hey, i had a new engine put in my '89 accord. This small dealer that we bought the car from about 5 years ago put it in. He says he imported it from Japan and it only has 40,000 miles on it if that. It cost like $2,500 (850 for the engine, more for labor + shocks and independent rear suspension which were all broken). I understand that the car isn't really worth that much, but it was cheaper than buying a new car, which i didn't have the money for, and now this car should be inexpensive for the next few years and everything is fixed. I don't really know that much about cars though, so I was wondering what people thought about this, if it was worth it. Did I make a good move?

 

With a new motor. Assuming the transmission is good and no electrical issues. The car should last you a while, you said you didn't have the money to buy another one so this is the cheapest way to go. Just save up your money later on for something else that you like. I have a '91 Accord EX with 170K miles on it, if the engine you're getting has 40K miles on it that should last you for a while.

Dave

 

you can get an alright 4th gen accord for like 3000. you could have sold your 89 accord, non running, for like 500 bucks, and saved the 2500 and just bought another car. or 3,000 can get you a nice civic hatch, like in very good condition. but i mean if your motor and tranny only has 40,000 that's straight, it will last a while. but the resale value will be like 1/20 of what you invested

 

The thing is, if he had bought those cars it would be expected that they'd have alot of miles on it. Eventually he would have to do some sort of replacement on it, which cost even more since he has to throw up the 3 G's and then whatever it costs to get his stuff replaced. I mean if you're just looking for a daily driver, it should do you fine but if you're planning on racing and stuff then it would have been better to have saved the money.

Dave

 

man, it's water under the bridge.... fagetaboutit....

 

If the body is in decent shape, and the new motor really does only have 40k, then don't worry it will last you a LONG *** time

Original motor and tranny (look in sig)

Why does everyone always shout "you should have gotten a newer car" everytime this subject comes up? 3rd gens make PERFECT daily drivers

 

isnt the 89 accord a 2.0??? hhehhe.. why dont do a swap right away.. f20b.. hehehhehe.. just my opinion.. later..

 

Well if it's worth anything here is what i think and my personal experience.
-I have a 93 accord had 144k on it until i blew my motor
-got a 93 ex motor for Nippon.com (35-50k)
-every since i swaped it in it's been very good to me... concidering how many miles i drive a day and how many time i start to car up eeryday
-it runns better than when i first got it.

ONLY DO IT if you strongly think that you are gonna keep this car for more than 6-8 years.... why:
*value of car deplets due to a swap!
*buyers do not like the idea of a old, old car with a questionable motor....since you won't know how many miles are exactly on it.

-----I did it because i am only 19 and starting out in life... so i'm not the richest person also. Right now my accord has 169k (swaped when 144,444)I know that my accord should see about another 80k before it goes out.
HTH
I my accord

 

The biggest problem with this kind of thing is that the value of the car is much lower than the ammount of money you have in the car. This doesn't mean much if you keep the car and get your mony's worth out of it, whatever that means to you is up to you to decide. The problem comes in that sometimes cars are taken from us before we are ready to part with them. If this happens, the insurance company doesn't give a rat's *** about the $2500 you recently put into the car, they'll give you the value of the car and that is all. With an 89 Accord you're looking at a value of around a grand. Certantly not the $2500 you have in it in repairs alone. So that in essence is what you are risking.

 

it'll last, i wouldn't worry about it. thinking back i should have kept my 89 accord after some chick hit me and just taken an insurance check and fixed it and drove it cause i haven't found a car in that shape that would lsat for the ammount of money it would have taken to put some parts from a junkyard car on it.