I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

[bluex]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

Put a used engine in it. I got my L26 for my 'bird from LKQ on ebay for $300. It has 63k and cost $225 to ship. Cant rebuild one for that and it should have 140k left in it.

I should probably add to this that I have a little over $300 in gaskets and fluids to do the change over. Its really not to bad, took me about 2 months to do it. I had an extra two weeks though b/c the first engine I got had water in the oil. So I had to wait for a replacement. I called up LKQ and they sent another one out within two days.

I also have three kids, one that is only 6 months old, so I only got about 1 day a week to work on it. I'm also at work at least 50/hrs every week. If you could focus on it I bet it can be done in about two full weekends.

I drove it today though!!!!! :D :excited: :banana: :burn:

[cam98aro]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

its hard to tell you exactly what to do if you dont tell us what is wrong with it.. for instance if the head gasket blew and it is running bad, i would fix it, but if all your bearings are spun, your connecting rod is snapped in half, and your cam is in 5 pieces i would get rid of it

[Blizzard242]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

Yeah actually, I've barely seen any firebirds around anymore. I would keep it if I were you. You could make a future race car for yourself, or a learning project for your kids. You could throw in a ls1 and have a weekend car. Or rebuild the engine yourself for a personal learning experience. There are a lot of ways you could go with it but I definitely wouldn't get rid of a bird, especially now since they're extinct.

[flamingchicken]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

i was able to put an 11000 mile series 3 out of a buick lacern for like $2000 total, parts, engine, and labor.

i choose option D

[LETZRIDE]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

I just bought a 2005 4,000 km engine (2,500 miles for you americano's) for $452 taxes in over here...granted it was a steal of a find, but I've seen a couple of low mileage engines floating around here for that price...and that was more than just a longblock...came complete, heads/intakes/oil pan etc...

Pulling the engine wasn't too bad...I'll let you know how it was going back in in a few weeks...(delays because I keep needing to order parts because I'm an idiot and don't look ahead)

[Mighty Thor]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

I just bought a 2005 4,000 km engine (2,500 miles for you americano's) for $452 taxes in over here...granted it was a steal of a find, but I've seen a couple of low mileage engines floating around here for that price...and that was more than just a longblock...came complete, heads/intakes/oil pan etc...

Pulling the engine wasn't too bad...I'll let you know how it was going back in in a few weeks...(delays because I keep needing to order parts because I'm an idiot and don't look ahead)

You said 2005. So you got the L26? Is that a stronger block than our L36?

[LETZRIDE]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

apparently it is still the L36 because it has the black plastic UIM and white valve covers...but yes the L26 is supposed to have slightly stronger rods and pistons...now, whether or not the 2005 L36 engine had any revisions I am not sure...I do know my rod and piston looks significantly different than my original...the material just looks different...but that could be from old age as well, my old engine has 263k on it and went through a catastrophic failure...that could do alot to change appearance lol. But the new pistons are white on the inside, and the rod looks like its much lighter in colour as well...so I dunno if maybe these were coated or what the deal is...I do know everything has bolted up like a breeze so far, and that I feel like I should be on HP T.V. or powerblock because I've never taken bolts out with such ease in my life...

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

Here's the thing. 195k is a **** ton of miles. You'll have a new engine, but everything else is worn the **** out. How many more miles til the trans ****s, then the rear, then the fuel pump, then the ICM, then the coils, then the water pump, etc, etc, etc. Sounds like you're on a bit of a budget. I vote to park it, and buy something economical. Find a certified used Cobalt or G6 for under $9k and drive the wheels off it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Facto...item4aa15ebb4c

[1997Canadian3.8]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

Here's the thing. 195k is a **** ton of miles. You'll have a new engine, but everything else is worn the **** out. How many more miles til the trans ****s, then the rear, then the fuel pump, then the ICM, then the coils, then the water pump, etc, etc, etc. Sounds like you're on a bit of a budget. I vote to park it, and buy something economical. Find a certified used Cobalt or G6 for under $9k and drive the wheels off it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Facto...item4aa15ebb4c

this is solid advice ^

My mom has a G6 GT hardtop convertible, it's a nice car, it feels really solid.

those ecotech engines are really good on gas, it'll save you a decent amount of money...

[ssms5411]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

apparently it is still the L36 because it has the black plastic UIM and white valve covers...but yes the L26 is supposed to have slightly stronger rods and pistons...now, whether or not the 2005 L36 engine had any revisions I am not sure...I do know my rod and piston looks significantly different than my original...the material just looks different...but that could be from old age as well, my old engine has 263k on it and went through a catastrophic failure...that could do alot to change appearance lol. But the new pistons are white on the inside, and the rod looks like its much lighter in colour as well...so I dunno if maybe these were coated or what the deal is...I do know everything has bolted up like a breeze so far, and that I feel like I should be on HP T.V. or powerblock because I've never taken bolts out with such ease in my life...

The heads are opened up abit more on the L26's and th exhaust valve on the heads is abit bigger, the L67/L32 rod will look alittle bigger than the L36 rods. The L32's will have a forged casting look to them, when I had my diamond pistons in 2003 GM had already started to change the #'s for L67 rods and L32 rods for replacements, I was lucky I thought I couldn't use the L32 rods at the time becuase people were saying they had to be machined, but when I ordered the rods I got the L32's and the mechanic installed them without any problems. I thought for about 2-3 years thy were still L67's but I looked at my invoice from the install and they were L32's, which made me happy.

[ssms5411]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

You said 2005. So you got the L26? Is that a stronger block than our L36?

I'm pretty sure the blocks are the same just the rods are stronger and heads flow better. My Dads 05' Buick has L32 rods.

[12secondv6]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

If you are happy with the car then don't get rid of it.

When I lost the engine in my bird I went online to an f body salvage yard and bought a used v6 engine. It had around 80,000 miles.

I bought it site unseen..... but it came from a reliable f body salvage yard.

It cost me $200 plus shipping - I don't remember what the shipping was but it was sent from florida to new jersey.

I had a shop drop it in and viola - everything was perfect.

I juiced the snot out of it and went low 12's..... and the engine was damn reliable!

[Everglades W68]

Re: I need your help regarding the future of my Firebird - serious thread

Right now i'm leaning towards option B, maybe option D if I can afford it.