Should I get an engine or get rid of car?

[Sandyxo]

Hi all I'm having more probs with my Fronty Finally got her back after having the head gasket done, something needed welding when he got it off...he said there had been a lack of anti-freeze over the years causing a crack...anyway all done and car was fine, back to enjoying driving, then at Christmas drove to Manchester, bit sluggish, seemed to be racing, car never got hot. Drove home Boxing Day, same thing, went into garage for LPG, oil light came on briefly gauge went right up to top then a knocking noise....got home took to garage next day, its been there ever since.

Today he said it would probably be cheaper to replace the engine as he thinks its something on the bottom end, hes tested the oil pressure there isnt any, he reckons I can get an engine quite cheap and we'll sort something out for his labour (he's a wonderful fella) what I need to know is............this car now has cost me a lot and I havent driven it properly for ages (head gasket) only had it back a few weeks now this......do I try and sell it as it is (long MOT as he tested it after he did the head gasket) or do I get an engine and hope I have no more problems?

Anyone know where I can get a decent engine?

Any advice much appreciated

Its an R reg 2.2 petrol/LPG Transglobe in great condition apart from the engine

Thanks everyone, Sandyxo

[Kevin1964]

Hiya
I think its a really tough one but seeing as you have spent a lot of funds on your fronty you now need to weigh up the good and bad points..Do you sell it and lose loads with a non functioning engine or do you resist that idea and spend a a bit more on another engine..Me i would resist the idea of selling it..Cant help you on the engine though

[Rifleman]

I think i'd be with Kev on this. If you can afford it, find an engine that you can get plenty of info about, to make sure its a good one.
Then get your man to throw it in.
It would be a real shame to sell on a good vehicle for a loss, just because it has a duff power plant.
Hopefully someone on here will be able to help you, good luck mate.

[Popuptoaster]

Thing is, if you cant do work yourself running an old car is gonna cost you an arm and a leg eventually, that not a problem if you love the car your spending the money on, i have always had old cars, im talking about 30 or 40 year old motors as daily drivers, as far as im concerned our 16 year old Fronterea is "new" still.

I can do any work my cars need though so i only have to factor in the cost of spares, even then you have to weigh up cost versus love.

Fronteras are pretty cheap and the price of scrap is quite high still, if your not gonna be sentimental about it it probably makes more economical sense to find a Frontera that needs something that is still good on yours, buy it cheap, swop in your good parts and scrap/break for spares whats left over.

[N1ova]

Have you tried flintspeed in greenfield?He ususally has fronteras.Hk motors in wrexham is another good breakers yard.Or you could get your botton end rebuilt.Someone on here not so long ago rebuilt a whole 2.2 engine dont think it was to expensive either.

[Sandyxo]

Hi where are they? My car man is in Pen Y Maes near Holywell but I told him I'd get advice first from here before I decide what to do, I'm going along with the all of you just now, I've spent so much money on her it would be a shame to waste a good car because of the engine, I'll keep looking for an engine, thanks everyone you really are very helpful

[Kevin1964]

I think i'm right in saying there are other vauxhall models that were fitted with the very same 2.2 engine so don't for one minute think about none being around for the frontera when your searching..Plenty out there and will be on the shelves or still fitted into vehicles at vauxhall breakers mainly but indipendant breakers may have them in there yard so don't give up hope of finding your engine

[mick corbett]

HI , sorry to hear about your engine troubles mate . I have a 2.2 transglobe with a lovely engine, gearbox etc that i'm not using at the moment due to a ban.
The tyres are like new and its got a bit of history with the engine as it was a replacement when i bought it ,so not too many miles on it. I'm not really looking to sell it but if it helps you out i'll let it go for resonable money ? The mot ran out last august and its on sorn at the moment becauswe i can't use it.Its based here in Cheshunt Herts so if your interested let me know via pm . hope it helps ,cheers Mick

[snapper]

[Drift]

What did he weld?

[Kevin1964]

Sounds like either the head was tig welded or work done on the block..If the mechanic stated there was a lack of antifreeze over a long period of time it sounds like the head was welded up as the alloy corrodes very quickly..But that would then require resurfacing afterwards

[BoxCleva]

[snapper]

Jeeze.... these 2.2 fronteras don't do well with a gas kit fitted, found another dead un here

[Rifleman]

He said the car was also MOTed so it could be the car that was welded, not the engine.

[Kevin1964]

Keith.. I think it was the engine or head that had cracked and welded up again by the looks of his post because he states at the begining of his post when the head was removed he noticed a crack

[Rifleman]

[Sandyxo]

[BoxCleva]

[Drift]

I havent a clue what a fire ring is

[Popuptoaster]

I thought the fire ring was in the head gasket, its the bit that encircles the cylinder i think?

I have seen plenty of heads that need reapiring due to corrosion, normally its a way of adding material back in thats been corroded away, you build up the weld where the gap between a water way and an oil way or cylinder has got to thin and then machine it down flat again afterwards.