Used to have an S2000 about 10 years ago and I loved it. I sold it due to its impracticality at the time and missed it ever since. I always talk about getting another, but with a 2 year old kid, it would have to be a second vehicle for me. Which leads me to a 2001 S2K with what the owner is saying is a blown motor. Older dude owned it for 13 years, low miles for the year, sounds like he missed a shift and it threw a bearing, cosmetically in great shape in and out though. The car is currently at a local Honda shop and the motor is out. I'm no stranger to swapping motors, did it twice on a VR6 GTI (the Germans really crammed that V6 in there along with a front wheel drive tranny), so I don't see installing a motor on my own being anything out of my wheelhouse, but I was just curious of anyone's take on this project. Anything specific I should be thinking about with taking this on? Better to have the motor rebuilt by the honda shop or look for a low mileage used one? Leaning towards having it rebuilt. I am going to speak to the shop owner today, is there anything specific I should find out? Any other thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

Edited for terrible grammar

 

Depends on price of car and what's wrong with motor. Sounds to me if you can get the s for a steal it may be worth it. Assume it needs a complete overhaul. Price it as rebuilding it not swapping it out. Assume you need to sleeve cylinders and just figure out what it will cost. If the numbers are what you can afford then buy it.

Don't let dealership do the work!

 

I would much rather have the motor rebuilt than put in a used one, you never know how a motor was previously treated and it could just end up needing a motor a little down the line. I am going to check out the car at the shop its at later tonight. Figure I will pick the shop owner's brain for a bit. They are a honda specialist shop. Plan is for the shop to do the rebuild and for me to put the motor back in. Anything I should specifically ask about in this scenario?

 

I almost think buying a used motor and putting it in yourself may be cheaper than having someone rebuilt the blown one. All depends on what happened when it blew really. These motors are cake to put in and take out. Just remove the fenders/bumper for the most leverage

 

My concern with buying a used one is I don't know the history of the motor, I could be buying a motor that might have a problem waiting to be discovered, then I am back at square one...I mean used motors I see are around 3K, obviously I have to check with the shop, but I don't think the rebuild would pass that dollar amount. I figured the motor install would be relatively easy, can't be as bad as the VR6 GTI. I am going to check the car out tonight and talk to the shop owner, not sure if the motor is out of the car or not so they probably don't know exactly what had gone wrong. The only downside to having a shop rebuild the motor is the down time, the car will be out of commission for a month at least.

 

So I went and checked out the car tonight.cosmetically it looks to be in good shape, not perfect.three scratches on the front driver's side quarter panel that were touched up poorly, a scratch ortwo on the rims...nothing major, but you can tell the car was not a garage queen. The motor and tranny are out of the car and the motor is stripped doen to the block and head with the crank shaft still in it along with the valves and stuff. Mechanic said the spacers on the thrust bearings on the crank came out, so block will n3ed to be machined, and I will need a new crank. Top end is fine, transmission is fine. Doesnt seem like catestrophic failure, but either way the motor will need to be rebuilt. This is all well and good, my main concern is that there parts to this car all iver the shop...peices in the car sittimg on the bare leather seats, etc. I just hope I get a lot the pieces. Any ideas of good machine shops on the east coast that I can trust to do the job? Any thoughts on this poject? I will post a couple of pics in a bit. Thanks guys.

 

Decided against buying this car and instead I am looking for a nice used one... Thanks for advice thus far and happy 4th!