Greetings Scotty. 1998 GMC 5.7L Sierra K1500 4x4, 193k miles, Automatic. Should i spend $6,300 on a new Engine? I've already put $1,200 for a new Fuel Injection Assembly in 2020. My Mechanic quoted me $1,100 to replace the Timing Cover Gasket. Seems like major Engine components are failing at $1,200 each. My 15yr old son wants this truck when I replace it with a Honda hybrid CRV. Thx. Patrick, Coeur d Alene Idaho
Greetings Scotty. 1998 GMC 5.7L Sierra K1500 4x4, 193k miles, Automatic. Should i spend $6,300 on a new Engine? I've already put $1,200 for a new Fuel Injection Assembly in 2020. My Mechanic quoted me $1,100 to replace the Timing Cover Gasket. Seems like major Engine components are failing at $1,200 each. My 15yr old son wants this truck when I replace it with a Honda hybrid CRV. Thx. Patrick, Coeur d Alene Idaho
Why are you wanting to replace the engine in the first place? Any same-year engine will have the same issues, and you will wind up chasing your tail. It's the product of 26 years' worth of wear and tear. You also take the risk of the "new" engine burning oil. Your only option at this point is a junkyard engine, as it's highly unlikely they remanufacture engines that are that old.
Even if you replace the engine, the transmission is 26 years old. The transmission is your weakest link; not the engine.
If your son is interested in cars, somewhat, he could work on that engine over time. That's how I learned over the years.
@justin-shepherd It's not even clear that there is anything wrong with the engine internally. From the information given it appears that ancillary items are failing that can be expected to fail after 27 years. I agree that the best thing would be to let the son learn to work on the thing instead of spending huge amounts of money with a mechanic. This is an example of why if someone wants to drive a decades-old vehicle that's all well and good but they should be prepared to work on it themselves.
I agree. Gotta learn to work on stuff yourself if you're intending on driving decades-old cars.