Replace or rebuild engine?

[brownie03-56]

My husband and I purchased a 93 Geo Metro convertible off of ebay about a month ago. The car had a rebuild engine with 100 miles on it. We drove about 400 miles and picked it up. It seemed to run well, but used 4 quarts of oil to get it home. We notified the man we bought it from who had rebuilt it and he informed us it could use oil until the rings broke in. We drove it alittle the next 2 days and it began missing terribly. Took it to garage and they said there was a problem with the #1 cylinder exhaust valve. We called the seller again. He brought us a different rebuilt head and installed it. We drove it 30 miles to license & title it. At home we checked oil & topped it off then drove to daughter's house 22 miles away. Half way home it started missing and then you could feel the #1 cylinder drop out again. When we got home it had used 1 quart of oil. We pulled the head expecting another bad exhaust valve but could find nothing wrong except the #1 cylinder was badly carboned up. We pulled the #1 & #2 pistons thinking maybe a broken ring. Nothing wrong. We honed and have reinstalled both pistons, but have noticed quite a bit of play in the #1 cylinder. We also found a small amount of oil in radiator and overflow bottle. The seller said it could be from him changing the head, but we are concerned about that also. We are not mechanics, everything we have done is step by step thru a Chiltons. Should we rebuild the engine again or replace it with a used one? We already now have $2k in a car not worth it, but purchased it in the hopes that with it's rebuild engine that it would be a good car for us for several years. Also, if we were to replace engine, would like to put in a 4 cylinder like the one in our Suzuki Swift. Would that be a difficult job? Also, how hard it is to pull the engine from the transmisison? Any help will be much appreciated. Hope

[FXman]

Well i dont think i would drive 400 miles to pick up a cheap car like that (no offence to you or you`r husband) i`m going out tonight to probably get my wife a Porche Cyanne Turbo, i`m hoping they give us a good deal, my wifes Mercedes ML320 is shot!, anyways i would say up a little longer and buy something a little more decent then a Geo because they are not very safe at all, my mother, befor she retired was an insurence clains adjuster for Allstate, i used to always ask ehr if she ever got a clain on this or that, and i asked her one day if she ever got a claim on a Geo Metro, and i asked her if they were safe, and she said they were not safe at all and crumpld up on impact, trust me i saw one that got in an accident, most people who buy one and get into and accident usually die..., i would suggest getting rid of it in a minute, and buy your self something nicer like a Saturn or a Caviler or a Kia something more safe and better, anyways that`s my opinion, and i would advise you to take my advise and get rid of it pronto.

[FXman]

man i`m such a bad typer lol, look at all my typos, jees getting old shoots all your braincells, jees 47 already...., man does time fly lol

[gladiac]

I also have a convertible geo metro. I bought it 3 years ago and put a used engine in it because it didn't have any power and it wouldn't pass the smog test. The shop said it didn't have good compression. And for $300 bucks I got a used '95 engine and put it in myself using a Chiltons Book. It passed smog and drives great. I even put a new top on that cost me $150. The best thing about this car is that its easy to work on and gets great gas mileage. Don't pay any attention to the annoying posts from jealous and immature people. In the 1989 SF earthquake, one of the few survivors from a freeway collapse was in a geo metro. And when ever I go to San Francisco I can always find free parking in the street since the car fits in tight spots easily. If you don't want the car, let me know. Otherwise, just get a used engine and put it in, you'll be glad you kept it. I would get another 3 cylinder. Its light enough to pick up by hand and its easy to install onto the transmission using a chain hoist to hold it in position. If you have questions contact me. I've been driving geo metros since '91 and never had problems with them. Its too bad they don't make them anymore.

[FXman]

What Geo Metro does have power? lol

[brownie03-56]

Let me know what you would be willing to give for it. The hubby said to ask.

[inspiron]

i think it is time you sell or scrap the geo, I bet it was a good car but it is dyeing and pumping mony into it won't help. I sugest buying a cheap new car (honda civc) and runing it ito the ground that should provide you with a nice car for about at least 10 years

[geozukigti]

Hey Brownie, do you have any pictures of the car? I might be interested. i've got another GT twin cam motor lyin around that needs a home

[Thudpucker]

Brownie, my son has an old Metro with 385,000 miles on it. It runs on one cylinder only. The other two are dead!
It still gets 45Mpg.
The whole car is a wreck though. It's absolutly through. Not worth buying a rebuilt head for $450 or a used engine for $300.
At an auction a guy bought two of them for $175.
If you have a good one, your in luck, but if you have a bad one, cut your losses and get rid of it.
The Civic's are a lot less expensive to own than a Honda though. You never seen prices on parts go skyrocket till you have to buy for a Honda or a Mitsubishi.

[crnolic]

I got my 1.0L 3cyl rebuilt, because it was burning oil, still excellent on gas , it cost me about $400CND to get it done with labour and parts, now it leaks oil instead of burning it , but i just need to get a oil-pan gasket instead of using the create-a-gasket crap.