Recently purchased 96 2.5TL with 150,000 miles. Having been a previous Acura and Honda owner, I knew the timing belt interval was 90k-100k or there abouts. Which brings me to my dilemma, being short on cash I was not able to get a mechanic to check out the car, however with the mileage on it I figured the timing belt had been changed WRONG!!!! Car still had the original belt in it (am impressed with that though, trying to be positive lol). So on to my dilemma, do I get the engine rebuilt or find a used one(2.5 cylinder btw). The engine that is in there didn't smoke or use oil. But I'm worried about it leaking oil or after the heads are redone and reassembled. But also with a new(to me) engine I don't know the past history on it.
Advice on which route to take????

 

is the car still running? if so get the belt changed. No need to change engines just because the belt is old. if the belt broke and tapped some valves etc then that's a different story.

get it checked out and go from there by a mechanic you trust that can change the belt at a reasonable cost.

 

I'm assuming the timing belt snapped...

~Cheers~

 

Yes the belt broke, I left that part out, thats what I get for typing late at night. Its either rebuild engine or get a used one. Bent valves and all that good stuff

 

i'd say rebuild and tune that baby up!

 

I'd get another motor and do all the external seals on it, timing belt/waterpump, all hoses with OEM, full tuneup, and drop it in with all new fluids. be sure to check the compression of the motor you're buying.

 

Def get another motor.

Try car-part.com to find one near you.

 

no matter were u are finding a 5 cylinder motor is hard to find am still looking for one and i haven't found one. my motor runs great but i want to rebuild one and experiment with it..

 

I found one for $450 with 78,000 miles on it.

 

quite a few 2.5s at the junkyards here.

 

There are a lot of places to find these 5 cy motors if you search.
Last year, when I changed out my engine, I found too many between 22k to 100+k on them.

I ended up getting one with the 40k.

There's a place in NY or NJ only imports JDM engines and they gurrantee that the engine are between 45k and 65k. Price around $1000k including shipping.
You can't go wrong with that.

 

Thanks guys for the help..seen quite a few on car-parts.com
So pretty much go with finding a lower mileage engine instead of rebuilding current one??

 

Yes.

 

dang i'm going to need a new auto trans for my 2.5. so mike?? where did you find a motor for 450?

 

I had similar incident w/ belt timing lost due to crankshaft pulley woodruff key coming loose (bolt not fully tensioned). Valves were bent, but pistons were fine so I had head rebuilt and new head gasket installed. You can have someone look at pistons w/ a borescope through the spark plug holes to confirm that pistons are not damaged.

I would stick w/ engine I know rather than $1000-$1500 to replace w/ used. You should be able to repair head and install for <$1000.

good luck

 

^ I'm hoping the pistons are not damaged, I was pulling into a parking space when it broke so the engine wasn't going at high RPM, so I'm hoping the damage is minimal.

 

yeah Ive done searches online and stuff but there always some were east like NY or GA and stuff like that. I live in California and want to find something close. Unless that place your talking bout can ship the motor to California then that work to as long as its not that much. Here is the central coast a 2.5 motor is extremely hard to come by. There is a JDM engines place in los angeles i went to and they said they didnt have them and the couldnt get them. But that guy i was talking to was in a sh*#& fu#$ up mood or something tho cuz he wasnt to helpfull...

 

Google is your best friend.

here are some links, they all deliver for reasonable price. Call them up.

http://www.onypc.com/japanese-engine-of-atlanta

http:
//www.jdmenginedepot.com

http://www.usedjapanmotors.com/

 

Decided on getting engine rebuilt, anybody up for a 2.7L 5 cylinder

 

2.7?

We drive 2.5s what are you hiding and not telling us?

 

 

what pistons?

 

Just wishful thinking when they have the heads off to rebuild it to bore it out, but I think the next size piston would be 3.0.

 

5 cylinder, not sure if that's going to work. time to contact JE.

 

^ just thinking way outside the box lololol