Hiya, Im the lady who was recently asking for advice, after hastily buying my Townace at auction, and finding that the cylinder head was cracked. I have managed to get a replacement engine- an import, and new cam belt supplied and fitted for £930. It comes with a warranty for two months.... Which Im told that, if there is going to be a problem with anything, then it would be within the first weeks.
I have been informed that import engines are usually of reasonable quality. Due to the fact, that in Japan cars are regulated, and are only permitted to do X amount of miles, and then are required by law, to replace the engine. I hope this is true, or Ive been had!! Anyway this was the lowest price I was quoted. The highest quote was £1800. The garage I have gone with, is one I found on the recomended repairers page, and the garage bloke said he's done a few Townies, so fingers crossed! By the way, should I ask him to replace the water pump? Or does that not matter with it being a different engine?

- (#10723) Christy, 18 Sep 03 13:19

Hello Christy
I’m not sure about having to change the engine, but there are regulations, like our MOT, that get progressively harder to comply with after a number of years. Most fresh imports are ten or more years old, and have less that 60,000 miles on the clock, so I guess that second hand engines are likely to be similar. If the garage was on the recommended repairers page, then some one with a Townace has thought well enough about them and their work, to pass on their details, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

I’m not sure what bits come bolted to second hand engines, but as the water pump runs of the cam belt, its probably included. If the garage is going to replace the cam belt, then for £36 or so for a Blueprint replacement, its worth fitting a new one before the cam belt is replaced and the engine goes back in. It is only precautionary though, not a necessity. Once the bus is back on the road, if you have to replace the water pump for any reason then is several hours to remove all the bits that are in the way just to get at the pump.

Hope that helps
dave Bright

- (#10724) dave Bright, 19 Sep 03 2:33

Cheers Dave.

- (#10795) Christy, 19 Sep 03 8:23