My car is dead.

[JSTALT1]

I have a cherry picker we can use it you want it and an extra hand to work on it

[93formulalt1]

I have a cherry picker we can use it you want it and an extra hand to work on it

We live about 2 1/2 hours away from you, Mike. Just wanted to make sure you knew.

[JSTALT1]

yeah I did, would just need some heads up when you were gonna do it

[meissen]

Wish I was a lot more settled into my house otherwise I'd be willing to let you guys come do it at my house as long as you had the engine to swap into it.

[squareandcompass]

Hi guys.
RIP Scarlett



Today is a sad day for me and Jen. I was on my way to work this morning and about 5 miles out I hear a loud bang from the front end as if something exploded under the front end or I hit a boulder. I pulled over and my engine was knocking loudly. I look the car over and there are no evident signs of damage but the engine is still knocking.

I start the car and drive back home. Luckily my buddy Brent was able to pick me up on his was to Detroit, otherwise I would have missed work and probably lost my job. Brent is an ASE and Michigan certified master tech. He tells me that it could be a number of things ranging from fixable to complete devastation. After talking to all the other guys in my shop we came up with either an accessory item like the water pump or AC compressor failed. Or even worse I could have thrown a rod or spun a bearing!

I get to work and go about my business, all day I wanted to throw up thinking about my poor car. I spent the better part of the day running through the what ifs in my head. I must tell you getting through work after something like this happens is very difficult. Finally I get out of work and Brent drives me home.

I start looking things over. All my spark plugs and wires are just as they should be and the serpentine belt is tight and new. The oil is a quart low, but nothing major. I go pull the Serpentine belt hoping that it would be an accessory drive item and that with the belt off the noise would be gone. Unfortunately no such luck. The knocking is still there and I pulled the car back to find a small pool of oil on the ground.

So that means it is internal engine failure either a rod or a bearing, both meaning death for my bird. Both my pride and joy and my DD. THIS SUCKS! Any of you who know me know that my car is an extension of myself so right now I feel like shit.

I know that it is a car and not a person, but I built that car the way I wanted. I loved the way it drove and the sound always made me smile. Now thats over. I had many guys tell me to look on the bright side and "Now I have a reason to upgrade". I suppose they are right but I really was happy with where my car was. I don't know how it happened nor why but after only 107,000 miles my Firebird is dead and now I have very little to look forward to this summer without my car.

I am sure many of you know how I am feeling right now. Maybe someone can help. Maybe you might know someone that could help or have some advice to get me through this.

I know someday my car will be back on the road but most likely not this year. If any of you know of turn key 3.8L for cheap please let me know. Or if you know of a cheap DD, does not need to be pretty or fast, gas mileage would be a plus please let me know.

The other possibility is an LS1 swap (More looking down the road). I was planning on buying an LS1 off a member near me but I do not have any of the necessities for thw swap. If buy some chance any of you might have the parts I would need to accomplish this please let me know. Unfortunately I am limited by price so cheap or free would be extemely helpful. So from one Mifbody family member to another please help if you can.

Thank you all for your time and consideration. I still hope to make the meet and greet, CSF, and maybe a few other shows or Woodward but I will only be able to go if I can ride shotgun or drive my old rattletrap Explorer.

http://jxn.craigslist.org/pts/1760290027.html

That link is for a 1992 3.8 out of a Buick Custom. Motor and Trans. $500.00

http://toledo.craigslist.org/pts/1698846375.html

A complete engine and trans out of a 2005 Grand Prix w/38,000 miles for $950.00

[phoenix_rising]

Thank you all for your condolences. I am coping better than I expected. It sucks that it happened but for my own sanity I have to keep thinking about it as an opportunity rather than a loss.

I have decided the best path would be to replace the V6 for the time being. That way I can enjoy the car still this suimmer all the while collecting the mountain of necessary parts for a V8 swap. I am hoping to pick up the block from Andy this week/end. Hopefully the engine will not require much additional work however we will greater be able to determine this upon further inspection. I also will locate the gasket sets / rebuild kit.

