Engine Rebuilders....Opinions?

[MSHardeman]

DrewsiferxXx, we do share an engine with the Rodeo, Trooper, Honda Passport, Acura SLX, and an '02-'03 Isuzu Axiom. They are all the 6VE1 engine block, and I have found a bunch of used ones online. I'm just leary of used engines because you never know how they were taken care of or what they have been through. I figure if I'm going to do this then I might as well go with a rebuilt/remanufactured engine because it will have been gone through by a shop and rebuilt with new parts. The theory is that some of our engines burn oil because of the rings that Isuzu used. I've also heard some noise about the oil drain holes (I think) in the pistons being too small and too few. Hopefully, the rings and pistons that they would use to rebuild the engine would take care of the oil burning issue.

atilla_the_fun, the 3.2L is an option and has been shown to drop right into the VX. I think the rest of the world's VX's have the 3.2L and from what I understand, our 3.5L is just a stroked version of the 3.2L. Heck, right now being down a cylinder I am running a 2.9L engine and she still has some get up and go. Living in the mountains, and with the VX being so heavy, I think I'm going to stick with the 3.5L because I would never make it up and over some of the mountain passes without it. As stated above, I think (or is it I'm hopeful) that a rebuilt engine would also take care of the oil burning issue due to the use of better rings and pistons. If I'm way off base on that assumption please let me know.

Thanks for all of the opinions and suggestions so far.

[atilla_the_fun]

Hopefully, the rings and pistons that they would use to rebuild the engine would take care of the oil burning issue.

I don't believe that there is any evidence that rebuilt engines don't burn oil, or rather- as much oil as the original engines (given that there is such a variation between members here). You should really contact forum members to get a better idea of what really is going on.

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

[circmand]

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

I used to have an Isuzu Amigo which was a fun little Jeep like vehicle. But when going up hills in PA with the little 4 banger engine and manual transmission I had to get up speed before the hill and in the semi truck lane as it slowed down and people wanted to pass.

[Gizmo42]

Also, unless you will be towing a 5000lb boat up those mountain passes, even a 2L, four cylinder engine could power the VX up most american mountain roads - this isn't 1945, and the VX doesn't need 215HP to travel through that kind of terrain.

You would think so but the passes here top out at 11-12k feet so that alone drops your power by up to 40%. Then figure in the runs up them can be 10 miles of 6-8% grade all up hill with 65 mph speed limit and you need power to get up them unless you want to follow the big trucks all the way up at 10mph.

Actually, the 3.2L from the rodeo has been shown to fit (on this forum) and does not have the same oil burning issues as the Trooper/SLX/VX 3.5L.

The DOHC 3.2 (which is the non stroked 3.5) also has oil burning issues. Isuzu considers 1 qt per 1k miles normal but I've seen them burn much more. Mine burned 1 qt per 3k miles most of the time I've had it but the last couple years its started to guzzle it.