Does my car need engine rebuild??
Discussion
Hi guys,
I am currently in the process of buying a 2000 Tuscan on 22000 miles. The guy that sold the car to the garage swears that the car has already had an engine rebuild but there is no receipt to indicate that it has.
When the car starts up it makes a lot of noise from the engine as if it is rocking about or shaking... I warmed the car up properly and then restarted the car and it still wobbled like mad. Is this normal? It stopped after 10 seconds or so the second time.
If the car does need an engine rebuild; is it something that just stops working or does it gradually get worse and start running badly?
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
I am currently in the process of buying a 2000 Tuscan on 22000 miles. The guy that sold the car to the garage swears that the car has already had an engine rebuild but there is no receipt to indicate that it has.
When the car starts up it makes a lot of noise from the engine as if it is rocking about or shaking... I warmed the car up properly and then restarted the car and it still wobbled like mad. Is this normal? It stopped after 10 seconds or so the second time.
If the car does need an engine rebuild; is it something that just stops working or does it gradually get worse and start running badly?
Would appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Check engine mounts first. The exhaust side in particular are consumables on Tuscans.
Pete
P.s. Early factory rebuilds didn't come with any paperwork or details about what work was done. Plenty were rebuilt just as badly as the original with similar poor quality parts, so beware unless there's proof it was done post 2003, and ideally post 2005 by someone reputable like Power or Str8 Six.
Pete
P.s. Early factory rebuilds didn't come with any paperwork or details about what work was done. Plenty were rebuilt just as badly as the original with similar poor quality parts, so beware unless there's proof it was done post 2003, and ideally post 2005 by someone reputable like Power or Str8 Six.
Edited by pete on Saturday 15th January 12:43
Mine was done by the factory in 2005 at 19k. Now on 33k and was described at a recent service as looking like new still. Managed to get copies of all the receipts for work done from a local dealer, so if you know who it's serviced through in the past might be worth giving them a call to see if they have any info.
It's been taken off sale as ive put a deposit down so cant send a link to it. You might be right about the engine mounts...
I was going to get a full service done at this place in sheffield. Was going to get the Gold level service which checks all things like engine mounts etc. www.rtracing.co.uk/content/tvr-servicing-in-sheffi...
Would this place be ok for a full engine rebuild as well??
Dave
I was going to get a full service done at this place in sheffield. Was going to get the Gold level service which checks all things like engine mounts etc. www.rtracing.co.uk/content/tvr-servicing-in-sheffi...
Would this place be ok for a full engine rebuild as well??
Dave
Depends what you mean by rebuild. Strip down, inspect, put it back together? Upgrade parts? Increase stroke? Change head? Supercharger?
The sky is the limit - personally I'd have a trawl through the websites that these people have, as they have it all in black and white there. Have a look throught the forums to see what reputations people have, and go from there.
IMHO the S6 is a enough of a specialist engine for me not to want to take it to any 'normal' garage - no matter how much I may trust them.
Good luck!
The sky is the limit - personally I'd have a trawl through the websites that these people have, as they have it all in black and white there. Have a look throught the forums to see what reputations people have, and go from there.
IMHO the S6 is a enough of a specialist engine for me not to want to take it to any 'normal' garage - no matter how much I may trust them.
Good luck!
RT Racing should be ok for a service and the engine mounts but I don't think I'd use them to rebuild the engine as I haven't heard about anyone on here who has a rebuild by them...they might not do it!
Have a look at TVR power and the othere's mentioned , they seem to be doing proven rebuilds that are proving reliable and you will probably need £6k as mentioned.
But I am curious that you are willing to buy a car that might need an engine rebuild and might need engine mounts( not that big an issue). It would have been better to get the car checked out first if you have any concerns.
Hope it turns out to be a good one as they are Excellent, maybe you could post the reg number and colour here and see if the last owner is a PISTONHEAD'er
Have a look at TVR power and the othere's mentioned , they seem to be doing proven rebuilds that are proving reliable and you will probably need £6k as mentioned.
But I am curious that you are willing to buy a car that might need an engine rebuild and might need engine mounts( not that big an issue). It would have been better to get the car checked out first if you have any concerns.
Hope it turns out to be a good one as they are Excellent, maybe you could post the reg number and colour here and see if the last owner is a PISTONHEAD'er
Yes, far better to buy my 4.3 from the classifieds... 
(Ducks and runs from the moderators!)
On a serious note, definitely get a decent inspection done if you're not buying a car with a cast iron warranty. With potentially large costs for clutches, suspension, and even engine rebuilds, a Tuscan isn't something to enter into without quantifying all the risks.
Pete
(Ducks and runs from the moderators!)
On a serious note, definitely get a decent inspection done if you're not buying a car with a cast iron warranty. With potentially large costs for clutches, suspension, and even engine rebuilds, a Tuscan isn't something to enter into without quantifying all the risks.
Pete
If you're buying the car from a dealer, have you raised this issue with them?
Personally if I had doubts about whether a rebuild was required, I would have an inspection carried out as mentioned above.
If you do ever need a rebuild, my own view is that TVR Power & Str8t Six are among the most trusted. Power now offer a 5 yr/100,000 mile warranty with theirs.
With regard to engine mounts, it's common for these to need replacing & it's a job that should cost in the region of £125.......I've recently had one done.
Personally if I had doubts about whether a rebuild was required, I would have an inspection carried out as mentioned above.
If you do ever need a rebuild, my own view is that TVR Power & Str8t Six are among the most trusted. Power now offer a 5 yr/100,000 mile warranty with theirs.
With regard to engine mounts, it's common for these to need replacing & it's a job that should cost in the region of £125.......I've recently had one done.
You really should get it checked, or walk away 
It could be a number of things, which could be resolved through a simple throttle body tune up, right throught to, as you say, a full rebuild.
'Rocking' tends to say to be its missing a cylinder, which could be made more obvious by a poor engine mount?
It could be a number of things, which could be resolved through a simple throttle body tune up, right throught to, as you say, a full rebuild.
'Rocking' tends to say to be its missing a cylinder, which could be made more obvious by a poor engine mount?
Thanks guys, good advice.
The garage doesn't know anything about TVR's. It's just an independant garage that mostly stocks average boring euro-boxes. I think i', either going to have to take a risky punt or walk away.
Could an inspection tell me if it needs a rebuild? How could they tell?
The shuddering was only really on startup btw. Also the interior seemed quite tired... most that I see have really nice condition leather. Does anyone know how much I'd be looking at for an interior recondition? I think they can spray on some magic applicator and cures all cracks etc.
The garage doesn't know anything about TVR's. It's just an independant garage that mostly stocks average boring euro-boxes. I think i', either going to have to take a risky punt or walk away.
Could an inspection tell me if it needs a rebuild? How could they tell?
The shuddering was only really on startup btw. Also the interior seemed quite tired... most that I see have really nice condition leather. Does anyone know how much I'd be looking at for an interior recondition? I think they can spray on some magic applicator and cures all cracks etc.
OK ,bowen.....walk away
Spend some time reading the forums on here, ask questions, were a friendly bunch (most of the time).You could do a lot worse than buy one advertised in the classifieds here, a known car with history, there is to much risk with the car you are looking at and I think you should do some research into Tuscan ownership, you have a few months until the weather improves so dont rush into buying one. Take your time,take advice and get a good one..
Spend some time reading the forums on here, ask questions, were a friendly bunch (most of the time).You could do a lot worse than buy one advertised in the classifieds here, a known car with history, there is to much risk with the car you are looking at and I think you should do some research into Tuscan ownership, you have a few months until the weather improves so dont rush into buying one. Take your time,take advice and get a good one..
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