Anybody have experience with Jasper (or other) rebuilt engines?

Tonight the 3100 v-6 in my other car (97 Cutlass Supreme) died, and it sounds like maybe it threw a rod. It has 150,000 miles on it, and even if I'm wrong, I can't see the wisdom in fixing an engine with that many miles on it. My choices? Rebuilt motor or junk yard motor. I had it towed to my local mechanic where I get routine stuff done, and PA state inspections. I trust him, but I imagine he won't want to do the job. Anybody have any thoughts/suggestions? Of course 2 days ago I put $600 in rear struts on it. It is in otherwise excellent shape, and I would really like to keep it. I guess I am wondering if anyone knows what a Jasper, or other re built engine costs (I can't seem to find a price for the 3100) or if anyone has ever had personal experience with Jasper products.

Many moons ago, I had a Jasper reman engine put in my Taurus wagon. Decent warranty and it was still running well when my Mom sold the car some years later.

About the only experience I can relate I'm afraid.

Jasper took all the pricing info off their website in late 2013 and now you need to talk to a Jasper dealer to get costs.

I would recommend them. They built the trans in our old van and we never had a problem with it. It shifted and drove perfectly the whole time.

Mark

I don't think a 97 Cutlass with 150K is worth replacing an engine. I'm guessing if you bought a rebuilt one, installed, you're looking at $1200 to 1500. The dollars just don't add up. You're down in FL you probably can pick up a decent car for under 2K.

Tom

I agree with Silverfox103, I did a Jasper engine in my 97 Taurus since I had just had other work done on it then the motor went. The Jasper engine worked great and it ran me a little over $1,200 and ran well for years until the car got hit and totaled. In hindsight, I wouldnt have done the engine though, I ended up replacing one thing after another in the car after the motor (trans, rack n pinion, axles, brakes & lines, fuel pump, etc) and spent a ton more money. When it got hit, I didnt get anything near what it had into it from the Insurance Company even though mechanically all the major stuff in the car had been rebuilt or replaced within 3 years....big loss and either way I wouldve been better off buying a newer car with all I spent

Part of the problem for me is that the car is in otherwise excellent shape. It's a triple black coupe with leather, and I like how it rides, looks and it gets great gas mileage. Of course 2 days ago I spent $600 on new rear struts. It has been an extremely reliable car for me for about 8 years. By the way, I found out today that a Jasper re built motor is $2300. Factor in labor, and I'm at over $4,000. To be honest, if I had already replaced the transmission I would consider it. But, you know how this story goes. I get the rebuilt motor, and then the trans craps out, and my wife makes good on her threat to kill me. So.... I'm looking at a used motor, much lower miles, installed for about $12-1400. I barely drive it 5,000 miles a year, so I am thinking of taking the chance. Either way my wife is pissed, and as we all know, the old car thing stops being fun when it starts to cost money.

Get rid of it, it's lived beyond it's useful life.

Tom

silverfox103 wrote:

Get rid of it, it's lived beyond it's useful life.

Tom

I'm not agreeing with that sentiment. So he sends it off to the scrap yard. What next?

He can get the car he knows and likes back up and running for $1400. Or, he can go shopping with that same $1400 after he trashes the Cutlass. Good luck finding another car for that amount that he digs the looks, enjoys the ride, gets good mileage and is reliable.

I did just that last year with the T-Bird I own but that was dumb luck. Paying for a reman engine to be installed is a stretch, admittedly but the used engine route seems to me, entirely reasonable.

You could always go with a used engine from a junkyard with a warranty. They usually run around $600 and if you're lucky you might land a low mileage one. I've bought a couple used 3.8s from the yard, thew some new gaskets on it and drove it.

Ditto David with the proviso that you see the car it's coming out of. My neighbor bought a used '70K' motor from the JY for his Ford Ranger. When he pulled the intake off it and his dead 150K motor, guess which one looked better inside? I doubt it was a 70K motor but he put it in and runs good.

The guy I bought my 93 roadmaster wagon from put a Jasper motor and trans in it. 5.7 TBI / 700R4. It's stock but it's a daily driver. It has about 38,000 on it now and runs great. If you know you're keeping it and you have the cash, do it.

Well, the verdict is in, and I am keeping the Cutlass and putting the Jasper motor in it. After much discussion with my wife, we decided to keep it because otherwise it is in excellent shape. I painted it myself about 8 years ago when I bought it as a minor wreck, and instead of flipping it (as intended) I kept it as my daily driver. All in the motor will be about $4000, which sound like alot (and it is) but hear me out. We looked at other cars in the $4000 price range, and that leaves you with 10-12 year old cars with 80,000 or so miles. Of course, the motor or trans could go on those too. We also explored leasing a new car, but since we spend 6-7 months a year at our Florida house, and the Cutlass is at our Pittsburgh house, the thought of spending money to have a car sit all those months idle seemed silly. So, as we see it, here is the plan; the motor comes with a 3 year 100,000 mile warranty. Even if the trans goes (please God, no!) later, I'll have a reliable nice looking car to drive for many years to come, as it is rust free as well as clean. The only thing that scares me is of course the thing that scares all of us with old cars- the idiot that hits you, or a fire. Lets hope neither happens, and the Cutlass keeps on cruising (sorry) for many years to come!!

Sweet! If I'm not mistaking, you need to have a certified Jasper mechanic do the install. That gives you the warranty. Once it's in and you're driving it around, your cheeks will be sore from all the smiling you'll be doing. Congrats!

It's been a few weeks, and almost 500 miles since the new motor. Wow, what a difference! So much more pep, and so quiet that I can't hear it idle. According to the paperwork it needs the first oil change at 500 miles, so it get it today. I just paid my Chase bill with the $4000 for the motor, and ouch!! Oh well, no motor worries.

Mark, your cheeks have to be about as sore as your wallet. I really like my Jasper motor. Congrats!