remanufactured Coyote - good idea?

[stuchman1]

Hi all,

I've taken the plunge and ordered my MK4, complete kit. Super excited! Delivery date November. Less excited about that.

I'm looking at motors and have opted for a gen 3 Coyote. Of course you get what you pay for, but I'm a bit unenthusiastic about paying $10k+ for a new motor + transmission.

I'm relatively inexperienced, so I'm also reluctant to buy a salvage from a junked car.

So I'm exploring a remanufactured motor as an option. (For those who don't know what I'm talking about, I've learned that remanufactured refers to a motor where all the internal parts are completely replaced, as opposed to rebuilt, where just parts that need replacement are changed out.). Looks like there are several companies that sell remanufactured motors, and quick calculation shows it's probably 30% less than buying one new, they come with a good warranty, etc.

Anyone have experience with it and can comment on whether remanufactured is a smart option?

Thanks in advance!

[facultyofmusic]

An important piece of info to convey here is your experience with debugging and fixing an engine if anything goes wrong. When I bought my coyote new from ford I didn't like the price at all and kept wondering if I should have went rebuilt or remanufactured. Right now I look at that engine and thank god I didn't go with some other option. I can't imagine taking that thing apart. A 347? Fine. Coyote? Nope.

[MB750]

I second that. I LOVE the Coyote (I've got one in my F150), but I would NOT want to build a car around one simply due to all the electronic aids it requires. Give me an old carbed pushrod 5.0L any day that I can turn wrenches on to make it as powerful as the Coyote for less than the cost of a new one.

Have you thought about a rebuilt 302? You dont' have to pull the trigger on a $11k Blueprint 306, but a stock 302 from a local builder or an online presence. Many of them come with warranties.

[Alan_C]

Rather than remanufactured, would you consider buying a wrecked Coyote powered F150 or Mustang GT at auction? I bought donor cars for my MK4 and my current 70 Mustang restomod project. For the Mustang, I was very fortunate to find a 2017 Mustang GT at auction in the Fall of 2017. The car was only 6 months old since manufacture and, from the best I could tell, the engine only had 2345 miles on it. Again I was very lucky and it turned out the car was a huge bargain since it had a California junk title on it. The junk title prevents the car from being licensed for use on the highway. Now there are not a lot of bargains like this out there, but in September 2017 the full auction purchase price and shipping of the vehicle to my home was $6500. Compare that to a new crate motor and sometimes it is worth the risk for the potential savings. Also consider that a new crate engine still needs a alternator kit and other bits to be equivalent to a take out motor.
Now in 2022 I have no idea what vehicles at auction are going for, but an option that could possibly be worth investigating?

[Al_C]

It depends on the warranty. I thought I knew what I was doing, but really had no clue. Still don't, several years later as I continue to learn just how much I don't know. (and I have learned a lot...) If you believe you are competent in all things engine, then go in whatever direction suits you. If not, take a relatively safe route - in my case a new crate engine - and take it from there. Yes, there was a steep learning curve for me. That being said, I'm glad I chose the route of a new coyote. My goal was "new technology". I, more or less, got it. I was fortunate that Mike Forte had a sale going on and I felt like I got a good deal on my engine. I've purchased "remanufactured" laptops and they've been just fine. Engines - can't say. As everyone (including yours truly) says, it's your car, do it your way. Whatever you are comfortable with is the correct approach!