A vehicle is an essential tool for many people. It gets us to and from work, school, and fun, carries our precious cargo, and, for some, provides a sense of joy and freedom!

 

That said, cars these days are increasingly complex, and even if you love your car, many people do not understand the ins and outs of all the systems on their vehicle (whether they want to or not). They increasingly require expensive, highly specialized tools and instruments to diagnose and fix problems. Look how many new and used cars and trucks there are today—it's unbelievable!

 

We know that part isn't fun, but it's why we are here: to help you get back on the road as quickly, safely, and inexpensively as possible.

 

Let's dive in and learn more about what it means to have a remanufactured engine in your vehicle.

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Every remanufactured engine we build begins with thoroughly cleaning, inspecting, and machining all remanufacturable castings. All cast iron components are magnafluxed to guarantee integrity. Engine blocks are precision bored, decked, and honed to the correct specifications. Crankshafts are ground and polished to an 8-12 RMS finish. Valve seats are precision cut to three angles, and heads are resurfaced and vacuum tested.

The engine is removed, disassembled, and meticulously cleaned. Its critical components are replaced with new or re-machined precision-machined parts to meet or exceed original factory specifications. The result is an engine equal to, if not better than, the original motor in your car.​

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​There are two types of engine assemblies: the “short block assembly” and the “long block assembly.” They are differentiated by the components that are repaired or replaced.

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 The following components are replaced as part of the remanufacturing process:

 

Short Block Assembly

 

A partial engine assembly that includes the following components: 

• Remachined Engine Block (Core)

• New Pistons

• Remachined Crankshaft

• New Bearings

• New or Reground Camshaft

• New Timing Gear and Chain (Push Rod Engines Only)

 

Long Block Assembly

 

A complete engine assembly that includes  the following: 

• All Short Block Components above

• Remachined Cylinder Heads

• New Lifters (Except roller lifters and lash compensators)

• New Gaskets

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Nothing is left to chance. Our quality machining process would be wasted if we didn't also use the finest engine parts available. Only parts from proven quality brands such as Fel-Pro, Sealed Power, Federal Mogul, Dynagear, Clevite, Top Line, and Melling go into our engines.

If you are looking for performance parts, we offer distinguished brands such as Speed-Pro, Lunati, TRW, Melling Performance, and Keith Black.

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Your vehicle depends on thousands of parts working together for your car to run.  The engine assembly is only a part of it. When a vehicle has enough wear to need a new engine, there is also often significant wear and tear on components that support the proper function of the engine but are not part of the engine assembly itself.  In some cases, these parts may have caused the damage to your engine in the first place. If your car does not run well after rebuilding the engine, other items will likely need replacement. In our experience, some of the most common parts with problems include but are not limited to: 

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• Carburetor

• Alternator

• Roller Lifters

• Lash Compensators

• Fuel Injector and  Components (Fuel pump, Fuel Lines, Fuel Rails)

• Radiator and Radiator Hoses

• Computer System

• Wiring Harness

• Motor mounts/supports

• Water pump 

• Starter

• Spark plugs

• Manifold

• Wiring

• Flywheel

• Harmonic Balancer

 

Some of these things can be seen with a quick inspection, and if we can see them, we will tell you about them upfront, but others cannot be diagnosed until the engine has been removed and taken apart. In all cases, the engine must be removed and opened for inspection to determine the condition of related parts, which is why there is a non-refundable inspection fee/deposit. If you decide to have your vehicle repaired with Thunderbolt, that cost goes toward the repair cost. 

 

When we provide you with a quote upfront, that quote is the base cost of parts and labor for the above assemblies (short block vs. long block). We will notify you immediately if additional parts are needed to complete the repair after the teardown and full inspection. Additionally, if the engine's core is damaged beyond repair, a new one must be purchased to complete the repair. These additional parts may cause your engine cost to rise.

 

We understand the stress of the possibility of the expense of making additional repairs, but Thunderbolt is here to help. If any parts need replacement during the rebuild process,  Thunderbolt only charges for the cost of the parts; we do not charge for labor on any additional repairs required as part of the rebuild process. We want to save you the expense of another mechanic’s labor and ensure your vehicle has all appropriate maintenance to protect your new engine. 

 

Additionally, as a service to you, Thunderbolt offers free towing in the Houston city limits if we complete the engine repair. 

 

We hope this explains the engine remanufacturing process and some of the problems that arise during engine repair and replacement so you will understand the nature of the issues if and when they occur.  Thank you for considering  Thunderbolt for your engine repair needs, and please do not hesitate to call or submit a form below if you have any additional questions or concerns

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