Replacement block same engine number?

[EBSXR6]

A colleague had to get the engine replaced in his Ranger, he was quoted and payed for a reconditioned engine at a Ford dealer.

Went to Vic Roads to update the engine number, Vic Roads Inspector checked the number with a camera and told him the number was already updated, colleague checked the number against the owners manual and it was same number.

Colleague contacted Service Advisor and asked was he getting a reconditioned engine? The Service advisor said yes. Colleague told him I have just been to Vic Roads and the engine number is the same as the original. Service advisor said he would get back to him.

Service Advisor called back told my colleague that they got a new block from Ford with a serial number sticker, no engine number and they stamped the engine number on the block.

My colleague is worried about he has paid for another block and they may have just used the original block. Has anyone else heard of the dealer stamping an engine number on a replacement block and is it legal?

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

Just be happy they did.

They replaced plenty of BA/BF GT engines with original engine numbers.

So they would probably do the same on a Ranger if under warranty.

[OzJavelin]

If the agreement was he was getting a reconditioned engine, personally I'd prefer to have my original engine reconditioned.
However I think most of these scenarios is that one engine is pulled and it's replaced with another engine reconditioned previously. In the case of the 5.7L LS replaced in my VY MY03, it was replaced with a reconditioned engine, but according to the numbers was from an '01.
Doesn't sound like that in this case as the dealer stamped the engine number; i.e. it didn't have one as was not previously used in another vehicle.
Hmm .. if anyone else did this they'd likely be in trouble? My '74 AMC Javelin didn't have an engine number (supposedly not mandatory in a lot of US states at the time?). I had to get a Police number for it. If it's all good with rego authorities then likely all good now.
Sounds like he got a NEW engine not a reconditioned one?

[solarite_guy]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

My '74 AMC Javelin didn't have an engine number (supposedly not mandatory in a lot of US states at the time?).

True.

[Vesper Martini]

What was wrong with the Ranger engine that it required replacement?

and what was the cost?

The answer to this will probably explain whether the engine was replaced or just fixed..

[Crazy Dazz]

What was wrong with the engine that it needed reconditioning?

And what precisely did he contract for?

It could be true, but sounds like BS.

Few dealers would be equipped to fully recondition an engine, with or without a new block. Usually they would buy the engine in.
If the work was done by a dealer, more likely it was replacement of some parts, rather than a full recon. Could be a recond'd head, etc.

Did the block need replacing?
How long was the car in for?

[EBSXR6]

The Ranger is a workmates and was off the road for about 3 weeks. The fan belt broke, caused an issue with the harmonic balancer and front engine seal. Some of the rubber got sucked into the engine and kaput. Quote was around $13,000.

I asked a mechanic mate been in the industry over 30 years, re the diagnosis and he came across this once with a BMW.

[Crazy Dazz]

Hard to say without knowing the extent of the damage.
$13k sounds like a lot of money if they were just changing out bits. But if it shat the timing chain/belt that could have rooted the head, if it threw a rod that can smash the block.

It's possibly true. If the main damage was to the block, possibly even isolated to the front seal or bearing channels, its possible they figured the easiest solution was to buy a new block.
Has he tried looking at the engine number himself? Does it look machined, or does it look like it was done by a stoned apprentice with a punch set?

Its also possible they sent the engine out to be rebuilt, and it was recon'd using the same block.

If he paid $13k, I'd be asking to see the paperwork from the engine re-conditioners.

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Hard to say without knowing the extent of the damage.
$13k sounds like a lot of money if they were just changing out bits. But if it shat the timing chain/belt that could have rooted the head, if it threw a rod that can smash the block.

It's possibly true. If the main damage was to the block, possibly even isolated to the front seal or bearing channels, its possible they figured the easiest solution was to buy a new block.
Has he tried looking at the engine number himself? Does it look machined, or does it look like it was done by a stoned apprentice with a punch set?

Its also possible they sent the engine out to be rebuilt, and it was recon'd using the same block.


