"Good Used Japanese Engines"????

[Carguylen]

I was wondering if anyone had an opinion about the places that sell the engines from Japan. They only have 30,000 miles (their smog laws) and are sold here. But, I heard a few people say that they do not do any maintenance because they will last 30,000 easily. Anyone know about this? I'm sure it's different for each engine, butis there an overwhelming opinion?

[clbolt]

First, the belief that they all have 30k miles or fewer is false. While the Japanese tax structure does make driving older vehicles unattractive, it's not uncommon for the engine to have 60k or more on them when they're pulled. You'll never know what the true mileage is, because it's almost never documented.

That said, I've bought a few and have had good luck with them. I used to drive to Dallas and pick them up from a warehouse. Honda Civics from 1984-88 are notorious for melting down, and I used to buy good replacements for $500 each with no tax. The biggest issues are the manifolds and such, which are different from the US models and are often smashed in transit anyway. Then there's the stuff they run through them before they pull the engines. It's a cosmoline-like concoction, and it completely gunks up the rings. You have to pour transmission in the cylinders to soak the rings and let them come free.

I'd buy one again from the same place if I needed one. The rebuilt 4AC I just got cost me less than they wanted for a 3AC.

[Carguylen]

I was asking because there is a place in the L.A. area that sells the 3ac for $675 installed with some kind of warrranty. The 4ac is $100 more

[shogun]

ive bought here in guatemala, 3 engines all three o f them 3as two scv, and one su and all of them were in very good conditions, i opened them before puting them in, all looked fine, a car without service the inner workings wil be black from the oil but these ones were nice