Engine rebuild on SPI ?

[focusmcfly]

Some may have seen my post about the engine taking a dump on my 2.0 2000 spi focus. I decided I want to try and rebuild the engine myself. I might as well since its apart and out. I found the pistons online for under $200 and the head rebuilt with a 2 year warranty on ebay for about $300. I need to know a few things before proceeding.

1. How do you press the rods off and new pistons on ?
2. How much torque do I use when attaching the rod and bearing back on the crank? (Is there anything else I should know here as well)
3. Do I need new bearings?
4. If the cylinders look in good shape do I have to hone them?
5. Is it even wise to attempt a rebuild without experience?

Engine had less than 80,000 miles on it before valve seat fell and killed everything.

Thats about it. I have worked on cars doing various things over the years. But have never attempted a rebuild.

[bboy1605]

hmm sounds like a good deal though where did you find pistons for our engines? and the head rebuilt for $300? im assuming that it uses oem parts? as for your questions you might want to wait till jeffescort comes in herehe might know...

[jeffescortlx]

Originally Posted by bboy1605

as for your questions you might want to wait till jeffescort comes in herehe might know...

Well for a total of $500, you should beable to find a running complete long block with a 30 day warranty from a salvage yard, just drop in and go.

Now delete your extra double post.

[FocusPilot]

Originally Posted by jeffescortlx

Well for a total of $500, you should beable to find a running complete long block with a 30 day warranty from a salvage yard, just drop in and go.

Now delete your extra double post.

I don't think you have priced spi motors lately. They are $900-$1700 dollars used from a junk yard.

To the original poster: I recently put a crate motor from Pep Boys in my car for $1950. It came with a 3yr 100,000 mile warranty. It was made by ATK which also supplies ford with crate motors. Pep Boys was $400 dollars cheaper than everybody else.

By the time you get all the machine work, buy gaskets, buy a rebuild kit $1950 is actually a pretty good deal. Also if you rebuild it yourself you will have no warranty and on SPI motors that are known for dropping valve seats a warranty is a good thing.

Also make sure you clean out your intake manifold before you reinstall the new motor or you will end up sucking valve seats into your new motor!!!

Here is a link to some useful info and some cool pics of my blown motor:

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...spi+shortblock

Here is a link to the valve seat problem:

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/eb90336.htm

[fastfocus08]

zetec swap!!!! lol.

[jeffescortlx]

Originally Posted by FocusPilot

I don't think you have priced spi motors lately. They are $900-$1700 dollars used from a junk yard.

I did find a Zetec for $315 with 95k on it at jerry's auto salvage:
http://www.jerrysautosalvage.com/jer...rts-search.htm

And Rick's Auto Parts have them starting at $450 up to $650.
http://search2525.used-auto-parts.bi...bin/search.cgi

Could'nt find any SPI's. But my last Escort SPI was under $350 for 60k miles.

[FocusPilot]

Originally Posted by jeffescortlx

I did find a Zetec for $315 with 95k on it at jerry's auto salvage:
http://www.jerrysautosalvage.com/jer...rts-search.htm

And Rick's Auto Parts have them starting at $450 up to $650.
http://search2525.used-auto-parts.bi...bin/search.cgi

Could'nt find any SPI's. But my last Escort SPI was under $350 for 60k miles.

I don't see what your point is. For a FOCUS SPI motor from a junkyard it is $900-1700 based on mileage. Zetec and escort motors are a dime a dozen. There is a shortage of focus spi long blocks because of the valve seat problem and escort owners upgrading to the 2.0. Most of the time when the motor drops a valve seat the block and head both become unusable. So far Pep boys has not caught on to the shortage and their price is still reasonable.

[SmokeyJBluntz]

so hows this, ill trade my running spi for a rebuilt svt... haha
still thinking about rebuilding my spi according to the last post i did in the 99 escort thread i think

[dirtbiker348]

Originally Posted by fastfocus08

zetec swap!!!! lol.

x2!!!!

[FocusPilot]

Only problem with a zetec swap is that you need more than just a motor. I looked at doing a zetec swap but it would have been very expensive to purchase basicly the whole front end of a zetec focus. And you still have a used motor with no warranty. Not to mention the keys, computer etc. ATK and Pep boys have both said that the new valve seats they use no longer have the problem of OE Ford SPI motors. Changing the motor out was a big enough job without all the hassles of aquiring and changing to a zetec. My new Pep Boys(ATK) is running like a charm and has about 2500 miles on it. I got 34 miles to the gallon on a trip to Nashville last month.