Think i need a new car :(

blue_haddock

I would have thought that as its a focus you should have no problem getting a 2nd hand engine for £300 tops and then say the same again for fitting so a lot less than they have quoted you.

Weird_Nev

BUt if they're a trusted garage, then it'll be worthwhile paying £200 or so more for peace of mind.

I'd want a whole new engine, I think most competent garages should be able to drop and refit an engine into a focus in a day, it's mainly just sourcing a decent reliable engine in the first place.

marlot

spadoosh wrote: »

Would like to learn more about mechanics....

CHanging an engine is a good way to learn about mechanics!

My first experience was taking a cylinder head off to replace a dropped valve. Had to replace the piston too.

Second experience was swapping an engine over. I had car with a knackered engine, and bought the same model car with a decent engine and a rotten body. I rented an engine hoist and got on with the job. Took me about 3 days, but I learned loads.

TrickyWicky

marlot wrote: »

CHanging an engine is a good way to learn about mechanics!

My first experience was taking a cylinder head off to replace a dropped valve. Had to replace the piston too.

Second experience was swapping an engine over. I had car with a knackered engine, and bought the same model car with a decent engine and a rotten body. I rented an engine hoist and got on with the job. Took me about 3 days, but I learned loads.

+1.

I knew nothing about cars until a couple of years ago. I had to repair one and then it needed some engine work doing. I couldn't afford the repair via a mechanic as it was an expensive job so I decided to DIY it. The only thing I will say is that while its relatively easy to get the lump out, getting it in and setting it up etc, finding out why it won't run when you've put everything back the same was as it came out can be frustrating to say the least!

You learn a lot along the way and if you have a friend who knows a bit it does make it a lot easier. That said, its not everyones cup of tea and not always practical either (eg if you don't have a drive or you do but it slopes downhill etc). You need a relatively flat bit of private ground and quite a few tools.

I actually found it was cheaper to buy an engine crane rather than hire one. To hire one was £200 for the weekend. I bought one for £195 including delivery and I was under no rush to return it to anyone unlike hired cranes. It's also made me the hero with the neighbours when they've needed to pull out engines! They're not light though and I can only really recommend the folding ones so you can store them away either folded or dismantle it and store it in pieces.

For tools you'll need the minimum of some good sockets and spanners. Most socket sets and spanner sets come with a few sizes missing (such as the 16mm) and they're always the ones you end up needing - no idea why they miss them out.

This is a very good set, I have it myself and it has almost every socket size except two:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-18974-1-2-Drive-AF-Metric-Socket-Set-41-piece-/320800769466?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4ab13745ba

Again you will need spanners too so a good ratchet set with as many sizes as possible will do you well. Halfords do a set with flexible heads but it is missing a few sizes. They're branded as Halfords but made by GearWrench so you can find the missing sizes you want at other tool dealers made by the same company with a different brand on them.

If you can scrape it together, you should be able to get yourself a good set of tools (including the crane) for £350 - £400. One thing I will say is don't get them from the local saturday market. They're not hardened and are like a chocolate teapot. If you don't round off the nuts and bolts you'll round out the spanner / socket instead. Go for proper solid tools like the socket set above. The only tool I ever bought from the market was a 2ft long breaker bar (basically a long socket handle for undoing stiff nuts and bolts). I felt guilty buying that but touch wood thats not let me down yet unlike the other market tools I bought!

EDIT: Almost forgot to say, if you have a car with air conditioning, pulling out the engine isn't as straight forward. By law you are required to have a certified person empty the system. You can work on it and rebuild / replace parts yourself as long as its been emptied by a qualified person. Likewise for refilling too.