So I have a beautiful 2005 Supercharged Monte Carlo SS....that I believe is going to need an engine?

This is a link to the original thread: https://montecarloforum.com/forum/en...p-noise-61312/

What are my options? Or what are my "best" options? Replace with a low mileage used engine? Go with a rebuilt/reman? Buy a crate engine? I'm torn on what to do? I won't say money is no object----but I could probably do 1K or so on motor alone and local mechanic has said he can put it in for around $700. I've researched low mileage engines does anyone have any suggestions or opinions on a rebuilt/reman? Or a crate engine? Will a 3800 Series III fit in this? Does it require a lot of extra b.s. to get it to fit?

Suggestions?

 

How many miles on the old engine? What broke on it - just bottom end?

Just thinking if it ended up being a main bearing or something, you could probably save some money just buying a bottom end only and just reusing your top end and accessories.

You take a look at your local JY's inventory? Nice thing about these engines getting older is that they get cheaper, downside is finding one with reasonable mileage gets harder and harder.

 

Not sure what exactly broke....it sounds like it did in the video I posted in the other thread? Local mechanic was leaning toward a bad "wrist pin"? Whatever that is? LOL My buddy and me disconnected both belts and it still makes noise....not as bad but still makes noise. With the belts pulled off it sounds like popcorn for lack of a better explanation? I'm unsure on the miles as the original engine had a bad head gasket and had to be replaced right after buying it.

 

Odd they didnt come to a resolution on the diagnosis. Are you sure it's not just a broken flexplate or something silly? Just hate to see you have to replace the whole engine for something that's a cheaper fix.

If you end up having to replace it though, I'd probably scratch my idea above about just buying a bottom end since you've got no idea on miles. Probably better starting with something with known lower mileage if this thing could have 300k on it or something.

I'd check out the local junkyard parts finder first to see mileage on local 3800s to see if you've got any reasonable options within decent driving distance.

 

I think I'm done with junkyard motors since I have no idea what I'm really getting? I'm leaning towards having a rebuild done on mine through Austin Jordan in Wyoming? Local mechanic will pull it, Austin Jordan will transport it and do the rebuild and local mechanic will reinstall it----$3,400 price tag. This way I know what I'm getting.

 

I dunno, given the history of rebuilt 3800s, I'm not entirely sure youd be any better off. Lots of threads out there across the various forums about 3800 rebuilds failing in <10k miles. Do you personally know anyone who has had a 3800 rebuilt by them that lived?

The GM built engines generally last 200k+, so as long as you do your due diligence investigating the new car / engine, a used engine isnt that risky.

That price also seems pretty high too. Even with labor, I'd think youd have to blow at least 2 or 3 more used engines before it would become the more expensive route. I'd also struggle with that cost as you can buy almost any 3800 wbody around here (a full running, driving car) for that kind of money except maybe the occasional rare one with crazy low miles.

 

I have scoured the country on car-part.com and lowest miles I can find is around 80K. That will cost me $650-700 for the engine and I'm estimating another $200-250 or more to ship? That puts me at around $950 to a grand? Add that to the 17 to 18 hours to tear down ($1700) and reinstall and I'm at $2700.....for another $700 I can get mine rebuilt. They have good Google reviews and mechanic that is doing the tear down and reinstall says he has had only one bad experience that was a guy that wanted a stroker 3 something done? LOL

So now I am truly torn though on what the hell to do!! I put in some Liqui Moly anti-friction and I drove about 10 miles to a grocery store at highway speeds. The damn thing was quiet as a church mouse when I stopped!?!? How can this be? Please if anyone is reading this and has not PLEASE listen to the video this is the clattering I was getting and it progressively got louder and was literally clattering all the time: idle, accelerating, and driving. Now I will say after coming back out of the grocery store after being in there for about 30 minutes and starting back up it clattered again? I don't understand what this could be? I'm wondering if its a piece of carbon floating around? Or a bad lifter now? Anyone with any thoughts or comments please everything is welcomed. I'm not doing anything replacement wise until this is sitting on the side of the road dead LOL. So I have plenty of time....

 

Have you tried removing the belt and run it for a SHORT period of time before removal ? I have heard alternators with bad bearings be just as loud as your sound . And wen you said it gets louder with the a/c on high most voltage required ??

 

I wouldn't worry about getting something super crazy low, there are tons of ~100k-125k mile 3800s out there for well under your $1k budget. Even something like that should get you another 100k miles +. Sounds like the problem you're running into is trying to find an ultra low mileage unicorn.

I'm also confused why youd have to pay shipping - there are tons of 3800s out there, theres got to be something within a reasonable drive locally unless you're in Hawaii or something odd.

I also dont get why theyre now wanting to charge $1700 for install- I thought you originally had a local mechanic that could put it in for $700? I get more labor if you bought just a short block, but if you're spending $1k, that really should be the whole engine (or even the whole wrecked car).

The question isnt how good they are at doing engines in general, the question needs to be how many 3800s they've done and if you know of anyone that has specifically had a 3800 done by them.

Seemed like many of the blown 3800 rebuild threads came from reputable shops, only to find out that was on SBC 350s and other random junk.

My point in general is that if you're going to spend crazy money on a ground up rebuild, I'd find a shop that specializes in rebuild 3800s. Last thing you want to do is drop the whole value of the car only to end up with a blown engine in 25k miles again.

 

Yeah we actually pulled off both accessory belts and the noise is still present (very quiet), but still present. So its definitely coming from inside the engine.

Well I think for now I'm leaving it alone. I don't understand what it corrected but this Liqui Moly anti-friction stuff actually helped and NO this isn't a plug for them LOL. I don't usually have much stock in those additives, but I'll be damned if it didn't quiet this engine down? I have no idea what it did? I'm going to continue to use it at each oil change and see what happens?