Rebuild or replace?

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:12 pm

OK,

I just got to much money in the buick to just throw it in the junkyard for a cool $100 in my pocket.

The current condition:

The tow truck driver said he was able to start the car if he floored it. We poped the hood here at my place and tried to start it and you can SEE the puff of gas leaking right out, like a FOG... Then it collected and started to drip on the starter. We stopped before we had a fire...

The radiator is WAY low... So it probably didnt have any liquids in the block...
THe heads I can chalk up and warped at minimum...

Is it just easier for me to buy a motor in the $550-$800 range (got quotes from all over egypt!) and pull out the old and drop in a new or rebuild the motor in it?

Dunno...

Or should I just chalk up the $1300 Ive put into it in the last 8 months in the loss catergory and junk it?

ridr4lif · Post by **ridr4lif** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:24 pm

Hmm...tough little situation.

Find out how much you can get for it if it were in running condition. If it is equal to or more than the engine/tranny/tires, then put the motor in and sell it. If you cant break even, i would say part the car out as much as possible and sell the stuff yourself. That way at least you kinda get a return on your investment.

smoker · Post by **smoker** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 3:52 pm

honestly if it were me, id either rebuild or part it out and junk whats left...there is a lot of money to be made parting cars out....headlights, taillights, body panels, interior, some mechanical like the radiator throttle body intake and things may be worth something to someone....

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:07 pm

Terry, you think the rebuild would be easier/smarter than just replacing the engine?

Ive been told I could of cracked the block also?

smoker · Post by **smoker** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:17 pm

sorry i meant replacement as far as the engine goes,,,

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:04 am

Parting it out is probably the best option. There are plenty of GM V6s out there with parts to be had. It just sounds like there is too much screwed up on and around the engine to make it worth the effort to try and rebuild it, especially since the engine compartments of FWD cars are so cramped and there are so many harnesses, hoses, and other parts that could have been damaged from the motor overheating. Not exactly fun taking an engine out of a FWD vehicle either.

William from NOLA · Post by **William from NOLA** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:37 am

Ebay your carparts! You will definately make more than $100 though it. Maybe even $500 or so.

Ryan from Ohio · Post by **Ryan from Ohio** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:06 pm

Well after talking some more and thinking of the horrific task of an engine swap...

Ive decided to tear into it to just "see" whats broke/warped.

Its a possibility the block may not be cracked and that the heads are just warped... Possible... And just doing the heads is SO much easier than the motor... Cheaper also...

So what the hell nothing to lose. Maybe I will tear into it a bit tomorrow. TO late tonight! Dark out already!

ridr4lif · Post by **ridr4lif** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:11 pm

Well, good luck. If it lost coolant and got really hot, there's a chance that the rings, maybe pistons are shot. Might as well just pull the heads and check things out.

MobileAudio219 · Post by **MobileAudio219** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 8:48 pm

Providing you have the right tools it isnt to bad to change the motor. The buicks actually have alot of room once you get the fans, battery box, air box, reservoir tanks, etc out of the way.

I just changed the motor in a 93? regal with a 3.8 and it wasnt to bad at all.

The plug ins arent that bad imo...

I'd pick up a used motor from a junk yard for a couple hundred. Rebuilding a motor gets expensive fast, believe me.