Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 10:03:18

Title: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 10:03:18
There is a 3.2 57k mile complete engine for sale at £140.

It is described as "cheap to repair" after the cam belt failed at low revs.  Now, would this be a good buy to:

                           a) Repair (Thinking that this may not be minor damage at all!)

                                                                   or

                           b) Keeping for spares (Everything is still on the engine)

                              What do you think ?
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 04 April 2017, 10:12:10
Price is reasonable but, it will have bent the valves.

Is it an Omega one or a Vectra?
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 11:25:04
Price is reasonable but, it will have bent the valves.

Is it an Omega one or a Vectra?

Omega
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Nick W on 04 April 2017, 11:32:23
Only worth buying if you have an actual use for it. The cheap fix will entail some valves, head gasket set, timing belt, several hours work, and maybe new valve guides. Or another pair of heads.


The inlet manifolds etc aren't a wear part, although the exhausts are worth something.


Don't forget, it's heavy and takes a lot of space.


So I don't think it's worth buying.
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 12:20:24
Thanks Nick.

It was just a thought for spare parts perhaps.  But it is up in Nottingham and I would have to have it transported down to me; more expense that I would have factored in.  Now I think I will leave alone. :y :y
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 13:24:44
Thanks Nick.

It was just a thought for spare parts perhaps.  But it is up in Nottingham and I would have to have it transported down to me; more expense that I would have factored in.  Now I think I will leave alone. :y :y

After saying all that, I have now a quote for sending the engine down to me; £55.

So for £195 I could have a whole 3.2 engine for spare parts.  Is it worth while??  Decisions, decisions. :-\ :-\

PS I have been informed the "COIL PACKS AND ECU ARE NOT IN THIS SALE"

 :D ;)

Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 04 April 2017, 13:57:31
I would haggle.V6 engines are hard to sell as they are rarely needed. I almost couldnt give them away, so Serek used to take them off my hands and export them. Your really just buying a bottom end, which in normal use wont let go for 300,000 miles or so. So its unlikely you will ever need it.
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 14:18:19
I would haggle.V6 engines are hard to sell as they are rarely needed. I almost couldnt give them away, so Serek used to take them off my hands and export them. Your really just buying a bottom end, which in normal use wont let go for 300,000 miles or so. So its unlikely you will ever need it.

Thanks Migv6.  That's sounds like very good advice, and with what others have said I will not be proceeding with this one.  Storage alone is a problem anyway, and as you hint, what am I going to be buying that I will actually need.  Not a lot in essence!

Thanks again :y :y
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Shackeng on 04 April 2017, 16:07:56
And what evidence would you have of the 57K? As although it is possible a cambelt went at that mileage, it smells fishy. In a 57k car with bent valves only, it would have been worth repairing, yet the engine was either exchanged or the car scrapped. Hmmmmm :-X
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 04 April 2017, 16:11:24
You can/could buy a brand new crate engine from Vauxhall for less than £2k...
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 16:22:19
And what evidence would you have of the 57K? As although it is possible a cambelt went at that mileage, it smells fishy. In a 57k car with bent valves only, it would have been worth repairing, yet the engine was either exchanged or the car scrapped. Hmmmmm :-X

It was scrapped by Omega52 in Nottingham, and I have purchased bits from that car, including items that are painted the same colour as mine, Z594.  He has proved to be a reputable dealer, and the condition of the parts I have bought from this 52 plate car are mint; at the same level as my low mileage beastie. Everything, including pictures, I have seen supports a low mileage car.  :y :y
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 16:23:32
You can/could buy a brand new crate engine from Vauxhall for less than £2k...

