Engine Rebuild Recommendations in SoCal

[Marsman]

Looking to get my XR engine rebuilt by someone familiar with the XR motor. Anyone know of a good engine builder in southern CA?

[nathankershaw]

Where do you live?

What kind of specs are you looking for with the rebuild?

[jkxr4ti]

What about esslinger?

http://www.esslingeracing.com

[Marsman]

Where do you live?
Escondido

What kind of specs are you looking for with the rebuild?

Stock

[Marsman]

What about esslinger?

http://www.esslingeracing.com

Thanks, they appear to know the 2.3L Ford motor alright. I'll give them a call, but they'll probably convince me to go the performance route...

[John Brennan]

What about esslinger?

http://www.esslingeracing.com

Thanks, they appear to know the 2.3L Ford motor alright. I'll give them a call, but they'll probably convince me to go the performance route...

"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"

In truth, a properly rebuilt stock bottom end should be adequate for all but the most power-mad. I'd be interested in hearing what they'd want for a stock rebuild, and what that would include.

[In XS 7]

What about esslinger?

http://www.esslingeracing.com

Thanks, they appear to know the 2.3L Ford motor alright. I'll give them a call, but they'll probably convince me to go the performance route...

"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"

In truth, a properly rebuilt stock bottom end should be adequate for all but the most power-mad. I'd be interested in hearing what they'd want for a stock rebuild, and what that would include.

X2 on that.

[Marsman]

Finally had the time to contact Esslinger on a 2.4L rebuild. Rough estimate was $2800 for the short block, excluding any bolt-on replacements such as oil pump, pulleys, etc., and assuming crank, rods etc are good. They seemed to dismiss the stock head as likely cracked, and said a completely assembled Al replacement would add another $3500. So, all told over $6K! Yikes.

[boost_is_fun]

I actually asked what autozone would charge for a short block once just for fun, they quoted me 2400. Who knows whether it would be any good or not, just thought it was interesting and semi relevant.

[thesameguy]

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the head is cracked. When I did my HG in '05, my machine shop recommended replacing the head as it was cracked. No problem, had a motor in the garage from a parts car. Also cracked. No problem, XR in the junkyard gave me a head for $50. Also cracked. Finally got a good one from an '88 TurboCoupe (which wasn't all bad, it also gave me a big VAM and LA3 ). Ten years later, I'll bet they're ALL cracked.

[espacef1fan]

Get a used short or long block. Seriously, these engines do wel with time and mileage

[timxr8]

Unless you're doing an extremely crazy build, any competent machine shop will work. Wholesale machine in San Diego (on Mission Gorge) does great work. That's who I'm having machine all of my stuff for my Duratec build (E85 tuned to ~400hp). They also have great recommendations to shops for random stuff they can't do (i.e. machining a keyway in the crank, sprocket, and balancer).