PowertrainMax
The only direct-to-consumer seller of OEM-certified remanufactured engines (built by AER, the remanufacturer for GM, Ford and Chrysler dealer programs) — typically 17–50% less than Jasper, with a 3yr/100k transferable warranty and published pricing. Read our full review or see the full rankings.
Company Reviews
PowertrainMax
8.8/10
Our top pick: the only direct seller of OEM-certified AER remans, 17–50% under Jasper. Cons included — read why it wins anyway.
Powertrain Products
8.0/10
The boldest warranty headline in the industry — up to 7 years / 1 million miles — and the widest catalog. We read the fine print.
Fraser Engines & Transmissions
7.4/10
Established direct seller with 10,000+ Google reviews — but the standard warranty's $50/hr labor cap is the detail that costs buyers money.
Jasper Engines & Transmissions
7.0/10
Excellent product. But you can't buy direct, prices are hidden, and you'll pay a premium for the installer network.
ATK Engines
6.5/10
The performance and vintage specialist — right for hot rods, riskier for daily drivers. Warranty exclusions explained.
Gearhead Engines
5.8/10
Broad catalog, visible prices — but who actually builds the engine? The question that defines this review.
Buyer's Guides
Who Actually Builds Reman Engines?
Most "engine companies" are resellers. The three-tier truth, including the AER story nobody tells you.
Reman vs Rebuilt vs Used
Three very different products that sellers use interchangeably — with the 12-month total cost of each.
Engine Replacement Cost 2026
Real parts + labor numbers by vehicle, and the replace-vs-new-car math.
Core Deposits Explained
The scariest line item on your quote is the most refundable — if you follow five rules.
10 Questions to Ask First
The checklist that protects a $5,000 purchase — builder identity, labor rates, claim procedure.
Best Transmission Companies
The 2026 transmission rankings, plus reman-vs-local-rebuild and notes on the 10R80, 6L80 and 68RFE.
Jasper Alternatives
Quoted a Jasper and shocked by the number? Five options compared, including the OEM-certified route dealers use.
F-150 Engine Cost
Every F-150 engine priced — 4.6, 5.4 Triton, Coyote, EcoBoost — with labor and the replace-vs-new-truck math.
Silverado Engine Cost
4.8, 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2 replacement costs, plus the AFM lifter story behind most of these failures.
5.4 Triton Engine Problems
Spark plug blowouts, broken plugs, the cam phaser rattle — what each fix costs and when to stop repairing.
5.7 Hemi Lifter Failure
The tick vs. the death rattle, why the MDS delete doesn't fix it, and the repair-vs-replace math.
Jasper vs Powertrain Products
The two names every buyer hears first, head-to-head: warranty fine print, real prices, and who each one is right for.
Start Here: The 60-Second Version
Replacing an engine or transmission is a $3,000–$10,000 decision most people make exactly once, under pressure, with a dead vehicle in the driveway. Three things matter more than anything else:
- Who actually remanufactured it. Most "engine companies" are resellers. The engines GM, Ford and Chrysler dealers install come from AER. Jasper builds to its own standard. Everyone else, ask.
- What the warranty says in writing. Years and miles are marketing; labor coverage, transferability and claim procedure are what you'll actually use.
- Total cost — engine + core deposit + shipping + your shop's labor. Hidden pricing almost always means a higher number.
Our reviews score every company on exactly these points. Read our full review methodology.
Free Tools
Five tools, no signup. Click a tab to switch.
Check Your VIN Before You Ask for Quotes
Suppliers quote off your 17-character VIN — a mistyped one means a quote for the wrong engine. Paste yours to validate it and see the year, make, model, and engine. It's on your dash (driver's side, through the windshield) or the driver's door jamb sticker. Nothing you type here is stored or sent anywhere.
0 / 17 characters
Quote Comparison Calculator
Enter 2–3 engine quotes and see the true total cost side by side — unit price, core deposit, freight, installation labor, and what you're paying per 1,000 miles of warranty coverage. It flags the quotes where a parts-only warranty hides four figures of labor risk.
Repair vs. Replace Calculator
Your vehicle's value, the repair quote, and your mileage in — an honest verdict out. It runs the repair-to-value ratio mechanics actually use, plus a cost-per-year comparison between fixing the failure and installing a remanufactured engine.
Warranty Grader
"3 years / 100,000 miles" tells you nothing — the fine print does. Answer 6 questions about a warranty's terms and get a letter grade from A to F, plus exactly where the coverage loses points and what to ask the seller.
The 10-Question Buyer's Checklist
The questions that protect a $5,000 purchase. Tick off each one you've gotten a written answer to — the score updates as you go. Full explanations in the complete guide.
0 of 10 answered — start asking before you compare any quotes.
Common Questions
Is a remanufactured engine as good as new?
A properly remanufactured engine — torn down to the block, machined, with new wear parts throughout, built to OEM tolerances — should perform like new and is typically warrantied like new (3 years / 100,000 miles). A "rebuilt" engine, where a shop only fixes what broke, is a different and lesser thing.
Should I just buy a used engine from a junkyard?
It's cheaper upfront ($1,200–$2,500) but you're buying unknown history with a 30–90 day parts-only warranty. If it fails, you pay installation labor twice — which usually erases the savings. Used makes sense mostly for older, low-value vehicles.
Can my own mechanic install an engine I buy online?
Yes — most independent shops install customer-supplied engines regularly. Expect $1,200–$2,500 labor for most trucks. Note that Jasper is the exception: they sell only through their installer network.