[Supras] good rebuilt engines?

[Suprarossa@aol.com]

supra person here + ATK = horror story. I advise staying away. After just  
completing a swap out of the CT26 with a just rebuilt stock unit, none of my  
problems were solved - including the oil usage and smoke that I was convinced  
was turbo-related. This particular ATK engine has 8,000 miles on it and
1. uses a quart of Mobil 1 every tank
2. smokes (blue) noticably at engine vacuum transition (off the gas  coasting 
then slightly on the gas)
3. runs horribly lean
4. has a marble in a coffee can rattle at cold start for about 30  seconds
5. has another knock at idle and all rpm levels when it gets warmed  up
6. is on its 3rd set of cam seals
7. two separate oil analysis tests confirm high levels of chromium  particles 
in the oil
8. cylinder compression tests vary from 155 to 185
 
I've had it, and I'm either rebuilding the original engine that came out  
last year, or putting in the sweet unit in the (unregistered) '89 in the  
driveway. If ATK doesn't refund my money, we will meet in small claims  court.
 
It is very true that you get what you pay for. This was the cheap option  
when I started the rebuild in the fall of 2004, almost $1000 less for the engine  
than it was from Jarco or getting a factory short block. But I've spent that  
difference - and more - chasing down and trying to fix the problems.
 
Greg Altig
Keymar, MD

'92 & '89 Mk III Turbo/Targa/5  speed
"The 5 liter eaters"
_http://www.geocities.com/suprarossa_ (http://www.geocities.com/suprarossa) 
_http://www.mdsupras.com_ (http://www.mdsupras.com/)