Blew the big end in the focus!!

[archangeldk]

Alrighty just asking for a bit of advice,

Friday night driving home and I started hearing this knocking noise, decided that because I was less then a fee mins from the house I would just drive it home.
The banging got worse as I pulled onto the drive.

Between myself and my mates ( few of which are mechanics) we diagnosed it as the big end that was away.

Now this is the question. Do I fix the existing engine, or do I source a new engine and replace it ?
Just from your own experiences folks what's easier and less expensive.
I'm just after spending not short of a G on it last week sorting out brakes abs rear axle etc.

All help appreciated
cheers
Dave

[sherman]

Depending on how much the cars worth and how much it will cost to fix it could be cheaper to just scrap it.

[archangeldk]

It's an 05 plate with 67,000 miles on the clock. Worth a few G anyway so it's going to get fixed just don't know what way is best.

[sherman]

It would seem about £250 buys you a new engine.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-FOCUS-ENGINE-1.8-ZETEC-...

[istoo]

At the value of your car its got to be your choice imho. If your doing it yourself it makes matters a lot easier, upullit have a few focii and its a fairly common plant to swap over. But if thats on the way out, what else might need done soon, what else might have been damaged, I dont know you but i do beleive you drive it pretty hard. How long will a new engine last? Maybe worth changing for something stronger?

A few G will get you an ST170...

There isnt a straight forward answer sadly, and no its not just you who forks out lots of hard earned for something else to then break, its soul destroying from time to time.

Edited by istoo on Monday 20th September 14:34

[archangeldk]

Basically im wanting a new car so it would be getting fixed either way and then selling it.

Kinda went off Fords in the last wee while.

Question though, if i was to put a new engine in it , like for like, would i need to change ecu etc ? or just wire it straight back up to the original ?

cheers dave

[istoo]

If you have the time i would put a new engine in it and put it back to standard and sell the bits you uprated for a ford forum/club, that would net you the most amount of cash to buy a new car. But this all hinges on you getting the labour free/very cheap. If its about generating money split it all up into as many individual bits to buy something new.

[A.J.M]

Stick a low mileage engine in, full service and change the belts and keep proof. Its a focus, theres thousands on the roads and plenty in breakers yards, get one that you can hear running before getting it.

If your getting rid of it then why stick a brand new engine in when you'll gain very little more profit for it?
Similarly why get rid when you've just spent cash on brakes and tyres etc?

You must have fked something big time to kill the engine though. Zetecs are pretty reliable.

[Celt]

Is that not quite low mileage for that sort of repair?

[OlberJ]

If it were me it would be getting something that bolts up to the gearbox and is as big as possible.

But if you're selling it...

Have you had the sump off to look and see what's actually gone? I doubt it but you might get away with a set of shells.

[Easty-5]

OlberJ said:

If it were me it would be getting something that bolts up to the gearbox and is as big as possible.

But if you're selling it...

Have you had the sump off to look and see what's actually gone? I doubt it but you might get away with a set of shells.

ST24 V6?

If he has continued to drive it after he heard the initial knocking then the crank will be sh@gged. You won't know till you look though. As OJ says, whip the sump off and have a look.

Edited by Easty-5 on Tuesday 21st September 00:40

[OlberJ]

I'm reckoning the shells will be fooked and the crank too, but you never know.

Really needs removed and checked but easy to whip the sump off and see which big ends are away, if it definitely is the big ends.

Even a 1.8/2.0 swap should be cheap to buy an engine for and a decent upgrade.

[haggishunter]

I would just go for a replacement and hold on to the car. I wouldnt making it more insurance unfriendly or be buying anything else until the outcome of the tyre incident. You don't want something you can't drive and then can't insure.

[thinfourth2]

If you have the time and inclination stick a set of shells in the engine.

If it goes pop you have lost the time and a wee bit of cash for the shells.

[OlberJ]

Cost.

Replacement engine £250. It's unknown condition though.

Shells £100. It's unknown if it will last.

Crank regrind and new shells £350. Again, unknown if it will last.

Replacement long block £4/500. A lot of work to replace, more work than a replacement engine, sensors, manifolds etc etc. Should last.


Seeing as the car is known and "marked" Davie i'd be putting a standard replacement engine in it and selling off any extras, start a fresh with a different car and don't buy a Ford

If things go tits up with the law regards to your tyres etc, still do the above and get the most money back.

[archangeldk]

Always a cynic, ^^^^^^ of course I'm surprised. But I'm not overly annoyed as yes when you press a car hard these things are bound to happen. lesson learned. Thank you for all the help folks think I will just grab another 1.6 bolt it in , take a hit on the chin with losing out on money.

Going to start stripping it out on Thursday an see where it takes me. Never stripped an engine down and rebuilt but will be a good learning exercise.

And as for that last comment, really ?any need for that ? Or did you not get any last night ?

Cheers everyone will keep you updated .

Dave

(ps never heard anymore about the tyre incident yet, still waiting)

[archangeldk]

Always a cynic, ^^^^^^ of course I'm surprised. But I'm not overly annoyed as yes when you press a car hard these things are bound to happen. lesson learned. Thank you for all the help folks think I will just grab another 1.6 bolt it in , take a hit on the chin with losing out on money.

Going to start stripping it out on Thursday an see where it takes me. Never stripped an engine down and rebuilt but will be a good learning exercise.

And as for that last comment, really ?any need for that ? Or did you not get any last night ?

Cheers everyone will keep you updated .

Dave

(ps never heard anymore about the tyre incident yet, still waiting)

[archangeldk]

Always a cynic, ^^^^^^ of course I'm surprised. But I'm not overly annoyed as yes when you press a car hard these things are bound to happen. lesson learned. Thank you for all the help folks think I will just grab another 1.6 bolt it in , take a hit on the chin with losing out on money.

Going to start stripping it out on Thursday an see where it takes me. Never stripped an engine down and rebuilt but will be a good learning exercise.

And as for that last comment, really ?any need for that ? Or did you not get any last night ?

Cheers everyone will keep you updated .

Dave

(ps never heard anymore about the tyre incident yet, still waiting)

[emicen]

"choice mods"

[archangeldk]

Yeah it gets ripped but it is also well maintained. I do oil changes filter an plugs every 3k miles . End of the day I know now that I can't get away with driving that kind of car the way I do. Next car will be a bit more tolerable of that kind of driving. Have you never blown an engine yourself ?
Dave