Hi,
Just wondering what you guys think about the cost of an engine replacement. I have a 92 GTA with the 350. Roughly 90,000 original miles. Runs good but has an intake gasket leak, valve seal issues and a leaking oil pan. My question is how much would it cost to replace the engine with the same type (Gm Engine) as opposed to having all this work done to fix a higher mileage engine ? I have been quoted roughly 1100 to do all the work.

I don't want to do the work and was wondering what the price difference would be on a drop in engine as opposed to fixing all these little problems.

Thanks for your advice.

Chip

 

For $1100 dollars, you'll get a turd that hasn't even been polished. You'll probably get a non-roller block, a 929 cam, 882 heads (this being the typical smogger 70s 350 2-barrel you find in junkyards), and end up with even less horsepower than you have now. That's way too cheap for a decent motor, let alone a direct replacment for what you've got.

What you describe is stuff you can take care of yourself. It's not reason enough to take a very low mileage motor like you have and trade it in for garbage. You should fix those little tiny annoyances. To replace it for that, would be about like bulldozing your brand-new house and replacing it, because somebody left a dirty footprint on the floor.

 

I bought this crate motor last year.http://www.goautocenter.com/300hp_tpi_1987-89.htm
Been very happy with it.
So far it has over 25,000 miles on it and runs great.
All new GM parts except for Crane Compucam.
Makes lots more power than the stock motor and has a good warrantee.
-Rich-

 

RB is right. With mileage like that, you shouldn't have any need to replace the engine. The problems that you list are fairly minor and can all be fixed without even removing the engine from the car. There is the whole issue of replacing an engine for a stronger one, however. If that is your intent, then what I've said doesn't really matter much.

 

I got my 350 out of a Junkyard '79 Z28.

The motor is nothing really special, but the guys at the yard did lotsa tests (compression, etc) and it seemed great, especially for $600 cdn.

Turns out it was rebuilt not too long before, so I guess I lucked out, but i wouldn't count on finding a rebuilt motor like i did.

 

Having someone else drop an engine in for you that is equivalent to what you have is going to run you roughly $2800.

If it were me, I would just pull it in the garage for a weekend and fix that stuff yourself. Buy a book and a set of good tools and get to work.

Look at it this way, no mechanic cares as much about your car as you do. If you fix it yourself, you have endeared the car to you, and will take more pride in knowing you fixed it and saved yourself a wad of cash. Not to mention the next time you need to fix something, it will not seem like it is as big of a deal to do it.