The same dealer has a mint fully working 3.2 for £385 :y
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Shackeng on 04 April 2017, 16:30:02
And what evidence would you have of the 57K? As although it is possible a cambelt went at that mileage, it smells fishy. In a 57k car with bent valves only, it would have been worth repairing, yet the engine was either exchanged or the car scrapped. Hmmmmm :-X

It was scrapped by Omega52 in Nottingham, and I have purchased bits from that car, including items that are painted the same colour as mine, Z594.  He has proved to be a reputable dealer, and the condition of the parts I have bought from this 52 plate car are mint; at the same level as my low mileage beastie. Everything, including pictures, I have seen supports a low mileage car.  :y :y

Fair enough, I can understand a dealer (or RoBG ::)) willing to break a low mileage car to get the price for the parts. But if you or I were faced with bent valves on our immaculate low mileage Elites, what would we do? I would repair mine. :y
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 April 2017, 16:32:14
Had we ever had a member who'd managed to wear out a V6 block it might well have been worth keeping. To my knowledge, we haven't.

That said, I'm now starting to picture it in the Westfield's engine bay... ::)
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 04 April 2017, 16:42:24
Always thought a V6 would make a decent enough kit car lump.....3.0 ECU being pretty easy to get working
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 04 April 2017, 16:46:09
Didn't someone on here put one in a Scimitar?  :-\
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 17:05:54
And what evidence would you have of the 57K? As although it is possible a cambelt went at that mileage, it smells fishy. In a 57k car with bent valves only, it would have been worth repairing, yet the engine was either exchanged or the car scrapped. Hmmmmm :-X

It was scrapped by Omega52 in Nottingham, and I have purchased bits from that car, including items that are painted the same colour as mine, Z594.  He has proved to be a reputable dealer, and the condition of the parts I have bought from this 52 plate car are mint; at the same level as my low mileage beastie. Everything, including pictures, I have seen supports a low mileage car.  :y :y

Fair enough, I can understand a dealer (or RoBG ::)) willing to break a low mileage car to get the price for the parts. But if you or I were faced with bent valves on our immaculate low mileage Elites, what would we do? I would repair mine. :y

So would I, but like most of us on here, are Mega mad! ;D ;D

If it is just "another car" and you are faced with a massive repair bill on a car that everyone is telling you is only worth a £1,000, what do you do.  You grab the money and get a newer, more economical model.

It is like mine, being an economic right off and the insurance eventually agreeing to a higher payout; it would have been so easy to avoid all the hassle and just take he money.  But again, I am Omega mad and love these cars and will still "invest" in keeping it on the road until..........well, whenever it gets impossible to do so and then I may donate to a museum!! :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: amba on 04 April 2017, 17:53:54
By the time you may actually need the engine it will probably be either seized up as stored for many years or you wont be worried about the car any further ;D ...leave well alone and only buy the bits you need at the time or genuine service parts if cheap enough :y ...engine no  ;)
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: BazaJT on 04 April 2017, 18:21:04
You could always buy it and do a Webby by turning the block into a coffee table :D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 04 April 2017, 18:24:27
By the time you may actually need the engine it will probably be either seized up as stored for many years or you wont be worried about the car any further ;D ...leave well alone and only buy the bits you need at the time or genuine service parts if cheap enough :y ...engine no  ;)

All noted thanks, and I will now not be buying this engine, which actually has done 90K I now know.  ;)
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 05 April 2017, 14:05:08
You can/could buy a brand new crate engine from Vauxhall for less than £2k...

The same dealer has a mint fully working 3.2 for £385 :y
Far from the same thing ::)
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 05 April 2017, 17:03:06
You can/could buy a brand new crate engine from Vauxhall for less than £2k...

The same dealer has a mint fully working 3.2 for £385 :y
Far from the same thing ::)

Indeed, about a £1600 difference, that's if you can buy one still from VX. :D :D
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 05 April 2017, 18:29:57
Walk on by, Lizzie. :-* :-* :-* :-*

Your car has been well looked after and on the balance of probability you will be buying and storing an engine you may never need or use.
Title: Re: Damaged 3.2 Engine
Post by: Lizzie Zoom on 05 April 2017, 19:33:55
Walk on by, Lizzie. :-* :-* :-* :-*

Your car has been well looked after and on the balance of probability you will be buying and storing an engine you may never need or use.

Yes Opti, I agree :y :y