I posted a while ago about my car running like **** and that i needed a recon.

Well, the other day, i put in some oil and whent to tafe. The car ran fine.

When i whent to start it to go home the car was doing the most horrid noise and sounded like i was cooking nuts and bolts.

As i drove out of the parking lot, their was a big puddle of oil :confused:

I started driving it and the noises got worse and worse and finally the car just cut out on me and i couldnt start it at all.

I rolled it into a small street. I opened the bonnet, took the oil cap off and heaps of smoke just come out.

I dont know what to do. I got the car towed home for me and its just sitting their.

My mum is getting really pissed at me cause she tells me to find where to get the car fixed but i dont know where to go.

I whent down to this place in Malaga and asked if they have any second hand motors and they say that they dont have any for the 87's but they do have the astron II's that have been rebuild including reconditioned heads, new rings and has been bored out.

The guy said that he will sell the motor to me for $1100 and extra for instaling it and extra if any parts are needed.

Do you think it would be better to just get the engine looked at ? or just get the new engine ?

I would like to get the new engine because i know the only thing wrong with this car is the engine.

You shouldn't of drived it if you knew there was no oil in the sump the engine is basicly blown it self up cause of that.

The head would need alot of work and if you want to fix it you mise well buy another engine for the price that its going to be. :disgusted

Driving with no oil==BAD :rant:
You probably should have checked how much oil was still actually in it before trying to drive it. And ild say that your engine is now completely stuffed. :confused:

But anyway for $1100 you could get a whole magna instead of just the engine

i wouldn't bother trying to get your current engine fixed. it cost me $450 just for the head! the rebuild isn't cheap either. is it an efi or carburettor fed engine? cause $1100 is alright for an efi engine.


But anyway for $1100 you could get a whole magna instead of just the engine

silly idea. for $1100 u will get a magna with oil leaks galore. u are MUCH better off getting the rebuilt engine with the recon head etc for that price. that way, it's like a new engine and u KNOW there is nothing wrong with the rebuilt engine. don't shortcut it and buy another car, cause u will only have headaches with that car and have to spend more money to get it fixed.

it cost my mate $1800 for a rebuilt engine (with rebuilt carb but not the head) and a new clutch. clutches are around $300-$400. this was for a carby engine of course, that's y it was abit cheaper.

i wouldn't bother trying to get your current engine fixed. it cost me $450 just for the head! the rebuild isn't cheap either. is it an efi or carburettor fed engine? cause $1100 is alright for an efi engine.



silly idea. for $1100 u will get a magna with oil leaks galore. u are MUCH better off getting the rebuilt engine with the recon head etc for that price. that way, it's like a new engine and u KNOW there is nothing wrong with the rebuilt engine. don't shortcut it and buy another car, cause u will only have headaches with that car and have to spend more money to get it fixed.

it cost my mate $1800 for a rebuilt engine (with rebuilt carb but not the head) and a new clutch. clutches are around $300-$400. this was for a carby engine of course, that's y it was abit cheaper.

Oil leaks galore? i paid $600 for mine and i havent had a single oil leak!!

Oil leaks galore? i paid $600 for mine and i havent had a single oil leak!!


i wasnt saying every single magna that cost $600 had oil leaks. my point was that buying a $600 magna to rip the engine out of it to put it into his car was a bad idea. compression is an important thing and the older the engine the less compression it will have (from wear and tear). getting a rebuilt engine is a MUCH better idea cause if done properly, u will have near new compression and so the car will put out near as much power as it came from factory. ur car will not have the 83kw at the engine. not after all these years. lower compression for an N/A car means less torque and worse fuel economy because of it. less torque = wanting to put the foot down further to get the car MOVING = more fuel consumption.

Not at 83kw you reckon? Im not game to put it on the dyno to find out, it will **** itself :S

Oil leaks galore? i paid $600 for mine and i havent had a single oil leak!!
$900, and I had no oil leaks... Power steering, yes, but no oil leaks.

$900, and I had no oil leaks... Power steering, yes, but no oil leaks.


attack me y dont ya fellas? :bowrofl:

leaks are leaks. things wrong with it wateva. dont attack me! :shock:

haha on like donkey kong! I paid 1500 for mine ;) but it needed alternator + engine mounts + valve stem seals + tappets, even so, the mags cost that much so me was laughing :badgrin:

attack me y dont ya fellas? :bowrofl:

leaks are leaks. things wrong with it wateva. dont attack me! :shock:
Self defence... You attacked our cars...

Self defence... You attacked our cars...

:confused: how? i dont attack anyones cars. i never have on AMC and never will

my point was that he is better off gettin a rebuilt engine rather than another cheap car. wasnt attackin anyone. its just fact... u ARE better off with a rebuilt engine rather than a new car that POTENTIALLY could have problems engine wise. whether it be compression or timing chain assembly...

Self defence... You attacked our cars...

not really he attacked cheap magnas cause like every car if you buy one for 600 bucks you will just have not as much power older engine maybe even body rust i mean the only way these days you can pick up a good cheap car is if its your mates and he just wants to get rid of it i have oil leaks and i paid 2000 so yeah but if you pay 600 your MORE LIKELY to have those problems

ill attack magnas if ya want :P hehe jk

if you have a chassis which is good and you want the car for the next 5 years then simply rebuild it. a rebuilt engine is amazing compared to an old tired one. and when the head is off have it skimmed.

Yes, I realise after, that I probably could have worded that better.

The basic rule of thumb is any car under about $6000, may have problems. I know I'll need a new transmission inside 200,000km, and I've had to do about $700 repairs (Though, the exhaust, radiator and airbox hose ate most of that).

This'll be the only time I'll agree with turbo. You'll be far better off with a new motor in your existing car than buying another car with unknown problems.

This'll be the only time I'll agree with turbo. You'll be far better off with a new motor in your existing car than buying another car with unknown problems.


LMAO havent u realised thats ALL ive said in this thread? :nuts:

new = reconditioned
buying another car with unknown problems = engine from another magna that has "leaks" (for example, oil leaks)

anyway... yeah Gav u have it right

Yeh I never been a fan of fixing little oil leaks anyway, that's what drip trays are for right... :cool:

IMO problems add character :thumbsup:

:confused: how? i dont attack anyones cars. i never have on AMC and never will

my point was that he is better off gettin a rebuilt engine rather than another cheap car. wasnt attackin anyone. its just fact... u ARE better off with a rebuilt engine rather than a new car that POTENTIALLY could have problems engine wise. whether it be compression or timing chain assembly...

yeah you are right :)

I was getting really worried because i didnt know what to do.

My mates have been telling me to buy another car but i have thought really hard about this and i will just buy the rebuilt engine with the recon head.

It should be good. the guy said its an engine from a 91 model.

I was going to buy another car for like $1500 but like you said, if i get another car for that much and the engine in that needs fixing i need to spend even more cash to get that fixed.

Like i said before, i know the car is fine and the only thing wrong with it is the engine.

BTW, anyone know if it would be nice and fast ? since it will be a rebuilt engine ?

I hope so because my old engine was so crap i was always flooring it to keep up with the traffic.

BTW, my car is a Manual and is EFI :)

I cant actually wait to get back into a Manual car.

My mums Auto skyline is OK but i love driving manual. I feel like a reall lazy bastard driving auto lol

BTW, anyone know if it would be nice and fast ? since it will be a rebuilt engine ?

I hope so because my old engine was so crap i was always flooring it to keep up with the traffic.

There's an excellent chance of improvement, especially if it's a TR+ motor.

Another thing, check the condition of the airbox hose, if you need to really nail the throttle to try and keep up with traffic.