Camaro is dead

[ssms5411]

Re: Camaro is dead

Z38Camaro, J/K , their have been a couple on FTV6 and just the blocks themselves are basicly the same design. There have been other posts on it, just like the 03' Buick Lasabre engine Meatyshells swapped in , look up theat thread , it would have what you would want to swap and not. If not just go with a 03' 3.8 which is just a reg. 3.8 , no L32 rods and the heads are the same as our 3.8's.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Camaro is dead

How about getting a relatively low mileage junkyard engine w/ a warranty, take it to a machine shop to have it checked out, then get the heads P&P'd, then get a better cam and such. Then you'll have something with some pretty good power for probably still less than a 0 mileage engine. If you disassemble the engine before taking it in, you'll save that much more in labor. I'm just talking about removing the heads and oil pan so they can look them over. They should be able to tell you immediately if it's a good engine.

[ACiFiC]

Re: Camaro is dead

I bet you will regret not getting a new engine haha.
just do it.. you want to :)

[flamingchicken]

Re: Camaro is dead

Hey...regarding the series 3 engine, will my ratio rockers work on it?

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Camaro is dead

Still waiting for all the $$$ to come in. Worked 43 hours of OT in the past two weeks, which should help. Question though, since I am getting a long block, should I start replacing any of my top end? Valve covers, Intake, intake manifold, etc?

Since this stuff will be coming from the old engine, how can I know that it is all in good working condition?

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Camaro is dead

Valve covers don't typically fail, either do heavy *** cast iron intake manifolds. I would regasket the top end. What caused the first engine to fail? Any SES light? Codes? I would be hesitant to put in a new engine until I identified the root cause, and eliminated that issue. Your issue could be resolved by removing the engine if it was a purely mechanical failure. Make sense? I've been up like 28 hours, and had a rough night. lol.

[ssms5411]

Re: Camaro is dead

X2, I would make sure you know what happened or you might take out another engine.

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Camaro is dead

The car has had issues with mis-firing since before I purchased it. Could never track down any specific cause. Replaced coil packs, plugs, wires (had to replace CAT due to all the mis-fires).

When it threw the rod, I was actually kind of relieved. Now I have an excuse to replace the engine. Still undecided though. Would love to get new, and I have the $$$ for it, but would also like to save some and put in a complete used.

Once I have the money together, I will have to search around and see what I can find.

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Camaro is dead

Update: Found a complete engine with 90k plus a 12 month parts/labor warranty for $1250. That plus installation, clutch/slave cylinder replacement, flywheel turned, new radiator and AC system flushed for $3000. Car will be ready by this Friday.

Not too bad of a price I think. Thanks all for the support/suggestions.

[mrhobbz]

Re: Camaro is dead

Update: Found a complete engine with 90k plus a 12 month parts/labor warranty for $1250. That plus installation, clutch/slave cylinder replacement, flywheel turned, new radiator and AC system flushed for $3000. Car will be ready by this Friday.

Not too bad of a price I think. Thanks all for the support/suggestions.

So 4250 altogether? Buy a new fbody?

[ssms5411]

Re: Camaro is dead

Is that a L26 engine or L36, 90K is alot of miles, theres L26 engines on ebay for like $500 shipped with 50,000 and a 12 month warranty, radiator is anywhere from $50-to $130 at auto zone lifetime warranty, new fly wheel is $120 and is well worth it if putting in a new clutch $250, slave is $60 , A/C system flush about $80-$100, or do it yourself kits for $60. GM labor prices are about $80-$100 a hour, for a complete rebuild tearig down a motor is 24-26 hours book time , swapping is about 10-12 hours and if its a good shop like some I have found here they charge half or more than half GM labor prices. Guy here charges $45 a hour, most maybe $55-$60 a hour labor. Going high with my prices with lietime radiator, new flywheel and around $60 a hour its still under $2000, so I don't think your getting a good deal at all. I would look at ebay L26 engines and show him the prices on them and a neww flywheel with a new clutch is worth it, you cold get a Spec 1or 2 clutch for $300 or less I think back then my spec 3+ was I think $380 with ceramic disc. Look at autozone they have the bigger 1 1/4" cores for $130 shipped lifetime warranty, personally I would buy all the parts yourself and see how much he charges by the hour and how many hours he thinks it take, it should be preprogramed in his computer of book time hours, actually a L26 engine might be more since some of the access. need to be swapped over, maybe a extra hour or 2 at most but your still looking at a 50,000 newer 06-08 L26 block with newer parts on it for less than $3000, I have no idea where hes getting that # unlesss hes charging dealership dollars per hour than I would find somewhere else. You should be able to get what i suggested done for around $2000 if not their ripping you off. Sorry just keeping it real and trying to save you some money. Can you post the ticket on what he is charging for parts and how many hours to do the job and how much per hour?

[ssms5411]

Re: Camaro is dead

So 4250 altogether? Buy a new fbody?

I had a VS cam installed , Diamond 9:5.1 forged pistons , clev. 77 bearings , L32 rods with aftermarket pushrods and a spec stage 3+ clutch/new flywheel, new stock injector, all engine seals , gaskets , engine tore apart and put back together, plus replacing a bad head that a guide broke off (anohter $300) for under $3000 total , This was done at 22 book time hours at $50 or $55 a hour back in 03' got a discount on hour rate was $85 and saved 20% on parts. But it was done at the dealer where my Dad ran the shop. Now I go to the mechaincs who have opened their own shops and they do very well becuase of their prices and they go by book time, not like "well I do this job for $1000 " and not even calculate anything up.

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Camaro is dead

Update: Found a complete engine with 90k plus a 12 month parts/labor warranty for $1250. That plus installation, clutch/slave cylinder replacement, flywheel turned, new radiator and AC system flushed for $3000. Car will be ready by this Friday.

Not too bad of a price I think. Thanks all for the support/suggestions.

That's a really expensive lesson to learn. You're getting it in the dumper with out even spit lube.

For $4250, you can have an LS1 swapped in, or buy a running/driving LS1 car.

Wow, that sucks bad.

[ssms5411]

Re: Camaro is dead

That's a really expensive lesson to learn. You're getting it in the dumper with out even spit lube.

For $4250, you can have an LS1 swapped in, or buy a running/driving LS1 car.

Wow, that sucks bad.

I'm still waiting on this guy to see if he is going to sell me his 99' SS with 99,000 miles on it for $4500, he wanted $5000 which is still a great price but will see. It had $1500 in mods too, I should of just bought it for the $5000 , I'll call after I get some sleep.

[CaptDestruction]

Re: Camaro is dead

Actually...$3000 total. That includes, engine/labor and everything else. Labor is $70/hour. Other places that I found in Nashville are either the same or more. These guys also seemed a lot more competent that some others (backyard mechanics and such). Overall, I am satisfied with the cost.

I purchased the car for $2000 two years ago, so dumping $3000 into it so that I can get a few more years of life is worth it to me.

Could have purchased another f-body, but afraid to inherit someone else's POS. Already learned my lesson with this car. All of the stuff wrong with it over the past 2 years is being addressed now. So other than a few aesthetics, the car will be in great condition.

I started shopping around for deals on parts, but unless I went with some nobody in nowhere, USA, the prices being charged from the shop were pretty spot on.

Labor - 17 hrs @ $70/hour = $1190
Clutch Kit - $210
Slave Cylinder - $65
Mounting bolts (old ones had to be cut off) - $12
Radiator (installed myself) - $150
Engine (90k miles w/12 month parts/labor) - $1250
Misc (fluids, fluid disposal, etc) - $120
Total = $2997