Engine reconditioning
Engine reconditioning (a full engine rebuild) means a worn engine is stripped down, measured, machined and reassembled with new wear parts to factory specification or better. At our workshop south of Stockholm we carry out cylinder boring, honing, resurfacing, crankshaft grinding and complete rebuilds of the block and cylinder head. Ship your engine in by post from anywhere in the world, or drop it off in person.
A basic job starts from around 4,500 kr, and a full rebuild of a four-cylinder car engine typically costs 15,000-35,000 kr, excl. VAT. Typical turnaround is 2-4 weeks depending on the engine and parts.
Every job is documented with a measurement report and comes with a 12-month warranty. We take on petrol and diesel engines, marine engines, motorcycle engines and industrial engines.
Reviewed by
Robert Wiklund
Founder, Meksta AB - 30+ years' experience
Robert has built and reconditioned engines for over 30 years. He has built engines for Toyota Team Europe and Mazda Rally Team Europe, and personally oversees every job at Meksta.
From inspection to finished engine
Is the engine burning oil? Blue smoke under acceleration? Reconditioning restores compression, sealing and performance. Instead of swapping in a used engine with an unknown history, you get your own engine back, rebuilt to factory specification or better.
Stripping, measuring, machining, assembly and final inspection are carried out mainly in our own workshop with a Berco boring machine and calibrated measuring equipment. We replace pistons, piston rings, main bearings and big-end bearings as needed, check camshafts and the head gasket, and deliver an engine with documented tolerances. This machining stage is what Swedish mechanics colloquially call 'motorslip' (engine grinding).
Every job is documented in a measurement report showing the measured tolerances for the cylinders, crankshaft and other critical components.
What does an engine rebuild include?
Meksta carries out both individual machining jobs and complete rebuild packages. Do you only need to recondition the cylinder head? We do that as a standalone job too, with reconditioned cylinder heads in stock for a fast swap. Here's an overview:
Connecting rod reconditioning
Reconditioning of connecting rods including checks of straightness, roundness and fit. We replace bearings, re-measure and verify tolerances.
Cylinder sleeving
When the cylinders are worn beyond oversize, we press in new liners and bore them to exact size. The liner is chosen to suit the engine and application.
Balancing
Dynamic balancing of the crankshaft, flywheel and clutch cover. Reduces vibration and extends bearing life.
Line honing
When the main bearing bores in the block are worn or out of line, we line-hone them to restore perfect alignment of the crankshaft bearing bores.
Unleaded conversion
On older engines we fit hardened valve seats that stand up to modern unleaded fuels. Common on 1960s classic cars.
Pressure testing (block & rail)
Pressurising and heat-testing the engine block to find hidden cracks. Also pressure testing of common-rail high-pressure systems.
Why recondition rather than replace the engine?
Instead of gambling on a used engine, a professional rebuild gives you full control, peace of mind and often a better deal.
Known history
A used engine from the scrapyard is a gamble. Has it overheated? Has the oil been changed on time? When we recondition your own engine, you know exactly what has been done and that every critical part is new.
12-month warranty
An engine we've reconditioned often lasts as long as a factory-new one. That's why we give a 12-month warranty on all reconditioning work. Something you rarely, if ever, get with a used engine.
Better value over time
Buying a used engine of unknown condition can cost as much as a full rebuild, but the risk of a fresh failure is huge. Reconditioning is the most economical choice in the long run.
All engine types, all fuels
Meksta takes on engines of all sizes, fuel types and applications. Here are the most common categories:
- Cars: 4-cylinder, 5-cylinder, 6-cylinder, V8. Petrol and diesel. All makes.
- Marine engines: inboards and outboards, sailboat engines and high-speed diesels. Read more about marine engines
- Motorcycle engines: from simple single-cylinder to advanced multi-cylinder sport engines. Read more about motorcycle engines
- Racing engines: builds and rebuilds for rally, drag racing, circuit racing and street racing. Robert has a background in international rallying.
- Classic and vintage cars: care and respect for originality. Unleaded conversion, original-type parts and a feel for preserving the car's character.
- Industrial engines: generators, pumps, compressors and other stationary installations. Read more about industrial engines
V8 engine reconditioning
The V8 is one of our most common specialist jobs. We rebuild V8s from all the big names, American, German and Japanese, from the classic Chevy Small Block to the modern Mercedes M113 and BMW N62. We take on both standard rebuilds to factory specification and performance builds for street, track and drag racing.
- American: Chevrolet Small Block (283-383, LS, Gen V LT) and Big Block (396-454), Ford Windsor (289, 302, 351), Ford FE, and Chrysler/Mopar (340-440, 426 Hemi). See our complete SBC guide by generation.
- German: Mercedes M113 and M113K (supercharged), BMW N62/N63 and Audi/VW 4.2 V8. High precision on sealing and balancing.
- Japanese: The Nissan VQ/VR series (VQ35, VR38DETT), plus Toyota/Lexus 1UZ-FE and 2UZ-FE.
A complete V8 rebuild covers cylinder boring and honing, resurfacing of the block and heads, crankshaft grinding and dynamic balancing of the full rotating assembly with bobweights, valve reconditioning and assembly using calibrated torque settings. Complete V8 rebuilds start from around 25,000 kr excl. VAT depending on the engine and the scope of work. Get a quote for your V8 rebuild.
What does engine reconditioning cost?
The price varies with the engine, the extent of the damage and which jobs are needed. Here are approximate price ranges:
We always give a quote after inspection. If you decline, you only pay for the inspection time. Guide prices for individual machining jobs, operation by operation, are in our full price list.
We give a 12-month warranty on all reconditioning work. Get in touch for an exact quote tailored to your engine.
Individual services and standalone machining jobs
Cylinder boring
Boring and honing of cylinders to oversize. Tolerances down to a thousandth of a millimetre.
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Cylinder head resurfacing
Resurfacing of engine blocks and cylinder heads. Exact tolerances and surface finish every time.
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Crankshaft reconditioning
Crankshaft grinding, polishing and balancing. All engine types, from cars to marine engines.
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Crankshaft balancing
Dynamic balancing of the crankshaft, flywheel and clutch cover. Less vibration and longer life.
Läs merHow it works, step by step
From first contact to finished engine. Here's how the process works, step by step.
Consultation & quote
We go through your goals, your budget and the engine's condition. A clear quote with no hidden fees.
Stripping & cleaning
The engine is stripped down methodically. The parts are cleaned in an industrial hot wash tank.
Measuring & inspection
All tolerances are measured with a micrometer and dial gauge to determine which parts need replacing.
Machining
Block, head and crank are machined with precision on our modern equipment - cylinder boring, resurfacing and so on.
Assembly & measuring
We assemble the engine with meticulous care. Bearing clearance, ring gap and valve clearance are double-checked.
Final check & delivery
Function test and quality control before you get back an engine built to perform.
Do the maths yourself
Use our free tools to run the numbers on your project before you get in touch.
Frequently asked questions about engine reconditioning
Last updated: June 2026
Ready to get started?
Describe your engine and what has happened, and we'll come back with an assessment and a quote.
Common engines we recondition
See what a reconditioning means for your specific engine - prices, common faults and specifications per engine family.