Worth it to rebuild? 1998 Chevrolet Prizm and failed engine (Page 1/1)
1985FieroGT NOV 11, 09:59 PM
Well, my mom's car's engine gave up the ghost a few days ago, the engine has to be rebuilt. The body has 190k miles on it and it seems like it'll last another 200k miles if the engine is redone. Is it worth it for a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm (toyota corolla)?
RWDPLZ NOV 11, 10:46 PM
Lots of used engines available for $400-800, rebuild would likely cost $1000+ and take longer.

http://www.car-part.com/

The important question is, how the hell do you kill a Corolla engine?!

Could also do a 2ZZ swap...
1985FieroGT NOV 12, 12:01 AM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:

Lots of used engines available for $400-800, rebuild would likely cost $1000+ and take longer.

http://www.car-part.com/

The important question is, how the hell do you kill a Corolla engine?!

Could also do a 2ZZ swap...



The 1998 to 2002 corolla engines were cursed... they had small holes in the pistons to allow for oil transfer, and if the oil sludges a little, it'll seize the rings, etc. And the rear main seals are notorious for leaking. Both my dad's prizm and my toyota corolla I had owned both burned and leaked oil badly.
carnut122 NOV 13, 06:42 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985FieroGT:


The 1998 to 2002 corolla engines were cursed... they had small holes in the pistons to allow for oil transfer, and if the oil sludges a little, it'll seize the rings, etc. And the rear main seals are notorious for leaking. Both my dad's prizm and my toyota corolla I had owned both burned and leaked oil badly.



About that time period, Toyota recalled a bunch of engines for sludging.
dudewithoutfiero NOV 23, 01:52 AM
my wife's car is a 98 corolla with 126,000 on it and it only burns 1/8 qt. per 3000 miles. she is the second owner, the first was her grandma. the oil gets changed every 3000 and is never under the full mark. i think that in 2000 the engines were fixed and the engine will retrofit to the early years. I admit that the car is not a power house but it is great on gas and is VERY reliable. not all of the engine were bad

[This message has been edited by dudewithoutfiero (edited 11-23-2012).]

FieroGT42 NOV 23, 02:43 AM
I thought the ZZ engine was bullet proof... but if the rest of the car is as good as you say, I think it's definitely worth it.
dudewithoutfiero NOV 24, 06:14 PM
mostly they are, my wife's car has had regular oil changes and maintenance. i know someone else that has had his car since new and has replaced his motor twice(the first one was at 60,000 and the second was at 140,000, he doesn't change the oil very often. the last engine we put in was from a 2003 and did the whole swap, tranny computer and everything. when ever my wifes engine starts to go down hill and burn oil i will be doing the swap to hers. we will get more power and mpg.