TOMsGPTurbo Posted January 16, 2013 Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 Hey guys, Does anyone know of any wreckers in Brisbane/Ipswich areas that do a swap style deal, I blew my head gasket and I was thinking of replacing it with a wrecker engine, and I was thinking do any wreckers do they swap for you? Cheers, Tom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.L.Z.BUB Posted January 16, 2013 Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 Try Boss Wrecking. I know they have a workshop. Ask for Luke, he's a KE70/corolla nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev Posted January 16, 2013 Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 Being the car that it is you are better off fixing your engine or just getting rid of the car, I do not recommend a used engine replacement in an astra / vectra at all as most of these suffered the same fate as yours has. It would also probably end up costing you the same to do a head gasket, timing belt etc as it would to get an engine supplied and fitted. I did come around around the other day, the corolla was out the front but the shutters were closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMsGPTurbo Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Try Boss Wrecking. I know they have a workshop. Ask for Luke, he's a KE70/corolla nut. Being the car that it is you are better off fixing your engine or just getting rid of the car, I do not recommend a used engine replacement in an astra / vectra at all as most of these suffered the same fate as yours has. It would also probably end up costing you the same to do a head gasket, timing belt etc as it would to get an engine supplied and fitted. I did come around around the other day, the corolla was out the front but the shutters were closed. Hmm maybe I should of asked for Luke, I called and spoke to older gentlemen who quoted me the most expensive engine price($1100) out of the four wreckers I called (granted it has low k's (90k) but still very expensive for what it is) and also labor wasn't to bad but still looking at 2 grand all up, which I don't have. Best price was $550 engine alone no fitting, I think I might go down this path and fit the engine myself with timing belt kit, cam seal kit, and new water pump. Also to answer my original question - yes there are wreckers who will install the engine for you. Further-more don't mention trading in your old engine as they all said it's worthless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ke70dave Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Further-more don't mention trading in your old engine as they all said it's worthless. yeah thats what i was gonna say.....wreckers don't like buying broken things. what engine are talking about here? a headgasket (assuming nothign else is damaged) on anything toyota and 4clr is like a weekend job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
altezzaclub Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 Best price was $550 engine alone no fitting Its a pig in a poke as you might be buying one that has a crummy bottom end, or worn rings, or had the oil changed once in three years... At least you know what your motor is like, and the $500 would cove the head job if you did it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 yeah thats what i was gonna say.....wreckers don't like buying broken things. what engine are talking about here? a headgasket (assuming nothign else is damaged) on anything toyota and 4clr is like a weekend job. Astra, I can't remember if it was the Z or X 18XE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMsGPTurbo Posted January 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 (edited) Yeh my little Holden TS Astra - Z18XE 245000 k's on it Blown gasket between cylinders 1 & 2 - water is seeping in between cylinders one and two, this was confirmed with a compression test. Engine is pinging due to low compression in the cylinders, the ECU is sending excess fuel into the chambers causing miss-firing. I have changed the following since purchasing the car in 2005 - ECU Coil-pack Water pump x 3 Timing belts changed every 60 000km x 3 (normal service stuff - plugs / oil etc) Coolant temp sensor with thermostat and housing How much do you reckon a head-recondition would be? Edited January 18, 2013 by TOMsGPTurbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev Posted January 18, 2013 Report Share Posted January 18, 2013 I will work out a quote for you which will be the bare minimum as the head may need welding before it gets machined. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMsGPTurbo Posted January 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 Thanks Trev, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJM85 Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 (edited) My 2000 Astra X18XE was a pit. Bought the car for the wife in 2007 with 127,000km from a dealer for $9990. Battery died within 3 days Front struts within a week. Coil pack with a month Timing belt and water pump were never done... lies lies lies. Bearing in the pump went and the timing belt slipped at 155,000. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. $2800 thanks. Mechanic managed to smash the front windscreen during the work. This car was cursed. Front wheel bearings went a few months later.... replaced the CV's while it was in the shop. $700 Clutch and slave cylinder went together at about 180,000km. $1600 The front suspension was completely clapped out again by 200,000km That's just off the top of my head. The last straw came on a Sunday afternoon at around 219,000km. Had a couple of brewskis whilst replacing the oil filter housing O-ring and cam cover gasket to slow constant oil leaks. Tried to take it for a test drive but got booked by the 5-0 reversing out of my drive way. Lost my license for drink driving. Car was sold for $1500 off my front a lawn a month later. My old man bought a 2002 Vectra a couple of months ago despite my warnings... Edited January 19, 2013 by GJM85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev Posted January 19, 2013 Report Share Posted January 19, 2013 They are quite bad in the build quality, I will never buy a euro design holden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMsGPTurbo Posted January 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2013 My 2000 Astra X18XE was a pit. Bought the car for the wife in 2007 with 127,000km from a dealer for $9990. Battery died within 3 days Front struts within a week. Coil pack with a month Timing belt and water pump were never done... lies lies lies. Bearing in the pump went and the timing belt slipped at 155,000. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. $2800 thanks. Mechanic managed to smash the front windscreen during the work. This car was cursed. Front wheel bearings went a few months later.... replaced the CV's while it was in the shop. $700 Clutch and slave cylinder went together at about 180,000km. $1600 The front suspension was completely clapped out again by 200,000km That's just off the top of my head. The last straw came on a Sunday afternoon at around 219,000km. Had a couple of brewskis whilst replacing the oil filter housing O-ring and cam cover gasket to slow constant oil leaks. Tried to take it for a test drive but got booked by the 5-0 reversing out of my drive way. Lost my license for drink driving. Car was sold for $1500 off my front a lawn a month later. My old man bought a 2002 Vectra a couple of months ago despite my warnings... They are quite bad in the build quality, I will never buy a euro design holden. WOW! that must of been a Monday or Friday made car! I think mine was atleast a Wednesday made car ;) Touch wood. Nothing compares to the reliability of a Corolla.... now I just have to save up and fix mine lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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