If he paid $13k, I'd be asking to see the paperwork from the engine re-conditioners.

A new Ranger long motor will cost up to $8,000, accessories & labour will add $$, the price of $13,000 is actually quite good as I have heard of $16,000 being quoted for some other owners from ford dealers.


Cheers.

[Blue Dog]

It'd be pretty easy to tell the difference between an engine number stamped at a dealership (or anywhere else) compared to an engine number stamped at the factory.

A reconditioned engine is not a brand new engine.

Normally a reconditioned engine is obtained on an exchange basis.
They keep your old engine for reconditioning & they provide you with another engine that has been reconditioned.
This exchange process would mean the vehicle is off the road for the least amount of time.
But the engine number would not be the same as the original.

The other option is an engine rebuild, that's where your engine would be dismantled & reassembled with any damaged or worn parts being replaced.
In this case the original engine number might remain intact.
But the amount of time the vehicle is off the road would be a lot longer.

[MRHELE]

Originally Posted by Blue Dog

It'd be pretty easy to tell the difference between an engine number stamped at a dealership (or anywhere else) compared to an engine number stamped at the factory.

A reconditioned engine is not a brand new engine.

Normally a reconditioned engine is obtained on an exchange basis.
They keep your old engine for reconditioning & they provide you with another engine that has been reconditioned.
This exchange process would mean the vehicle is off the road for the least amount of time.
But the engine number would not be the same as the original.

The other option is an engine rebuild, that's where your engine would be dismantled & reassembled with any damaged or worn parts being replaced.
In this case the original engine number might remain intact.
But the amount of time the vehicle is off the road would be a lot longer.

[ratter]

Ford dealers have been stamping numbers for a few years, I quizzed a guy I know about this, they were legit in being allowed to do it on a new one when the original was going to be taken out of action and destroyed

[spud1972falcon]

Been there, done that. Been in the trade 30 years. If a new engine turns up without a serial number, I have stamped the original number on the new block. I make sure the old block is destroyed.
The only other way, is fit the engine. Present the vehicle to Vicroads and they will give you a serial number. You then have to stamp the number supplied. Most locations require engine removal to access. I don't think many customers would want to pay for this.

Sent from my SM-J530Y using Tapatalk

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by spud1972falcon

Been there, done that. Been in the trade 30 years. If a new engine turns up without a serial number, I have stamped the original number on the new block. I make sure the old block is destroyed.
The only other way, is fit the engine. Present the vehicle to Vicroads and they will give you a serial number. You then have to stamp the number supplied. Most locations require engine removal to access. I don't think many customers would want to pay for this.

Sent from my SM-J530Y using Tapatalk

Yeah used to see engines that were fitted to industrial machinery,ie welders,generators etc,that were unnumbered. I have also seen more problems caused because the original engine owner never bothered to notify a number change,after fitting a reco engine,then when the old engine turned up in another body,as far as Vicroads were concerned there were 2 cars running around with the same number.

[FERG_51]

I work at a dealership and fitted a Ford approved exchange engine to an Everest, the new engine looked to have a brand new block with no engine number and in the paperwork that came with the engine said to stamp original number onto the new engine.

[browser351]

Lots of aussie muscle cars out there with "ORIGINAL" engine blocks.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

The Ranger is a workmates and was off the road for about 3 weeks. The fan belt broke, caused an issue with the harmonic balancer and front engine seal. Some of the rubber got sucked into the engine and kaput. Quote was around $13,000.

I asked a mechanic mate been in the industry over 30 years, re the diagnosis and he came across this once with a BMW.

A snapped fan belt caused this?

[Mercury Bullet]

The fan belt might have been the end result of the balancer problems?

Could have snapped a crank, thrown a rod?

Who knows..

[Vesper Martini]

yeah well I think the balancer's on the bottom pulley, could have taken a hit offroading.

and crank damage would warrant the engine change

not sure about the belt.