I have a '91 Bird. 3.1L w/ 300,000mi......Engine locked up tight shortly after rebuild...oops. Rest of the car is in decent shape. Needs ground effect for passenger side fender, needs new carpet, headliner, paint, headlights permanently up, etc...but body is straight, t-tops good (no leaks).
I have around $2000 to spend.
I can get a '91 305 TBI pullout (Engine, trans, harness, etc.) for about $900.

Would you:
A) Buy the 305 pullout.
B) Rebuild the 3.1 and fix whatever else I can.
C) Find a carbed 350 and tranny to install.
D) Junk it and find another car.

 

300,000 miles? If you're not attatched to the car, I would suggest finding another one.

What did you do wrong on the rebuild, do you konw?

 

I've had the car since '93....had 40,000 miles on it when i got it. Love the car, but not really stuck on it, ya know?

Not sure what happened exactly....but it seized up during a high rev..probably wasnt getting enough oil somewhere.

 

Well first rip the engine out and take a look what went wrong. Maybe the damage isn't all that extensive.

 

Take the $2000 and buy a V8 car. Then take what you like out of the V6 and part it out.

I bought a 350 TPI for $1000. You just have to look around. It is the easiest and best way to do it. If you put in a V8 you need the engine, harness, transmission, suspension, motor mounts etc

My first 3rd gen was a V6, I spent $2000 making it a V8. Still wasn't happy, because I had to make too many modifications to get it to work.

 

I would say keep the car because you can tell people that you put 260,000 miles on the car. Buy an LT1 motor and trans for $1,200. Then from there save and over time your car will come back to life. And for $2,000 any V8 thirdgen you find will need mainly the same wlrk you need on your car so keep your car and get a 350 dont waste your money on a 305. If you buy a 350 and your not happy with it give it to me i would garennte i will be happy with it.

 

After the rebuild did you use a new cam / lifters? If so, did you break them in? Did you drive a few hundred miles at varying RPM's to let the rings seat?

 

it all depends what your looking for.......if you can rebuild the v6 for cheap and when it locked up its simple to fix you can always throw a turbo on it and keep up with the v8s it all depends what you want its your car and your money. just my 0.02$

 

Don't get a 305 if you go V8. Get a 350. They make much more power than the 305 and besides the fact that the 305 doesn't even come close to 200 HP.

 

Yeah, the only reason i was even considering the 305 was because it was a whole package, tranny, computer harness and all.....havent been able to find an affordable 350 with all that.

Might try to find a carbed 350 and tranny...get rid of computer.

 

noahTHEpurdy....ReUsed same cam and lifters, changed rings and all bearings (except cam).....Never got a chance to break anything in...On the third test start (adjusting timing, etc.) it was running decent, still had a rough idle though, i revved it a couple times and it suddenly stopped...with a fairly loud clank....

Im gonna try to pull it this weekend and see what happened...if i can find the time.

 

I am slightly partial to the six, so...

I'd buy a used 3.4 from a 4th gen, give it a slight refresh, and run the car.

Use the money left over to start buying turbo kit parts!!

 

The LB9 consistantly made over 200.


It is rated at 230 @4600 in 1989, for example.

 

Look at earlier 3rd gens in the base models. That is what I was thinking about. Sorry for any misinformation.

 

oh ya...
TBI? Forget about it.

The TPI 5.0 motors are pretty decent. That is what I am running.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. I bought a new car.

I am still going to pull the engine and see whats wrong though....maybe i can get it back on the road pretty quickly.