Question on engine swap

[Jaguar5822]

Hey guys, my head gasket blew yesterday, I am wondering what the best course of action to take is from here. I don't want to just try to fix this engine, it already has 120k on it. I am considering swapping an LT1 in, or maybe just replacing my 3.8 with a 3.8 with lower mileage. just want some opinions from those of you who have run into this problem in the past. What would the cost of all of these options be? Thanks for your help ahead of time.

James

[white96six]

i would just rebuild your engine. I think if you do that you can get alot better engine for the money. a LT1 swap will be pretty expensive. I would rather have a firebreathing V6 but that is just me and I guess I like to be different I am still waiting for an excuse to have to do that to mine. good luck. [img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[ October 25, 2003: Message edited by: white96six ]</p>

[Timbo1969]

You should be able to do the LT-1 swap for under $4000, probably under $3000.

[bobrules]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Timbo1969:
You should be able to do the LT-1 swap for under $4000, probably under $3000.<hr></blockquote>

Heh....under 3k?

Assuming you can get the engine/trans for 1500$. It's probably gonna come with 60+k miles on it, so you'll probably want to rebuild it (at least tear it down for inspection, replace bearings etc)

Then the fact it's a V6 to V8...assuming you do all the work yourself. If you have 5 grand+ and some time then put an LT1 in and put the hotcam kit in it and make 350HP all day long. Doing an engine swap on a budget just isn't smart. Don't make compromises when it comes to performance work. Either you have the time/money to do it right or you don't. Rebuilding the 3.8 will be your cheapest bet. But if you have the ability to do an LT1 swap...go for it, Hotcam Kit, and run 13s all day.

[SmokeyinSWF]

amen brother [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[SkAchilles]

I got a 46K miles LT1 with 4L60E into my car for $2885+shipping and freight charges.

About 4 days labor, BEST mod you can do to a V6 f-body :D

[Jaguar5822]

Hey guys, I've decided that the best way for me to go now is just getting a used 3.8L and have the motors swapped out. I wish I could go LT1, but I just don't have the money right now since I'm in college. If anyone knows a good mechanic in the Rochester, NY area, let me know. Or if you guys know somebody in Rochester that would do the swap, that would be good to as I'm sure it would be a lot cheaper than shop prices. I got one quote for $1300 already, and I know I can find cheaper than that.

James

[ellik]

i grew up in upstate NY, about 45 minutes from Rochester. One of my Dad's buddies is a really good mechanic and has a shop there, but you probably want something closer than that. The shop is Branchport Automotive for what its worth.

[Timbo1969]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by bobrules:


Heh....under 3k?

Assuming you can get the engine/trans for 1500$. It's probably gonna come with 60+k miles on it, so you'll probably want to rebuild it (at least tear it down for inspection, replace bearings etc)

Then the fact it's a V6 to V8...assuming you do all the work yourself. If you have 5 grand+ and some time then put an LT1 in and put the hotcam kit in it and make 350HP all day long. Doing an engine swap on a budget just isn't smart. Don't make compromises when it comes to performance work. Either you have the time/money to do it right or you don't. Rebuilding the 3.8 will be your cheapest bet. But if you have the ability to do an LT1 swap...go for it, Hotcam Kit, and run 13s all day.<hr></blockquote>
You can buy all the parts necessary for under $2500.00, LT-1's are not that expensive.

[Ian]

yea, and why would you want to rebuild an LT1 at 60K miles?

[bobrules]

Depends on time and other factors. You could pick up a complete LT1 with trans for 1000$. That would require waiting and searching diligently for a good deal to come around. Normally your going to pay 2k just for the engine/trans combo. I guess some people are happy with taking a used motor and throwing it into their car. As with any hi performance motor that was probably driven hard I would disassemble the entire engine. Measure all clearances. Get any cleanup machine work required. Then replace all gaskets and bearings. So basically you have a brand new motor going in. Since you have the engine apart might as well put in a bigger cam. Its silly, people will spend 3000$ to do an engine swap, all the time and effort they put in and they are so cheap that they cut corners just to save a few pennies. In the end all the "extra" work you had done will cost you under 1000$ more, yet the end result will be a stronger engine that you have no doubts in. Peace of mind costs money.

Jag: Was the 1300$ just for labor of the swap? I think around 500-800$ is normally the labor cost to swap an engine assuming you provide/cover all part related costs. If you can get a rebuilt 3.8 in exchange for you old 3.8 core that would be your best bet, if not rebuilding your 3.8 would be just as cost effective.

[Jaguar5822]

The $1300 was just for the swap, no parts included, that's why I knew that it was just a rediculous price. If found one with 70k on it not even pulled from the car yet, for $450 shipped if the deal works out, is that generally a good deal on the 3.8L?

Ellik, could you maybe get me some kind of discount at that shop, or if I paid your dad's friend to do the work on the side instead of doing it through the shop? I would have to have the car towed over, but it may still be worth it.

James

[ October 27, 2003: Message edited by: Jaguar5822 ]</p>

[bobrules]

Thing is, either way, your current 3.8 has to come out. Your going to have to pay someone to take your 3.8 and, and put another engine back in.

Have a shop take your 3.8 out, send it out to be rebuilt, then have the shop put your rebuilt engine back in. So you'll probably pay 1000$ for the engine rebuild and another 500-800$ labor to swap the motor in and out.

Sure that used 3.8 is only 450$, but thats a used motor with 70k miles on it, somewhere down the road that motor is going to have problems too. Whereas if you get your 3.8 rebuilt and remachined, you'll have pretty much a brand new motor. Nothing wears on a motor except for bearings and the cylinder bores. For about 1000$ you could probably get the cylinders bored over, new pistons, fresh rings, fresh gaskets, fresh bearings. Just a thought....again, you might spend a little more to get the engine rebuilt, but in the long run you will be happy. Because paying 1500$ now for that used 3.8 to go in as opposed to 2000$ to get your 3.8 rebuilt, and then a few years down the road having that used 3.8 wear out on you. You'll end up paying more in the long run.

[Jaguar5822]

I could do all that, but I don't really have the money right now, so I'm trying to find the best solution right now the cheapest. I was planning on selling the car this summer, and I'm not gonna get any extra out of it for putting performance parts in the engine.

James

[bobrules]

If its just a head gasket then get it fixed and sell the car, don't waste your money swapping an engine.