Engine? Long block or rebuild

[sierraspider]

I want to put an engine in my 82 spider. Is it best to go with a long block (if available) or let someone rebuild it. I'm in Calif. and I've heard good things about Joe's Fiat in Redwood City or Kelley at Wine Country Motors in Napa. I'm capable of doing the pull and put back but not rebuild, or maybe I am.Is it that crazy difficult given that I have good basic mechanical skills and am a meticulous (bordering on ocd) person. Realistically how much am I looking to spend (not a cheapo, want it done right and to LAST. I JUST WANT TO SPEND WISELY. (The engine has a serious rod knock)

Thanks to all of you

Dan

[Daniel]

If its just the rod knocking why not have someone drop the oil pan and inspect the rod bearing it takes just a few
hours to do the engine can remain in the car. I've done this to a couple fiats and they were fine after the bearing
was replaced.

[sierraspider]

Thanks Bandit
I'll certainly do that first.

Dan

[vandor]

Can't really tell you if you have the skills to rebuild it or not, but both of the shops you have mentioned are reputable and could do a great job rebuilding the engine.

[majicwrench]

Serious rod knock requires pulling engine. No point pulling pan, save your time, do it right.

[Daniel]

if you change the rod bearing from under the car or on a bench what would it matter ? it's still going to be
the same new bearings ! and not everyone has a engine hoist and bench to work on engines.

[majicwrench]

Serious rod knock always means that crank journal has got issues as well. And something causes the bearing to fail....just rollling a new bearing in there is, at best, gonna be a short term solution. You can sure crawl under car, pull pan, try to shove another bearing in there and see how long it lasts. But that is not money, nor time, wisely spent.
As far as rebuilding, if you can pull a motor, you can rebuild a lower end, the machine shop get the really tricky work.
Keith

[Daniel]

always means that crank journal has got issues as well

I didnt think he was going to just toss a set of bearing in without inspecting but just to through out what i said
before is a bit rude. I've replaced rod bearings a couple of times on fiats this way so you are entitled to your
opinion as I am to mine. I've rebuilt many many engines and yes pulling it out is the better way always but
if a bearing has gone bad and the journal is good then its a win win for Dan to have someone or him to pull
the pan either way the pan has to come off for inspection.

[majicwrench]

If pan came off easily I might agree, but pan is a pain, engine is coming out anyway. Not trying to be rude, just realistic, I've done this for a living for 32 years and can't afford to waste my time and my customers money. Pull motor, do a nice job of it.
keith

[Daniel]

Thats great and I would agree its nicer to work on an engine out of the car the amount of time tools needed like a hoist and effort is far more then pulling the pan in the car. I wouldn't sugguest this if it wasn't a success on my repairs.