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Motor advice please

D

DarkPassNger

New member
Hi guys I posted awhile back of a knock after my car warms up then goes away under acceleration
http://www.grandprixforums.net/threads/85891-Engine-knock-any-ideas

I've brought the car into the dealer today and they told me they believe it to be a rod bearing, and the quoted me over 3 grand to put a used engine in from a salvage yard. I'm quite capable of buying and engine and installing it myself, but again you don't exactly know what kind of mileage your getting from a salvage yard (and even how the motor runs), and I was considering buying a new crank with mains and rod bearings included and rebuilding just the bottom end.... as the motor only has 145000 kilometers and the motor doesn't burn oil and runs very well. What are your suggestions on this matter? Your opinions and advice are appreciated greatly...Thanks for any replies.
 


being your n/a a used low miles engine can be found for 300 most of the time. they are in a few other newer Buicks too.

find one that was rear ended and totaled.


dealers do suck a dick dont they, 3 grand for a used engine install. what a joke.
 
Yeah and I don't trust the place that the dealer got the quote for the used engine from....thats why I was thinking of trying to repair the motor in my car
 
The crank with mains and rod bearings are 237 dollars from rock auto ...so it's quite cheap....lowest price for a used engine here is 900 plus tax lol
 


Not sure where your from but go to http://car-part.com. I bought 60k motor with a 90 day warranty for $500 (2) years ago.

There really isn't anyone on the forum that rebuilds the bottom end. It is extremely rare to have a problem with them. The junk yards have lots of 3800's because they don't go bad.

Biggest motor problem is Lower intake manifold gaskets going bad and upper plastic manifold on NA.
 
DarkPassNger said:
The crank with mains and rod bearings are 237 dollars from rock auto ...so it's quite cheap....lowest price for a used engine here is 900 plus tax lol
Click to expand...


you forgot the machine shop costs, add another 300 or more to that parts list. no machine shop, 200 mile motor tops. wasted time and money. buy a used block. take some time to search, you may have to travel to get one. look for part outs on craigs list and such. they are out there.
 
Also, have you done the LIM gaskets and it the upper manifold? Coolant in oil could take out the rod bearings.
 


I buy mine for anywhere from $350-550. Mileage is never as low as it used to be, but you will just dump too much money into a rebuild job. Find a donor...Lucerne L26 is a nice one and often well treated...

Realize the parts are not too expensive, but if you have something in the bottom going/gone, you won't be lucky to just do shells. Remember another $200 for gaskets on that as well, because you would be crazy to not freshen up all the seals.
 
Scottydoggs said:
you forgot the machine shop costs, add another 300 .
Click to expand...

Machine shop? for what...the crank is machined already at the journals with oversized rod bearings to make up difference...all needed to check is the clearance between rods at journals ....I think that's all as the blocked would not need bored or anything?
 
DarkPassNger said:
Machine shop? for what...the crank is machined already at the journals with oversized rod bearings to make up difference...all needed to check is the clearance between rods at journals ....I think that's all as the blocked would not need bored or anything?
Click to expand...

Line bore the block to make sure everything is good otherwise you're looking at wiped bearings in a couple thousand miles.
 
Maybe an engine swap would be the way to go...i just hate to trust them shady characters at the used parts place...I'd like to see the odometer and the engine running at least...they can throw any # for mileage at ya...and I can be sure they are not always honest about it. A buddy of mine got a tranny put in at a salvage yard close to where I live and they told him 75k on a tranny ....it didn't last over 4 months and it blew up again, then he sold the vehicle. thats what worries me.
 


You can kind of tell. Motors over over 100k every gasket leaks a little so the motor is wet with oil. 60k motor stuff is a little rusty but dry.
 
Will a 3.8L out of a 2006 grand prix be the the same as a 2005 ..I know the block and all is the same, but would all the wiring be the same as well? when i look it up to buy a used engine the 2006 has vin 2 as 8th character same as my 2005 , but it has the L26....as the 2005 listing just has the vin 2 as 8th character?
 
Vin 4 is supercharged L32
Vin 2 is normally aspirated L26

No difference 05 to 06 but NA is different than supercharged.

I just realized you said kilometer and 145000 km is only 90,000 miles. How the **** do you get a rod knock on that low of miles with a motor that should have had the aluminum LIM gaskets from the factory?

Sure you have a rod knock? Is the car modified or tuned?
 
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