Pro-active engine refurbishment/rebuild - costs at a garage?

[Portent 0]

My car is running fine but having acquired a VEGE refurbished head recently (a bit of an impulse purchase) I'm thinking of a complete rebuild longer term. There is no urgency so I may not do this for another year or two. But I think it would secure the cars future and if I know the costs involved then I can start saving and budgeting. I am willing to give some work a go but rebuilding an engine is not something I would consider. So I would want to hand the keys to a reputable garage and let them undertake it...

 

I am looking for some advice on a rough price guide to hand the car over to someone to strip the engine down, refurbish the bottom end and replace the head with the refurbished unit I have. If it's of any relevance the car has done around 140k to 145k and the chains were already done around 3 or 4 years ago. But I assume that's not particularly relevant if it's a complete strip down and refurbish?

 

Also any advice gratefully received on a good company to consider for the work. I have a garage I use but obviously someone a little more used to this kind of work would be preferable. I am based in Surrey so south east preferred but I would be willing to consider further locations for the right company.

 

Any advice appreciated. This is a long term aim rather than something I'm intending to do immediately. Thanks.

[Liam20vT 10]

Maybe a little far for you to travel, however i use a company called Turner race developments in Stroud. They are VAG tuning specialist's, really knowledgable guys. Couldnt recommend them enough

[Hofmiester 10]

Bill I had for my old Corrado VR6, rebuild at AMD in 2001 (when they were good) was about £3000 and that was for reboring a 2.8 block to 2.9, fitting new VR6 pistons and bearings etc refurbing the head, new clutch, chains/guides etc

[Portent 0]

Thanks both. Quite pricey (as expected).

[VEEDUBBED 0]

Or you could make me an offer on this dam vr6 engine i've had sitting gathering dust in my garage

for the past 20+ years..

The corrado it cam out of had 19000km so the engine was like new, basicley a whole engine in bits.

Only problem is that i'm based in Rome so postage might be steep.Still, if you need it, let me know.

Cheers.

[Portent 0]

Well that is indeed a barn find and gives an interesting second option! I'll have a think. Why did it come out of the car? Thanks.

[coullstar 0]

Try looking for a good 2nd hand block or rebore 2.8 then get it all built up and swap it over.

 

TBH unless it is blowing smoke or showing some dodgy readings on compression test Id just get the head put in and forget about it. If the bottom end starts going you can easily whip the head off and then get it done. Its not that bad a job putting a head on.

To me a full rebuild is spending money that there is good possibility may never be required to be spent.

[G60 CS 0]

talk to John Mitchell @ JMR based in Littlehampton so not far from you. He's a Corrado specialist albeit more of a G60 man or theres Vince @ Stealth racing

[Kevin Bacon 5]

If you take it to Stealth, just make sure you give them loads of notice and be prepared to leave it there for a while as they're very busy. Lots of VR6 rebuilds!

[Portent 0]

Thanks guys. Coullstar makes sense but this is planning for the future. Stealth and JMR are good shouts.

[Jon_vr6 1]

Yep got mine rebuilt at stealth mine took a while because my original block was bored out for the oversized pistons but there was still damage to the walls so one 2.8 spare block was stripped down but that was deemed unusable so another 2.8 was stripped down and sent to the borers. Took around 3 months total but I knew it was in the best hands Vince and the lads are top blokes

[VEEDUBBED 0]

My mate 20+ years in '92 when the car was about 4 months old lost it on a bend and slammed the car into a wall, total loss for him, lots of bits for me..!

[Supercharged 2]

There was a brand new VAG 2.8 bottom end on eBay!

[Dox 22]

There was a brand new VAG 2.8 bottom end on eBay!

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Genuine-VW-2-8-VR6-93-98-AAA-Bare-engine-Block-Pistons-/161233588920?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item258a4552b8

[Portent 0]

Thanks. Nice find. Tempted by it but 2.8 sadly.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Portent

[VW_OwneR_85 1]

 

TBH unless it is blowing smoke or showing some dodgy readings on compression test Id just get the head put in and forget about it.

To me a full rebuild is spending money that there is good possibility may never be required to be spent.

 

I agree with this 100%, if my engine ever shat the bed I would just buy another 2nd hand and swap them over on a weekend as there pretty damn cheap, but then again they are getting on abit now and a time will come where 2nd hand will be hard to get, don't think that time is now though,

[Joerrado 0]

So that's what the VEGE stickers mean! I'm just fitting a replacement VR6 engine that I've picked up for my corrado. It's got a yellow VEGE sticker on the block and a yellow sticker on the end of the head, both of which look very recent. It did make me wonder if it was a recon, as it's also very clean. I know it wouldn't have taken much to google 'VEGE' sooner but now I have after reading this.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Thanks. Nice find. Tempted by it but 2.8 sadly.

 

Why the aversion of the 2.8? Everyone knows the extra capacity of the 2.9 makes bugger all difference. If it's for originality, the 2.9 is no longer 2861cc after a rebuild anyway.

 

Personally I think that 2.8 block is perfect for keeping an old VR6 on the road.

[Portent 0]

Why the aversion of the 2.8? Everyone knows the extra capacity of the 2.9 makes bugger all difference. If it's for originality, the 2.9 is no longer 2861cc after a rebuild anyway.

 

Personally I think that 2.8 block is perfect for keeping an old VR6 on the road.

 

I thought the 2.8 had less power than the 2.9 in OBD1 guise? e.g. 175ps in the mk3 compared to 190ps?

[seanl82 23]

I thought the 2.8 had less power than the 2.9 in OBD1 guise? e.g. 175ps in the mk3 compared to 190ps?

 

I think power is pretty negligible with the 2.9 inlet on the 2.8 block and head. It's the inlet that restricts most apparently.

[Portent 0]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Thanks.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I think power is pretty negligible with the 2.9 inlet on the 2.8 block and head. It's the inlet that restricts most apparently.

 

Yep.

 

I think VW just wanted Corrado owners to think they were getting more than Golf VR6 owners, but in the real world the 2.9 only has a slight advantage from 4000rpm upwards over a 2.8. Many people feel the 2.8 (especially in OBD2 guise) drives better than the 2.9, with noticeably better pick up low down.

 

2.8s are also less prone to premature bore wear than the 2.9.

[Jim Bowen 1]

Am in similar situation now. Original engine head gasket went at about 200k. So bought another engine from the forum and swapped then over. Striped the head of that engine with intention of having it rebuilt.

But just bought that other new head from the forum.

As I already have the gasket kit and some arp studs I might just stick the new head on the current engine with all new timing gear and standard cams. Engine has schimmels at the moment so will sell them on to pay for some timing bits.

 

I also plan to fit some refurbished injectors. Although have an ultra sonic cleaner so might do that myself. Also planning to have oil filter housing, cam cover, aux bracket blasted.

Debating a new power steering pump. Already have a new alternator.

 

£3000 is a lot of money really. More than my car is worth. Ive just been buying bits when they pop up so seems less expensive.

 

What do people think about a new oil pump? Ever heard of them failing?

[Jim Bowen 1]

I've also considered a 2.8 bottom end? Am I right in saying its the inlet, throttle body and cams that differ in the 2.9. I agree with kev. Its more of a selling point the whole 2.9 thing. Surely an air filter would add a similar percentage.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Never heard of a VR6 oil pump going.

 

Yeah the only difference between the 2.8 and 2.9 is the intake and throttle pretty much. The 2.9 has a higher rev limit as well. I've read about UK 2.8 and 2.9 cams being different but I've never seen anything conclusive on that.