I've been driving my GSR for about a year and half now, it's just rolled over 170,000 miles. A few months ago it started burning oil, and smoking. I got it checked out and it looks like the rings are pretty much gone. My question is should i rebuild the motor, or just get a new one?

I work at AutoZone and I checked the price of a new motor through them, it's a rebuild c1 and I can get it for about 2500 with trade in. What that be a better route than buying a used one? Around what would be the cost of a full rebuild plus labor?

 

Oh, and the AutoZone motor comes 3 year warranty, but comes without things like intake mani, valve cover, oil pan, blah blah.

 

You could probably rebuild for cheaper than that, if you look around.

 

id just replace my valve seals , valve guides , replace your piston rings, look at the pistons and if there fine leave them alone , id replace the valves to while i had it off if has really high miles , have the head resurfaced , new head gasket , put a new t belt and water pump while i was there and call it day. I wouldnt buy my parts from autozone either , but you could probably get away with doing what i just mentioned for like 750-1000$

 

being that i managed an autozone for 4 years i can also tell you the motors they have come with at least a 1 year unlimited mileage warranty, and most have 3 years....they are also rebuilt using new internals, balanced/blueprinted and dyno tested, if you purchase the higher end engine

you have other options such as h-motors, who sell high quality jdm motors as well

personally i would opt for one with a warranty, like the autozone engine....as its not autozone doing the rebuild but well known companies such as Recon or Proformance

if you have the knowledge and time to rebuild, that's also an option

 

Well, my problem is I don't have the time/space/tools need to rebuild myself. I wouldn't have a problem pulling the motor out and sticking another in, though. My biggest thing about a rebuild is someone else would have to do it, and i'd have to factor in labor.