long story short... should i fix or sell?

Took my 81 civic to the mechanic to see what the real problems were... got told the head needs work (water got into it) and the block needs to be bore out & thus needing new pistons & crank etc. Total cost would run me $1800 or so (that's IF the head is not cracked.)

Suggestions on what I should do? Is it worth spending the cash to fix a car that only has sentimental value?
I also just fixed the carb so its perfect now... but then this happened.

 

ok so this is just my opinion... if you got a classic, and it looks good, I say PAY IT. I had a chance back (YEARS BACK) when I was a teenager to buy a 1976 accord hatchback for $750. If I had bought the car then I probably still would have it today, sadly I didn't buy the car because I wasn't thinking like an adult but as a teenager. Sentimental value is a good enough value to have. Heck I'm still trying to find another 76er for sale today! And besides, if you got it just right and this happens what will it be once this repair is done? Hmmmm?

 

I'd say find a new mechanic; surely a used replacement engine can be found for a few hundred bucks or so, then add a few hundred more for the work to R&R the engine and you should be well under a grand to get the car back on the road.

 

would you happen to know of any online websites that may have this engine avail? I tried looking with no luck and I still def. want to get it running again. I'm just worried about the whole bore out, piston and engine rebuild JUST to find the head is indef. cracked. I do have another used head that I saved from before but no idea if its cracked either. If indeed both are bad.. i'll be out $1700. I'd definitely go the way of buying another engine if possible but its hard to come by locally.

 

Nationwide salvage listings: http://www.car-part.com/ or try a nationwide search of CL: http://www.adhuntr.com/

 

Yessir. Mr. Smith hit it right on.

 

Depends what kind of storage space you have to keep the car in IMO, if you can set it aside for a few months until you source a replacement engine on the cheap I would hang onto it. Hard to say overall without seeing pictures of the car too.

You could just have the head serviced and try cleaning the pistons and honing cylinders yourself and add some new rings...

 

Where are you located? I have an 1983 1500S engine (bare engine from oil pan up to the head, no auxiliary attachments like manifolds, distributor, etc..., but all that should swap out from your engine; it's still assembled, been sitting around in my garage for a few years, it was running when pulled and still spins freely, I would bet if you cleaned it up a bit, give it a once over maybe check the valves etc..., it would probably swap right in). I don't know what shipping would be, but it's just taking up space in my garage, I'd let it go cheap.

 

Yea I Hear You! I'm Looking at a 81 2dr 5sp with a/c. been sitting for 3 years. Ran but would not pass smog. I'll let you know how much my Quotes are. Good Luck.

 

My be look on hmotor

 

put a d16 in it and move up to the 55 mph zone. Keep classic and move fantastic

 

Makes no sense at all.

Not to mention that any time these cars are moving, it's definitely "fantastic."

 

As said above,
1) find a new mechanic, or at least one that has done this type of work on the same engine. It starts at $1800.... then the mechanic find other problems.... and may be after spending $2500 the engine does not run right. Can he give referrals to his previous work? And be aware that noboby, will make an engine as good as the factory.
2) get a replacement engine... that was known to be running.
3) shipping can be inexpensive, they are some companies ship from their warehouse to their warehouse. Strap the engine on a pallet. Cannot find the name at the moment.

here is a hint

http://www.engineshipping.com/html/page09.html

Of course if you are in California, smog rules apply so you cannot do too much unless you are willing to visit the smog referee, and change your engine description.

Forwardair is the one that is usually recommended

 

Save it!

 

Shop around to other shops. See what others are asking to fix it. I think older is better. Less crap to go wrong.
Was the 81 a CVCC? I had a 76 Civic & at 13,000 miles just out of warranty the head gasket went & I think the head cracked. But lucky the dealer I bought it from warrantied it anyway.

 

Haven't had much luck finding an engine locally. Currently the engine is separated from the car and is sitting in the trunk. I had one other mechanic look at it recently but he's also worried about the parts being hard to come by & thus costing an arm and leg. Don't know how much longer I can let the engine & car sit before corrosion occurs inside the block since its open...*sigh. I really want to save it but with parts being so rare... its getting harder and harder.

 

You can try Mark Allen. He built my engine.
http://www.1stgencivic.com/forum/vie...?f=162&t=16944

 

First, I'm not sure if you have a 1300 or 1500.

If a 1500, most likely it's only a headgasket which is relatively easy to replace. IF it overheated badly then new pistons/rings might be in order but again not a really big deal to replace.

Now if it's a 1300, it gets a little more sticky but you will not know until it's torn down. 1300 engines are aluminum and more sensitive to overheating after effects than the cast 1500 engines.

My advice is to first do a compression test which will tell you the overall condition of the engine and just which cylinders may be affected.

More details on just how this happened would allow folks here to give more specific advice...