[firstchevelle]

I have a 96 Grand Prix SE 3100 that has craped out on my mom. The engine is toast so my options are to scrap my future project 85 long wheel base diesel and 99 Saturn and buy a yard engine or scrap all three and find a $1200 car for her. Times are very tight so I am looking at all options.

I am speculating that the auction the Thursday after Christmas might hold a few decent choices but I am at an impasse. The car is a very good driving car, and has no major problems other then the engine taking a nose dive. I can scrap all of them and purchase a unknown from the auction (after on sight internet search and OBD scan) or just swap the engine.

Great thing to come home to after being out of town on a island working. :sad:

One way or another I will fix the problem....just have to decide on how. Sorry for the rant...just drinking and pondering the best solution to the situation...before they ship me back off to the island.

 

[JWA]

I think I would go for the engine transplant.

 

[Dave Birdwell]

There's some yards in your area that have them, prices from $500 to $750..I'd yank it and change it.

Whats the symptoms of the engine now?

 

[MrBill66Malibu]

I agree with putting another engine in it. It is a known car and Mom would not have to learn to drive something "new".

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

I dropped a used 3.1L in my Sunbird 2 years ago and it is still going strong. Did it fail because of the timing chain?

If you do it go the extra steps and pull the heads and send them out to be checked, replace the timing chain and gears. Replace the crank sensor and if equipped the cam sensor. Replace engine gaskets and thermostat and you should be good to go.

 

[robtco99]

you can buy 3100 and 3400's pretty cheap. You only have to worry about the intake gaskets, but if you find a wrecked car at the u pull you know it was running and the car is there because it's totaled.

What is wrong with the saturn? Is that an option for your moms dd?

 

[mwiggett]

Motors for those are pretty cheap. I need to repace the one on my daughters Lumina. It was 300.00 with 70k.