[teamlosi12345]

Recently got a 2008 cabrio, good body with badly smoking engine 110k miles. Used car/parts dealer had engine available with 60,000 miles. Already took old engine out and have the “new” engine. What should i do before i install the new engine? New belts? Plugs? Make sure head bolts are tight? Etc? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

 

[dhlairbusb4]

All of that sounds good... maybe a compression check, but that would be hard without a way to turn over the motor.
And of course, new filters and oil.

 

[twcom]

Consider the clutch a transmission condition now also?

 

[toaster]

Recently got a 2008 cabrio, good body with badly smoking engine 110k miles. Used car/parts dealer had engine available with 60,000 miles. Already took old engine out and have the “new” engine. What should i do before i install the new engine? New belts? Plugs? Make sure head bolts are tight? Etc? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

Smart recommends a valve clearance check at 60,000 miles. Things might be a bit more accessible with the engine out.

~toaster

 

[teamlosi12345]

well we were a bit peeved at the place that we bought the motor from cause it came with the transmission but took it off once they sold it to us even though the price was the same they paid for it. So old transmission will be used. Yea i want to make sure everything is good before i put it back in. Lot easier to do things to engine now.

 

[teamlosi12345]

Ive, got a compression tester, cant i turn the motor over with a wrench at the main pulley?

 

[toaster]

Ive, got a compression tester, cant i turn the motor over with a wrench at the main pulley?

You are not going to be able to get a good compression number by turning the engine over manually...it simply won't be fast enough.

A better method of determining engine condition is a leak-down test. Remove plugs, manually position each cylinder one-by-one to top dead center, lock the flywheel to prevent movement, pressurize the cylinder looking at rate and source of leakage.

The most common failures of these engines tends to be head gasket or burned valves.

~toaster

 

[dhlairbusb4]

I think you are kind of committed now, unless you take it in to a shop for the leak down test.
When you bought the engine, did you get to hear it run? Another thing I would do, an oil sample. Drain the oil and filter it, also look for any metal in the filter, you can open it up.
Finally, get ahold of a camera that can look into the cylinders, look for burnt valves, scores on the cylinder walls.
You don't want to have to remove the motor after the install, the more you do now, the better.

 

[teamlosi12345]

Did not hear it run, but has a 90 day warranty with it. Will look at oil... just determining how to get the old engine out of the cradle is a bit overwhelming to me. Taking axles off, transmission and all the hoses, wires. Mounts.

 

[dhlairbusb4]

As long as you have the space, place, tools, instructions, manuals, maybe a helper, and a beer attendant, you should be in good shape.
Lots of info here and also at Evilution. Also youtube has a lot of good info.
You might as well do the clutch actuator cleaning/lubing, the gear shift motor cleaning, and the transmission oil change while you at it.
Keep us posted.....