Confidence in Remanufactured Engines

[AJA9000]

I posted earlier about my 2014 3.6L Pentastar, it's late-found lifter tick, and resulting metal shavings in the oil pan (200,000 miles). It still runs and I drive it slowly on the weekends. I'll be getting a bit of a windfall this year and am wanting to either:

A) buy a remanufactured engine, or
B) get a low miles used replacement engine and have a trusted garage remove and replace the camshafts, rocker arms, and lifters.

Does anyone have experience with the model years that have avoided this problem? Do most remanufactured engine companies address this specific problem? Would high-end aftermarket replacement parts give me a good chance of avoiding the same problem? What remanufactured engine companies rate as the most reliable? (I'm aware of the ever-present chances and lack of firm guarantees that come with the territory, but I'm wanting to hedge my bets and can spend a little more money to help me get another 100,000 miles out of this truck).

Thanks!!

 

[SitKneelBend]

I posted earlier about my 2014 3.6L Pentastar, it's late-found lifter tick, and resulting metal shavings in the oil pan (200,000 miles). It still runs and I drive it slowly on the weekends. I'll be getting a bit of a windfall this year and am wanting to either:

A) buy a remanufactured engine, or
B) get a low miles used replacement engine and have a trusted garage remove and replace the camshafts, rocker arms, and lifters.

Does anyone have experience with the model years that have avoided this problem? Do most remanufactured engine companies address this specific problem? Would high-end aftermarket replacement parts give me a good chance of avoiding the same problem? What remanufactured engine companies rate as the most reliable? (I'm aware of the ever-present chances and lack of firm guarantees that come with the territory, but I'm wanting to hedge my bets and can spend a little more money to help me get another 100,000 miles out of this truck).

Thanks!!

I've only ever heard of Jasper being recommended but have no experience myself (they have a great warranty though).

Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep 3.6L Pentastar | JASPER® Engines & Transmissions

Gas Engines Ford Triton GM 3.6L GDI Dodge/RAM 5.7L Hemi Engine GM Gen III, IV, and V Engines Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar Dedicated Customer Teams & Agile Services Understand importance approaching work integrally and believe in power of simple communication. Talk To An Expert 02 01061245741 Download...

www.jasperengines.com

May I ask why you aren't considering a rebuild/repair of your engine?

 

[AJA9000]

From what I've been told, once there are metal fragments in the oil pan, the engine is shot and it's too much work involved to make it feasible. The other thing I've been told by a few old mechanics (and I'm 61 and remember the days of fast $500.00 rebuilds), is that modern engines are really difficult for most mechanics to take on to rebuild, as today's tolerances are so demanding, and that being consistent w/ quality replacement parts is difficult to do. Admittedly, I'm no mechanic (woodworker, yes), and am at real disadvantage when it comes to all the options and opinions out there. What are your thoughts?

 

[AJA9000]

Also, thanks for that great link! I'll def. check it out!

 

[SitKneelBend]

From what I've been told, once there are metal fragments in the oil pan, the engine is shot and it's too much work involved to make it feasible. The other thing I've been told by a few old mechanics (and I'm 61 and remember the days of fast $500.00 rebuilds), is that modern engines are really difficult for most mechanics to take on to rebuild, as today's tolerances are so demanding, and that being consistent w/ quality replacement parts is difficult to do. Admittedly, I'm no mechanic (woodworker, yes), and am at real disadvantage when it comes to all the options and opinions out there. What are your thoughts?

I'll stick with what the mechanics told you as I myself am no mechanic (just curious is all)...

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

I've had good luck with Jasper and their warrantee, you have 200,000 miles on her and getting all of the metal fragments out of there is extremely difficult, there are allot of moving parts, an intake and exhaust cam on each bank chain driven along with rocker arms followers and lifters a rebuild would cover those, make sure they replace the oil filter cooler with a metal one the plastic one is trash.

 

[AJA9000]

The price quote from Jasper was $6,617.61. Their specs look impressive in terms of what they replace. It's gotta be installed by a garage they certify, which makes sense, and I'm just starting to ask for some quotes.... probably at least 10K invested into my otherwise reliable truck. Considering what new trucks cost (!), it makes sense to invest more money into it, rather than going into massive debt that would equal close to what I owe on my mortgage.

 

[RamRider60]

I've only ever heard of Jasper being recommended but have no experience myself (they have a great warranty though).

Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep 3.6L Pentastar | JASPER® Engines & Transmissions

Gas Engines Ford Triton GM 3.6L GDI Dodge/RAM 5.7L Hemi Engine GM Gen III, IV, and V Engines Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar Dedicated Customer Teams & Agile Services Understand importance approaching work integrally and believe in power of simple communication. Talk To An Expert 02 01061245741 Download...

www.jasperengines.com

May I ask why you aren't considering a rebuild/repair of your engine?

I recently had an engine replacement done due a mechanical error that was covered by the company's insurance. The insurance company wanted to put in a Jaspar reconditioned engine that had roughly 26,000 miles on it to match my original engine. The dealership refused to install it and the company that had worked on my car, made the insurance company put in a brand new engine because of the reliability factor involving these engines. Yes, they probably will continue to put new reconditioned engines in if they get one that is bad but do you really want to go through that. The dealership said it was a nightmare getting them to pay for additional installs of the engines if the one they got the first time, had issues and had to be replaced again. Only sharing my story because of the red flags posed by my experience. You may get a good engine and be fine. My brand new engine has 10,000 miles on it with no issues so far.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I recently had an engine replacement done due a mechanical error that was covered by the company's insurance. The insurance company wanted to put in a Jaspar reconditioned engine that had roughly 26,000 miles on it to match my original engine. The dealership refused to install it and the company that had worked on my car, made the insurance company put in a brand new engine because of the reliability factor involving these engines. Yes, they probably will continue to put new reconditioned engines in if they get one that is bad but do you really want to go through that. The dealership said it was a nightmare getting them to pay for additional installs of the engines if the one they got the first time, had issues and had to be replaced again. Only sharing my story because of the red flags posed by my experience. You may get a good engine and be fine. My brand new engine has 10,000 miles on it with no issues so far.

That is typical of dealerships in my experience as they want to warranty their labor on MOPAR new parts.

 

[Wild one]

The price quote from Jasper was $6,617.61. Their specs look impressive in terms of what they replace. It's gotta be installed by a garage they certify, which makes sense, and I'm just starting to ask for some quotes.... probably at least 10K invested into my otherwise reliable truck. Considering what new trucks cost (!), it makes sense to invest more money into it, rather than going into massive debt that would equal close to what I owe on my mortgage.

Hit up Benny at All Mopar Parts on here,he might even beat these prices

All Mopar Parts

Offering Genuine Mopar Ram Parts & Accessories at discounted prices!

www.ramforum.com

https://www.mopargenuineparts.com/sku/68237714ba.html

https://www.moparonlineperformance.com/sku/68237714ba.html

 

[diymirage]

There is an outfit called blueprint engine
They are top notch in the hotrod market and build some impressive magnum 408s and hemis, if (and that's a big if) they carry a 3.6 I wouldn't think twice about getting one frome them

Great warranty too

 

[Docwagon1776]

Jasper is too expensive for what they are. Their motors are generally reliable but not stand out. I wouldn't put one of their transmissions in a riding mower if I cared about the mower.

The price quote from Jasper was $6,617.61.

$6k for OEM here: https://www.mopargenuineparts.com/sku/68426944ae.html and I didn't look beyond the first Google hit. Personally, I'd go new OEM vs paying a 10% premium for an aftermarket rebuild, even with the warranty difference.

However, assuming the transmission has 200k on it as well if I wasn't willing to dump the money into a trans at some point in the near future if it craps out as well I'd be hesitant to spend big on a new motor.

 

[Tominator223]

Powertrain products. Has replacement engines & decent warranty. I’ve been looking for awhile think thats who I’ll use. At this point I have no experience with them. My local machine shop is now gone. As time & age get us all. As the song says, you’ll be lucky to get out of life alive

 

[Geeleena]

Have a 2011 Ram Sport RCSB 5.7 that had the camshaft and lifter failure. After months of research on aftermarket remanufactured engines and hearing the horror stories of how most everyone not honoring their warranty. I went with patriot engines and talked to Scott the owner and never looked back. They get their engines from AER which Mopar get the remanufactured engines from. Got the 5.7 long block for $4850 with core exchange and free shipping! Scott was better than great and it doesn’t get any better than that!
Scott 225-217-0242

 

[Lee Peterson]

I put a used Caravan engine in my ram was cheap $600cnd with 100,000 miles. Just had to swap my timing cover, upper intake, oil pump pickup tube, upper and lower oil pan and flex plate. Wreckers wanted 5x more for ram 3.6l engines.