In case of catastrophic failure...

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 1:56 pm

I did a search nationwide and found only 4 engines available in salvage yards. Prices go from $2,200 to $4,000.

If your engine takes a dive on you, what's your plan? Seems to me that spending several thousand dollars on a Jeep only worth 33% more as a whole would be a horrible financial experience. If the engine in your CRD gives up the ghost, what's your plan?

Anybody have other resources for parts or replacements that you could share with us?

Wobbly · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:13 pm

These engines appear on EBAY.DE and EBAY UK.

Some examples:
http://cgi.ebay.de/Motor-Jeep-Liberty-2 ... 335e60680f

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/jeep-2-8-crd-rene ... 3a538adf3f

Shipping would be expensive and slow. Warranty, if any, would be worthless due to the return cost.

reka12 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:09 pm

I might go as high as $6K to keep it on the road for a few years. Maybe. If not, I would chalk it up to a negative experience and part it out or sell it outright.

bebey · **Joined:** Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:08 pm **Posts:** 62

Depends on how many mods I've done to it by the time that happens...

flman · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:48 pm

I will keep driving it, and worry about what might happen on the day it happens

racertracer · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 6:57 pm

I'd keep it .... put it on blocks in the garage then search for and procure all the parts necessary for the repair.

Study how to perform the repair and fix it myself.

Or ask a mechanic friend for assisstance or have him perform the repair.

I won't sweat it. I will continue to change the oil and all the fluids per the maintenance schedule and have fun driving it.

flman · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 7:44 pm

Good point racetracer, I have the complete Miller tool set, so I am ready for any thing except a cracked block.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 10:13 pm

Yeah, that's all fine and good. Except... there's this little problem. You can't get parts. A tool kit does no good when there are no internal engine parts available to us to use them on.

Hence, my question. Is a $10,000 Jeep worth spending $7,000 on for an engine replacement? If you're money bags, maybe. If your Jeep is paid for, maybe. If neither, like most of us.... I don't think so.

With the threads about engine failures, cracked heads, rods coming apart, etc... it just makes me wonder. Preparation is a good thing. Waiting until disaster happens to think about what you'd do is not smart in any case.

FastSRT8GC · **Joined:** Mon Jan 04, 2010 9:52 pm **Posts:** 55

I agree. I started looking for dealer of VM last month.
There is one locally(Tampa), They put these blocks in boats.. So I have been told.
The rep said he can not sell any parts in the states due to DCM legal issues.

I guess the next option for some would be a 3.7 convert. I have been looking on Craigs list for bodies.. With the economy Most of us can not trade or sell, So I guess it is a very good idea to plan ahead to... what will we do???

Or... They make a V8 conversion for the Wrangler.... why not for the libby?

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 28, 2010 11:22 pm

Well i wonder if we can get parts through Penske since they own 50% of the company and now GM owns the other half. And i also believe there is a main facility for VM in detroit also. If you contact them through thier main website i am sure they can give you places to get parts through. I am just going to keep my oil cahnges regular and never buy the cheap crap for my little italian tractor.

Glend · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:01 am

You can get parts out of the european agents for VM. People in Australia buy parts from the UK guys all the time. There was even a crankshaft and a complete new turbo assembly listed here on ebay not to long ago. I buy things when they pop up and am building up my spare parts box that way. I have a timing belt kit, a spare AC condensor and transmission cooler assembly that I got for $50, rear control arm bushes, etc, etc.

racertracer · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:13 am

Glen, that makes sense, thanks for your advice from down under.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:09 am

LibertyCRD wrote:

If the engine in your CRD gives up the ghost, what's your plan?

Get my spare engine out of the backyard and put it in.

Reminds me, I need to change a timing belt.

reka12 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:17 am

I have contacted VM in Tampa. They do not sell parts for our motor and refered me to VM in Detroit. They will not respond, at least by email, to repeated questions on whether internal engine parts are available or not. I hope the GM guys are paying attention. Recently someone on the board spun a bearing or two. What is the outcome of that situation?

Wobbly · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 10:20 am

This company claims to sell replacement parts for the entire VM Motori engine line:
http://www.dieselvivian.com.ar/52.html

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 12:42 pm

Somebody here at work was saying that your insurance policy and/or GAP insurance may cover it as a total loss if you had to spend $7,000 for a new engine on a Jeep worth $10,000. I don't have experience with this, can somebody enlighten me? Is this a viable option if things got REALLY bad? Can you claim a dead Jeep that you can't afford to fix against insurance?

reka12 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 1:32 pm

Anyone closer than Argentina? I hate to see what it would cost to have a set of pistons overnighted.

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

I don't even want to think about it, I would hope insurance would help me out! seeing as I wouldn't be able to drive it and I owe money ha!

grsjax · **Joined:** Sun Oct 03, 2010 7:26 pm **Posts:** 61

I got a long block through my local jeep dealer for $4K delivered. Took awhile to find one.

You also might want to consider contacting a marine engine dealer and seeing if a good used marine version of the engine is available. At the very least the long block should be a direct swap even if some of the accessories arn't.

Wobbly · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:02 pm

This UK outfit is used by Aussies to avoid local dealers' prices:
http://vmdieselspecialist.com/

In case of catastrophic failure...

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