Engine and Drive Unit Rebuilds

When an engine or drive unit is too worn or damaged for a straightforward repair, a rebuild is often the more cost-effective path compared to buying new. Sawley's Auto and Marine carries out rebuilds and overhauls on major components, including sterndrives, gearboxes and complete marine and automotive engines.

Rebuilt MerCruiser 6.2 engine ready for collection and refitting — Rebuilt MerCruiser 6.2, ready to go back in — click any photo to enlarge

What's Involved

Full strip-down and inspection to assess wear and damage
Measuring and assessing internal components against tolerances
Replacing worn bearings, seals, gaskets and other wear items
Machining or sourcing replacement parts for damaged components
Reassembly, timing and setup
Testing before the unit goes back into service

What We Rebuild

Rebuild work covers sterndrives and outdrive units, gearboxes, and complete engines across marine and automotive applications, including Volvo Penta drive units and engines. This also includes outboard powerheads and lower units, where a rebuild is often the more practical option compared to a full replacement.

Where We Work

Rebuilds are carried out at our Kadina workshop, where we have the space and equipment for major component work.

Rebuild or Replace?

Whether a rebuild makes more sense than replacement depends on the extent of the damage and the value of the unit — it's a conversation worth having before committing to either path. We'll assess the engine or drive unit and talk you through what a rebuild involves before any work goes ahead.

What to Expect

Once we've stripped the unit down, we'll let you know what we've found and what a rebuild involves before recommending anything further, so there are no surprises partway through the job. If parts need to be sourced or machined, we'll keep you in the loop as the rebuild progresses. This is especially relevant for older engines where new replacement units can be harder to source.