Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

[TheOne]

Hi, i have been looking at v6 f bodies and among other cars.

I found one near me that has a leaky engine,

" My mechanic diagnosed the problem as being wiped cam/crank bearings"

then he goes on to say it is a common problem.

Here is the ad. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/1258746314.html

He told me the engine is the only problem. My question is, is it worth it to buy this car for a price of $2750, then buy another 3.8 engine, and get a shop to swap them out?

I was estimating an engine to cost $500-$1000. Im not sure how much labor would be for the job but i was estimating $500.

That being done id have a 90,000 mile firebird for $3750-$4250.

Is it worth it? What if the price was a little lower? I cannot find any cars with under 100k for $5000.

Also i was just assuming swapping in a v8 would require too many parts and labor.

Thanks.

[flamingchicken]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

i have my car for sale for 2300 with water in the motor... but i just rebuilt the engine, and the body is almost perfect.

i dont see paying 2750 for it, especially for a 96, no matter what kinda wheels are on it. and these motors are not notorious for doing anything other than the intake gaskets leaking. alot of people are even boosting/nitrous on stock internals, with no adverse effects.

if the price was 2k, maybe...but thats just my 2 cents.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

With the problems stated that his mechanic "thinks" is the issue, I wouldn't offer any more than $2000 for that car. And if it is the bearing issue, its honestly cheaper to just yank the old motor and repair it, depending on how scored up the crank journals are (or if its even a crank bearing issue). If its a cam bearing issue, toss it out, buy new bearings, get a new cam. I think first thing is first, make SURE the issue isn't something more complex. But in the condition its in now, no more than $2000.

[TheOne]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

Thanks for the replies, is my logic correct when i state it would cost around $1500 to replace the engine and get a shop to swap them out?

If so, that fixes all supposed problems with this car for a pretty low final price.

Thanks

[T-Mill]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

I'm not sure on the shop prices for an F-body, but for my mom's 3.8 Impala the shop she went to was $2300 but that's FWD... $1500 probably wouldn't be too far off... always estimate a little high with big fixes like this, though, because you never know what other problems/issues will surface as the job is being done... but I agree with the others, 2k would be the most I'd pay for a 96 with a bum engine... I would keep looking, and keep your eye on this forum as well as others... I bought a 99 with a good engine and trans and some suspension and body damage a few months ago for $500...

[flamingchicken]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

FWD would be easier to replace than would be the RWD engine. what you could do is say that a shop would charge around 20 hours labor time to replace the engine. at 100 an hour, it would cost you 2k to get the engine replaced, plus the cost of the engine. or, if your handy, DIY!

whether the engine is shot (i dont see bad bearings causing an oil leak, just doesnt happen) or not, worst case the engine needs replacing, its gonna cost roughly 2500 to do it. offer him 1800 and see what happens?

[nascar24jd]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

Offer $1800...

[firebirddrvr]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

bought my 96 with a good engine bone stock with 79k for $2200

[flamingchicken]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

^if im correct your car is in great shape too yes? greed one right?

[cam98aro]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

i think the oil pump is bad and there is nothing wrong with the cam/crank bearings

really sounds like the mechanic is trying to rip him off big time

[96firebird311]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

Im not sure how much labor would be for the job but i was estimating $500.

... I don't think so. I think you'll be closer $2k total for an engine swap by any random mechanic. Unless he's a friend of yours.

On this note, if you're already paying the money and going through the trouble, I'm sorry, but you'd be a fool not to pony up the extra cash and swap in a V8.

Being that you don't already own the body of the car, I'd say pass on this deal.

[TheOne]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

Im starting to see i was willing to pay way too much for a v6.

Blue book is $5000 with 90k miles, so how is everyone getting such deals?

Im just going to wait until one shows up in working condition for cheap.

Does $4000 for a good condition 100,000 mile car sound good?

Thanks

[cam98aro]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

Im starting to see i was willing to pay way too much for a v6.

Blue book is $5000 with 90k miles, so how is everyone getting such deals?

Im just going to wait until one shows up in working condition for cheap.

Does $4000 for a good condition 100,000 mile car sound good?

Thanks

depends on what year it is

i paid $5200 for my 98 camaro back in 2005 with 92k miles on it

[flamingchicken]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

depends on what year it is

i paid $5200 for my 98 camaro back in 2005 with 92k miles on it

and where it is. i paid 5600 for mine with 110k, in 06, but the body and interior were imaculate...he took real good care of it.

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Should i buy this car with a bad engine?

skip it. there are hundreds of V6 f-bodies for sale, that have good engines