[eagle4942]

Good afternoon,


I have a 2009 Smart Car that is paid off. A mechanic told me that I have to replace the engine because the block overheated and leaked coolant. I've been having the car sit for about 2 years in my driveway. I don't have the financial means to repair it. I have about $800 in aftermarket parts on there? What's the cheapest way about going to fix or swap the engine? Any 4 cylinder options? I have someone that's willing to swap it out. I know I can probably get $1,000 for it as is.


Thanks Smart Family!

 

[jwight]

Sounds like you can't cover the cost of an engine swap either, so look at parting it out on eBay or just scrapping it. You could also offer it for sale as is - somebody else may be able to do the engine swap.

 

[eagle4942]

.

I do have a friend that has done 10 swaps that were Hondas and Chevys. He would do it for free for me. Would the MR2 swap be cheaper than the 2009 Smart OEM Mitsubishi 1000 block?

 

[jzchen]

www.car-part.com has a lot of engines near me. I’m afraid you do not list your location otherwise I’d search near you.

 

[jwight]

I do have a friend that has done 10 swaps that were Hondas and Chevys. He would do it for free for me. Would the MR2 swap be cheaper than the 2009 Smart OEM Mitsubishi 1000 block?

I'd stick to the Mitsu engine. Otherwise, none of the OEM computers will work with the engine.

 

[Miss Mercedes]

If you're looking for a cost friendly solution going for another engine is not going to work. Aside from the aforementioned computer issues I imagine there's going to be a lot of custom fabbing going on. I think I've seen someone buy an engine for like $500 but those are so rare they may as well be unicorns.

 

[wahi]

The way things are right now, I am assuming the cost of a good, used Mitsu engine plus labor (installation) would be in the range of $1,800.00 to $2,200.00. Unfortunately, the engine will need shipped to your address which might be another bill to worry about.

 

[shop hermit]

Wahi is pretty much spot-on. I replaced my 08 with a salvage engine five or six years ago and his estimate is pretty much what I would expect. I paid about 2k for a good used engine witrh only 10k on it and about $200 shipping from several states away. Engines are a little cheaper now, but it's harder to find one with so few miles on it. I did the work myself, so that was "free", but that requires some expertise and tools that the average DIYer probably won't have, although it is pretty much straight-forward if you do a little reseaerch on this and the Evilution website.

 

[toecutter]

Years ago, i heard a tuner put a turboed version of the 1000cc yaris engine in the 451. Someone on here put the 1600cc in their 451. The 1000cc engine swap sounds like a better fit.

 

[twcom]

Over 10 years in and still no go to engine repair/remanufacture/replace structure for the 451 Smarts.

My mint condition 2007 Pontiac Torrent SUV with 142,000 miles blew a head gasket with badly pitted heads. Wasn't even a question... Rebuild, new heads, new gaskets, the talents of a gifted engine builder. 2 years later at 159,000 miles the engine purrs and I still covet this mint truck.
I am really hoping to find a Smart engine network by time mine is in need I am just over 38,000 on my Smart at this point. It is my intent to own two more smarts this summer a 451 to flip and a 453 to keep.

 

[jwight]

This place offers rebuilt 451 fortwo heads: https://losangelesmachineshop.com/smart-car-1-0-dohc-12v-3-cylinder-valve-job/

They already offer one Mitsu 3 cylinder in rebuilt form, no reason they couldn't do the 3B21 from a 451.

 

[twcom]

This place offers rebuilt 451 fortwo heads: https://losangelesmachineshop.com/smart-car-1-0-dohc-12v-3-cylinder-valve-job/

They already offer one Mitsu 3 cylinder in rebuilt form, no reason they couldn't do the 3B21 from a 451.

All right now that is good info. Now a Shop that has Grow comfortable with dropping this engine and working with it. Smart Madness where are you with the engine rebuilding of the Smarts. My sweet spot for a DOA engine to running again is $3,000 I would Pay that to continue the life of my smart. And to that point I would buy a broken Smart for $1,500 and throw $3,000 to resurrect the engine and feel great about it.

But now what is this to the thread starter.

Are you looking to just swap out the engine for some sort of full mod creation or to rebuild back to stock. Did your block crack, heads warp or some sort of harness melt down. In your case you already have the labor portion covered. So what is the the fast track to your Smarts resurrection.