I figure the most beneficial approach to this project would be to do it in stages. First stage would involve sorting out the engine on the stand. Second would be pulling the motor out of the car and swapping parts over to the new one (All the while I can drop the car off at the paint shop and have the engine bay cleaned up while I sort out the motor and clean it up. Third would be to bring the car and the motor back together and troubleshoot.

That way I don't burn anyone out. It might take a little longer this way but it would give me the opportunity to do the job correctly and not rush into a mistake.

For everyone that offered to help out I will be taking you up on the offer. Just have to figure out the time / place.

While we have the motor out are there any things I should look to do / upgrade for improved engine life or performance? Nothing crazy of course.

I appreciate all of your input. Thanks guys!

[phoenix_rising]

Thanks to Andy I just bought a new short block for an amazing price. It came out of Andy's '98 Camaro with only 50K on the motor. The engine was pulled for an LS1 swap. I am hammering out the logistics right now of getting the motor out, new motor put together, and getting it back in the car better than before.

1. Since I do not have a paved driveway or garage, I plan to drive the car to my buddies house. Use his chainfall to remove the engine one night.

2. Have the car towed to the body shop where I will have the engine bay bay cut in as well as some additional minor body work.

3. With the engine on a stand, determine what happened to my old motor and do what it takes to make sure it does not happen again. (Learning from my mistake/s). Looking to building it stronger.

4. Tow the car back and install new motor.

I figure that way I can end up ahead and I always feel like if you have to take a step backward you should take two steps forward. Plus that way I know the car is safe and it will be out of the way so I don't intrude on those helping me out.

Any suggestions for things I should do while the motor is out please? I was thinking a set of roller rockers and a cam maybe or get a FI cam and port and polish the heads for a blower later?

[Gottork]

gratz on the find Ben, and good luck with the install..

[esoteric18]

good luck always liked that car I just picked up and lq4 for mine should be built and swapped by next summer by me

[camaro keith]

i know your pain man blow out my steering last weekend no time or money to fix looks like a long boring summer as well.... and go with a tubular k member and up and lower control arms kill some of that weight on that bird of yours.

[phoenix_rising]

Hey guys,

I think I I have my ducks in a row.

I have some guys locally who have volunteered to help pull the motor next week. (Jun 6-12)

My buddy Brent has volunteered to help me rebuild and upgrade the motor the following week. (Jun 13-19)

My paint guy should be able to fit me in (June 13-19)

ENGINE SWAP PARTY AT MY HOUSE (BBQ and Bon Fire for anyone who wishes to be involved) (Jun 20) Party thread to follow...

Have my car driving car to CSF and MIS (Jul 2-4)

[93formulalt1]

Hey guys,

I think I I have my ducks in a row.

I have some guys locally who have volunteered to help pull the motor next week. (Jun 6-12)

My buddy Brent has volunteered to help me rebuild and upgrade the motor the following week. (Jun 13-19)

My paint guy should be able to fit me in (June 13-19)

ENGINE SWAP PARTY AT MY HOUSE (BBQ and Bon Fire for anyone who wishes to be involved) (Jun 20) Party thread to follow...

Have my car driving car to CSF and MIS (Jul 2-4)

Is Jeff positive he can have your car done by the June 20 deadline? Wouldn't want you to have everything ready for the 20th just to get a call on the 19th that he needs a few more days.

[phoenix_rising]

He is only painting engine bay mainly. Should be all set though.

[ITSSLOW]

Glad to see you have already got this turned around man!

[steddy]

I sincerely wish you the best of luck on the logistics. There are multiple legs on this, so keep a trained eye on everything as it goes through. Congrats on the turn around though and good to hear that by the end of the month, it will be running once again. Be careful not to modify too radically on the new motor (performance-wise) that would cause a PCM recal.