2003 LS 430 Overheated - Perspective
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
From: ny
I'd keep the car without question. Fact is if you buy a used car you will probably end up needing to spend on repairs some money, and possibly tires - it's always something. Secondly, hard to find a used car with a clean title and no accidents.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 2
From: OR
That's a tough situation. I want to drive our current 400 as long as possible, at this stage cost relative to value is hard to overlook. Just about any small issue can "total" it. Inside and outside are in excellent condition so I share in having a car with known history. Will be looking forward to your motor swap. 
While the problem may 'only' be a blown head gasket, do I want to do the work of replacing the head gasket only to find that there is a deeper problem that still requires the motor to be pulled?
On the other hand I can pull the motor, rebuild the motor, and have a 'brand new motor' to drive the car another 200K miles (assume the rebuild is done well). Since I will be inspecting all parts attached to the motor I may end up 'fixing' some problems before they happen (e.g. timing belt) and saving some time for the future. And I will be familiar with how to do all the work in the future.
I'm good at justifying to talk myself into the motor pull option.
This will be my last post in this chain. The next post will be the start of the project. Need to get the car towed back home today and then begin.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 248
From: AZ
In my prior car workings once I did a number of hours of work to get at a problem, I always replaced any parts that were still 'in working condition' with new parts. The theory being that I don't want to have to do the same work again all for some $20 part.
While the problem may 'only' be a blown head gasket, do I want to do the work of replacing the head gasket only to find that there is a deeper problem that still requires the motor to be pulled?
On the other hand I can pull the motor, rebuild the motor, and have a 'brand new motor' to drive the car another 200K miles (assume the rebuild is done well). Since I will be inspecting all parts attached to the motor I may end up 'fixing' some problems before they happen (e.g. timing belt) and saving some time for the future. And I will be familiar with how to do all the work in the future.
I'm good at justifying to talk myself into the motor pull option.
This will be my last post in this chain. The next post will be the start of the project. Need to get the car towed back home today and then begin.
While the problem may 'only' be a blown head gasket, do I want to do the work of replacing the head gasket only to find that there is a deeper problem that still requires the motor to be pulled?
On the other hand I can pull the motor, rebuild the motor, and have a 'brand new motor' to drive the car another 200K miles (assume the rebuild is done well). Since I will be inspecting all parts attached to the motor I may end up 'fixing' some problems before they happen (e.g. timing belt) and saving some time for the future. And I will be familiar with how to do all the work in the future.
I'm good at justifying to talk myself into the motor pull option.
This will be my last post in this chain. The next post will be the start of the project. Need to get the car towed back home today and then begin.
If you were talking about a 350 chevy on an older car, I would agree that as long as you're doing the headgaskets, it would probably make sense to just do a rebuild. But I just don't think that logic works in this case.
Getting the cylinder bored out at a machine shop; new pistons, piston rings, bearings, camshafts, lifters , gaskets, oil pump, crankshafts. All need to be replaced or reconditioned if you're truly talking about rebuilding the engine.
And I would trust a lower mileage "used" factory Lexus engine over something that came from a local rebuilder/machine shop.
But keep us posted, if you love the car and want the project, why not.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 49
Likes: 2
From: OR
These engines just aren't cost effective to do a rebuild as preventative maintenance.
If you were talking about a 350 chevy on an older car, I would agree that as long as you're doing the headgaskets, it would probably make sense to just do a rebuild. But I just don't think that logic works in this case.
Getting the cylinder bored out at a machine shop; new pistons, piston rings, bearings, camshafts, lifters , gaskets, oil pump, crankshafts. All need to be replaced or reconditioned if you're truly talking about rebuilding the engine.
And I would trust a lower mileage "used" factory Lexus engine over something that came from a local rebuilder/machine shop.
But keep us posted, if you love the car and want the project, why not.
If you were talking about a 350 chevy on an older car, I would agree that as long as you're doing the headgaskets, it would probably make sense to just do a rebuild. But I just don't think that logic works in this case.
Getting the cylinder bored out at a machine shop; new pistons, piston rings, bearings, camshafts, lifters , gaskets, oil pump, crankshafts. All need to be replaced or reconditioned if you're truly talking about rebuilding the engine.
And I would trust a lower mileage "used" factory Lexus engine over something that came from a local rebuilder/machine shop.
But keep us posted, if you love the car and want the project, why not.
Just got the car towed back. Going to drain the oil today and see what it looks like. Will start posting as soon as I get some pictures.
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