I have needed an engine for a car that I owned only two times in my life. Both times, I bought a book and learned how to rebuild them.
Tonight, I picked up the phone and bought a JDM engine from a company in my old stomping ground, the San Fernando Valley in California, without having ever heard the engine run. In fact, I have not even seen it!
It’s like diving into a new fishing hole. You don’t really know what lies beneath the surface of the water.
JDM stands for Japanese Direct Market. Evidently, Japan’s emission control laws are so strict that they replace their engines after 50-60,000 miles. I know they have been getting quite a bit of bad press recently, but that for a Toyota engine, that is barely broken in real good. And I am getting it at a pretty reasonable price: $350 ($525 if you include shipping).
However, it still feels risky. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
