to rebuild or just repair

[oldchevy]

hey guys.

I have begun to restore my 91 C1500. My question and would like your suggestions is about if I should just have a rebuilt engine put in, or repair all of the issue one at a time for the internal problems?

With almost 200K on the original engine, the strange idles and sluggish acceleration is getting worse. I cant' find the vacume leaks for the life of me and it will get expensive just replacing every sensor on the vehicle just to see if it will correct some problems...even though I need to for the restore aspect of it.

It seems that after reading all of our posts over the years, we all seem to have similar issues with the idles surges etc. and we all just love trying to make it run like new again.

Should I just keep replacing parts one at a time and hope to get lucky? With the hunderds of things that could be wrong from sloppy dist shafts to warped flex plate teeth to useless charcoal canisters..where do you begin a project like this?? Any input from someone who has done this would be great.

The truck still runs great..just feels very tired.

[taillight]

If you can afford the rebuild go ahead. If money is a problem go part at a time but you will spend more that way.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by oldchevy

hey guys.

I have begun to restore my 91 C1500. My question and would like your suggestions is about if I should just have a rebuilt engine put in, or repair all of the issue one at a time for the internal problems?

With almost 200K on the original engine, the strange idles and sluggish acceleration is getting worse. I cant' find the vacume leaks for the life of me and it will get expensive just replacing every sensor on the vehicle just to see if it will correct some problems...even though I need to for the restore aspect of it.

It seems that after reading all of our posts over the years, we all seem to have similar issues with the idles surges etc. and we all just love trying to make it run like new again.

Should I just keep replacing parts one at a time and hope to get lucky? With the hunderds of things that could be wrong from sloppy dist shafts to warped flex plate teeth to useless charcoal canisters..where do you begin a project like this?? Any input from someone who has done this would be great.

The truck still runs great..just feels very tired.

First thing would be to test your old engiine and see if it is actually bad.

[taillight]

With 200k on the clock it sounds tired. Maybe its time to rebuild and add a little more horse power. And thats more fun anyway.

[MT-2500]

Proper testing is the only way to tell.
Good luck
MT

[777stickman]

Like MT says "proper testing is the only way to tell". You could throw all kinds of parts at it all at once, but you'd never know which one fixed the erratic idle and/or power loss.

I'd say try to get it running as good as you can now (fix the problems) and then do the rebuild. Loss of power in a 200k motor could be mechanical, injectors, sensors, etc. Maybe if you find and fix the problems a rebuild may not be called for.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by 777stickman

I'd say try to get it running as good as you can now (fix the problems) and then do the rebuild. Loss of power in a 200k motor could be mechanical, injectors, sensors, etc. Maybe if you find and fix the problems a rebuild may not be called for.

I agree that it might not be as major of a problem as it seems. I've seen plenty of 4.3 L engines in fleet vehicles go 300 to 400,000 without requiring any major rebuilds or major repairs. So it might be a far less expensive repair to get it back to it's "glory days".

[oldchevy]

good feedback guys..i agree with all.

Do you think having it tested at a dealer is the way to go due to thier better testing equipment, or go to a local place? Dealer may be really expensive and which tests should I ask for?

Which tests to you recommend other than general scan, compression, etc. Which tests would be needed for proper diganosis of the internal? Are there any test for the main bearings, cam or distributor shaft and gears?

Im sure the timing chain needs replacing. I was going to do the water pump soon, maybe I should do the chain then.

I do think it's not that bad off and I am shooting for the 300K mark.

[taillight]

Some independent repair shops do a lot better job than a dealer. Ask around. Sometime guys into preformance will know where to go. To check the timing chain, take the cap off. Put a socket on the crank and rock the crank back and forth. Watch the rotor. If the crank and the rotor do not move at the same time it's time for a new chain. Check oil pressure with a guage.(bearings)