My '03 disco with 130k miles has had the last 50k with a # 4/ 6 coolant-in-the-cylinder problem (just a little!). I have been told that it needs a rebuild with either a new block or one with the "top hat" liner put in the cylinders of this block. Either way I was told $8k to do the job. Would it be cheaper just to buy an '04 engine from a yard?

 

How much coolant are you loosing and what has made you address the problem all of a sudden? Has the problem/leak gotten worse? You have been able to use the truck for 50k miles without problems other than the coolant leak, right. Anyways a used engine will never cost you $8,000 dollars. Another thing to think about is if you get an 04 engine you will probably not have to worry about any oil pump problems like on some 03's.

 

For $8k you can buy a brand new crate engine.
Do you have a blown head gasket? Have they inspected the engine or something? What?

 

First be sure that your block is trashed. You can see others on this forum that took advice from others and it didn't turn out very favorable for them.

Pull the heads and pressure test your block. If you fail you can buy a remanufactured short block from Turner Engineering in the UK for $3400.00. Delivered you are looking at about $3800.00 or long block for $ 5000.00 delivered. These are blocks with top had liners and will last longer than your truck. I don't know the labor for install since I do all my own work.

Good Luck

 

Drive it til she blows, push it off a cliff and report it stolen. Seriously, these things are a dime a dozen.

Just kidding, I love mine too but 8K is retarded.

 

You can buy another truck for 8K.
It's about $1600 (give or take a couple hundred) to have the block resleeved with top hat liners. Add the cost of other new components (bearings, rings, cam, lifters, etc) and you easily get to the same dollar number as a Turner Engineering reman short block. It may seem cheaper to rebuild your engine, but not by much.

 

thanks for the prompt reply. The reason now is emissions. Throws 301,304 codes and will not pass this summer. It was diagnosed at 75k mi. with a crack in the block near #4,6 head stud. Did one of those block crack treatments and now finally throws the codes constantly.
Has anyone here in the US bought directly from Turner? What was the experience? How much of a pain is it to pull/install the motor? Less work than the coil packs I hope

 

I installed my engine in 3 hours working on my own, it might go faster with some help.
It's a pita job but easily doable, you just need enough extensions and wobble joints to get to all the bell housing bolts. Remove the engine mounts and drop the engine as low as it will go to be able to get in everywhere.
There have been some people who purchased directly from Turners and they said it went smoothly. You can also get short blocks from AB and bputah.

 

Roverland has complete replacement engines for a little more than a 3rd of 8k. Get a second opinion on your block and then check some other options.

As it was pointed out you can buy one (a whole vehicle) for less than that. (Check your blue book value sometime.)

 

Have bought from Turner, had it in driveway in 3 days, worked out great for me, decided to go this route instead of used engine and not knowing what you will have to do to it down the road.