Comments on egine reconditioning outfit (was New Zetec 1.25l...)

I've just been bothered to read that thread, and it really doesn't surprise me. I have yet to come across a company who actually rebuilds engines to a satisfactory level for a reasonable price.

Last re-con engine we fitted at work from a reputable source, smoked worse than the one that it replaced!

Have you tried pricing an engine direct from ford? You may be surprised at just how cheap they are.

I'll happily recommend Lyndale Engines in Peterborough, decently rebuilt engines & when I tried to get them to repair the bottom end of A Nissan Sunny they pointed me straight at the scrapyard as " those hardly ever go wrong, £50 down the scrappies will be far more sensible"

Having rebuilt a few in my day the answer is simple - it costs too much to do a proper job. In the days when re-con engines were often needed, genuine maker's ones were often little more expensive than a proper DIY job due to economies of scale. But these days the need for a re-con is rare.

Not a reputable source, then. They've cut corners.

However, you've answered your own question. You didn't find it economic to re-con the engine yourself (having farmed out the machineing work), but expected someone else to do it cheaper...

That is the issue. Unfortunetly, the vehicle concerned needed to be fixed within 3 working days, and an exchange engine was the only option. It wouldn't of been quite so bad, but we could of had a genuine exchange engine for less, but due to warranty issues, management wouldn't allow it.

Heathrow engines have had a terrible reputation for many years, I went there to pick up a car up once, how any one could leave their car at such a s##t hole was beyond me.

Genuine ford engine is the way to go, although personally I would move on, or buy another car with a rough body/good engine and transplant it, if I liked the vehicle.

Mrcheerful