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Engines - Big End Issues - Refurb/Replace.. Help!


dave-heath

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I've owned my 03 350z for 4/5 years, its done 80k miles.

As far as history, the only thing to have gone on the motor was the clutch at about 70k.. so its been a good ride till now.

 

Last week I heard a knocking develop from the engine, so I parked it up instantly, and havn't started the engine since.

The car is still firing correctly, no misfires or uneven idle. No loss of oil or water.

 

Got the car recovered to a local Nissan dealership in Manchester, who took 3 days to get around to it, and say that "the knocking is defo coming from the engine" .. ?!?!?! erm yeeaaahh .. I knew that. They 'think' its likely to be a crank/bearing issue, and have given me the following options:

1: Short motor replacement - £5500 plus labour of about £750 to remove engine etc..

2: Remove engine and replace the crank and bearings.. £750 for a crankshaft, £150 for various bearings, and prob £1k+ on labour to do so.. warranty only on the parts changed - which we all know if a major fail occurs, it wont cover the valves etc if they get mashed...

 

Currently, they have not removed or stripped anything down, as soon as they start, Im into a decision that will lead me down their repair routes and costs..

 

I've rang around a few engineering/refurb companies:

Engine World Ltd in Bolton. Full refurb engine replacement, 12 months full warranty on all parts - fitted for £3-3500k ..

Engine solutions Ltd in Essex - would strip the engine and replace the crank etc for £3k.. rough price as may involve a rod or 2, although the engine hasnt thrown one yet..

 

Does anyone have any advice or info that I may find useful..??

Im finding myself in very unfamiliar territory :scare:

 

Cheers!

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there are traders on here that can help you out. send ZMANALEX a PM first off to find out your real engine prices.

also i'd get it to someone who isnt nissan to get a second opinion, where are you located?

 

+1 Speak to ZMANALEX for a price on the engine and if you are anywhere near the south, have a word with Mark @ Abbey Motorsport. Sure Mark will have lots of experience re-building the engine with their racing support. :thumbs:

 

Sure I have seen replacement engines on ebay for £2k - £2.5k with a warrenty but never really took much notice so not sure what their reputation is like. Good luck though as sounds pricey either way.

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New member with a big problem posts at 1.30 pm.

Answer of good local'ish garage by 2.24 pm

 

Good result :clap:

 

I agree the forum is full of helpful people, like when I wanted NOS for Wales, there were a number of posts helping to source my spray!! Not that I managed to get hold of any, but suggestions and fingers searching the net were helpful.

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Agreed - huge thanks all so far.. waiting for call backs from all that have been mentioned..

 

I used to be a massive forum person when younger and previous cars, FTO's etc, then with the 350 life just got busy.. although I still do small mods on the car. Had a few trips to the Nurburgring in my 350.. and once on GSXR1000 .. :)

 

Bit of a pain in timing though as was just starting to look at a move to something else.. 370 is in budget, wish I could justify a GTR.

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Agreed - huge thanks all so far.. waiting for call backs from all that have been mentioned..

 

I used to be a massive forum person when younger and previous cars, FTO's etc, then with the 350 life just got busy.. although I still do small mods on the car. Had a few trips to the Nurburgring in my 350.. and once on GSXR1000 .. :)

 

Bit of a pain in timing though as was just starting to look at a move to something else.. 370 is in budget, wish I could justify a GTR.

 

Dave - you may want to update your webspace (link on your signature) to read "The 350z-uk.com" forum is the most helpful 350z forum in the world.... :teeth::thumbs:

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Zmanalex will help you :thumbs:

A low-miler replacement is definitely the best idea. AFAIK the engines are generally good and not prone to failure at all - you must have one that has had a very bad past. Low miler replacement can be found, after all there are unfortunate amounts of people who stuff the cars into hedges etc. :headhurt:

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Still waiting on a few callbacks .. Paul from TDi-North isnt able to undertake a strip down on 350's.. but gas given me a number for a garage that he rates high that do work on them.

 

Researched Engine World Ltd, who claim to be able to do a replacement refurb for £3500.. but reviews on them are very poor.. poor quality engines, bad service, and hellish warranty support.. lots of trading standards reports.. wide birth for a replacement.

 

Had a bunch of negative emails from parts-finders, so doesnt seem to be many engines around.. unless someone has a garage full of them damn things.. :(

 

Nissan have rang back with a more comprehensive repair cost for crank replacement.. £3800..

 

Hopefully tomorrow may bring me a garage that could do the work.. or replacement engine...

 

Apologies if webspace is 'old'.. tend not to update it since its creation..and facebook ;)

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Had a bunch of negative emails from parts-finders, so doesnt seem to be many engines around.. unless someone has a garage full of them damn things.. :(

 

Hopefully tomorrow may bring me a garage that could do the work.. or replacement engine...

 

Did you try zmanalex? :)

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Sorry about the news but this can be sorted easily as mentioned...... Zmanalex, lee or reputated garages.

 

The options are get the bearings +/- rod(s) +/-crank replaced or get a waranted low mileage DE engine fitted by a reputed garage. It should come in circa £3k for option 2 which is better IMO.

 

If its me and i am keeping the car for much more and going to spend up to %k with the stealers, i would replace with engine with a revup or HR engine for near enough the same money and throw in a mild nismo cam, headers, ATI dampners, ligthweight pulleys, lightenned clutch/flywheel, uprated tranny and engine mounts, nismo short shifter and even 3.9 final drive all in there and tune with Uprev or piggy back ;) i reckon you will have 350FWHP easy with these and a very responsive car :thumbs: Greekman made 340FWHP with mostly uprev i believe?

 

Anyway good luck on your engine search!

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