Complete engines - worth it?

Hi,

I have a number of problems with the engine on my 1998 1300 hijet, so I was wondering what the cost of a complete unit (in good condition, with no problems... i.e. head gasket done!) was, and therefore if it would be easier to fit a new engine rather than fumble around trying to fix mine?

If so, how easy would it be to do an engine swap myself?

For a KNOWN decent Engine I charge £200 to £250. For good Lombardini Diesel ( has one EVER been made) The sky is the limit.

I had a 1300 Engine that had done just 9,000 miles from a smashed Hi-Jet Meals on Wheels Pickup. A disgruntled, sacked ex- employee of Merton Council near Croydon played dodgems with it into 9 other Hi-Jets in the Council yard, of similar age and mileage that we, SVP ( Specialist Vehicle Products, the Commercial arm of Romahome) had supplied just a year earlier.

I could have sold that engine in 2004 for £400 when I bought the whole pickup for £200 off the Insurance Company . I still have got a quite a few of the spares from it including the gearbox and rear axle.
I hung on to the engine and eventually put it in an immaculate van with a blown up engine. Conrod through the block. Bloke had never heard of oil before.
I have last week supplied Maralions with a 1300 Engine which had done 72,000 miles and(although I had thought it was 68,00 originally). I would rather have hung on to it as I have a van in the yard with a duff cylinder head. Would have been better to put the complete engine in.
But with all the protracted problems she has had with hers, I offered and she accepted (the ENGINE Logi). Absolutely incorrigeable.

My first Hijet was a Diesel... the engine blew up the first day I owned it, as I was driving home... never again! (mind you, it was partly my fault, I was 17 and still learning to drive, so I never thought to check the temperature gauge... I'll never make that mistake again!)

To be fair, the prices you're talking about seem pretty tempting! I've been having a lot of trouble with my engine, and was going to give in and take it to the garage, which quoted me £700+, so a new engine seems much cheaper.

Thanks for your help Woodie, and if you happen to stumble upon another decent engine, give me a shout!

So I took my head off tonight, and I'm pretty sure the valves are bent, hence why I'm not getting any vacuum, and it's not starting!

Looks like I'm definitely in need of a new engine!