he tore it down to see what was wrong, then told them that it looked like a cylinder wall was bad, but that his timing belt was fine. And yes, he put it back together the way it was.

Like I said, I don't have much faith that the engine is any good at all. I might have to pass this up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Short of dropping something into the cylinder or breaking a ring, the 2.6 block is pretty stout. I have seen them hold the crosshatch for a looooong time. I am also not fully convinced that this guy could tell a scratch from his, well...you know where I am going.

Toss out a price. $300, $500 whatever is a nasty low ball. At this point it is worth scrap to them and they can't do the work themselves. To them, it will cost probably $1000+ to have someone else work on it. Pick it up cheap, pop the head off and go from there. For all you know, this guy put it back together with the old head gasket and did not hook up all the vacuum lines. I bet for under a grand, you can have a great rig for your daughter.

Now, if the bottom end is no good, well...we won't go there right now. Actually, is it blowing blue smoke? If not then whatever he saw was not that bad. If the walls were scratched enough to make it run poorly, then it would blow smoke like it was fogging for mosquitoes.

What's the rest of the rig like? Is it really in good enough condition where it would be worth it to do some engine work? Or is it just so-so?

Put a compression gauge on it. See what that says. It will help you out really fast. For all you know, this guy screwed up the belt and over tightened the valves and burned a few. A compression test will help you narrow it down to the top or the bottom of the engine.

Michael

Michael -

Thanks for the reply. It was running for 4 -5 minutes, no blue smoke anywhere. I suppose instead of valve ticking, it was more like clanking or knocking. Definitely sounded like the top end, but then again, I am not very good at diagnosing anything.

I just have to weigh out getting a good deal over having something that does not run sitting around the house for a while. (especially since I am going backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch in about two weeks, and have about a dozen other projects at the house, including a non-running sammi ...) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


hmm. Decisions, decisions.

hmm... a red '93 Amigo XS... did you fall that much in love with my truck during the short time it was parked at your house.? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I'll echo some of the others and say the bottom-end of these engines can best be described as 'tank-like'. Worst-case scenario, if you pay them what they are asking and drop a used engine in for $1000, you still have what I consider to be a great vehicle for $1800. I'd suspect something in the top-end that can be fixed/replaced for easily under a grand, though. Best of luck! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Well since you did not buy the trooper that has a great engine and rough body.<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> When I tried to do the same thing with an 88 it was blowing blue smoke and after the head went on it ran like crap. First and only time I did that. If it runs (ok) without smoke I'd bet that it's in the topend.

Maybe the valves are way out of spec?

Mine were ticking like mad even a small amount off.



Madcat <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />