If the engine is a high miles and was starved for oil then rebuilding it right is going to get pricey. Think about a used motor they are very common. I paid $650 for 02 with 48K on it. You can find much better deals if you use a long block from a FWD.

Don't do anything based on the fact the car is rare. It is not as rare as people seem to think. Below is the data on the 95 L36. 6.2% of all V6's sold in 95 where 3.8. I have seen atlease 4 of these go thru auction in Allentown, PA (its a small auction) in the last 3 years and they do not bring anything more then what a 96 in the same condition brings.

77,431 V6s sold in 1995, 4,787 of those where the L36 3.8 Motor

3800 Series II V6 (L36 3.8L) was introduced midyear, most were available only in California

 

ya the term rare doesnt really apply in this situation. maybe a certain someone. And really? you can get a 3.8 that cheap from FWD? Will I have to change the ECU or can that stay the same? I will have to look into that. I have just been looking at rebuild kits with new pistons and such... not sure if I will have to machine the block or not... we will see.

 

Even if you did not starve you motor with oil and you did not "blow a ring" your cyclinder would be out of round more then .005 so they should be bored. Your crank will need turned at that milage. No way can you rebuild a high miles motor that was starved for oil for less then you can buy a GM crate motor unless you own a machine shop. Even then it would be close.

GM Goodwrench - 19168948 - 3.8L (L36-K) 1995-1996 Olds. Ninety-Eight,1995-1999 Buick Park Ave,1995-2002 Chevy Camaro & Pontiac Firebird,1995-1997 Buick Riviera,1995-1999 Pontiac Bonneville, Olds. Eighty-Eight, 1996-1999 Buick Lesabre,1996-2004 Buick

You can cut corners on the rebuild but do you really want lifter with a 151K in your motor one of those lifters fail and it will wipe out the rest for the motor. You should head over to the V6 section just about every question you have asked is already covered in detail in the stickies. Including the V6-V8 swap.

 

OK I have a post about where you can find a new engine and what cars that engine can come out of. There in the same post is a list of the parts that will need to be swapped over. I researched this for quite a while before putting that up and I even put a 2001 Bonneville engine in my Camaro with no issues. Here is the thread.

https://camaroforums.com/forum/v6-te...nt-info-57568/

You only use the long block and front cover from the FWD engine. You will maintain your intake, tinware, accessories, wiring and computer, from your car no matter what year engine you get. Also you can get a Series III engine that has stronger rods, and larger intake valves. The cam and compression ratio is the same so you will not need a tune if you upgrade to the series III.

Massey

 

ok so i know it will take alot of work. time and money isnt that much of an issue. this car doesnt need to be running next week or anything. and ya....machining will prbly have to happen, but i cant say anything till I get in there and see whats going on. i got a good machinist who works cheap. did the work on my old toyota and my 454. I think to get it bored and honed it would be about 200. prbly extra to have the engine cleaned as well. and an oversized rebuild kit goes for around 500-700. I think doing the rebuild for under 1000 is very feasable. and down the road i might swap lifters and cam and all that. Im not saying it WILL cost under 1000. I am saying that is best case scenario. I still have doubts about putting that much money tho into this car.... If someone offered me 1500 you think that would be good for a non-running car? I have had some interest in the car locally and might even have some people that want to come look at it this weekend. Maybe its just time to sell the v6 and buy another.... maybe v8? I dont know.

 

make me wanna take out the ls1 and drop in a series 3

 

Think you are a little high at $1500 but it will depend on your area. I paid $1000 for my 96 that needed a motor. The only reason I paid that much was because it was one owner dealer maintained and she had just spent $1000 replacing all the t-top weather stripping like 8 months before I bought it. I also bought a 93 LT1/6 speed with a blown motor for $1500 but it is a 2000 SS clone with the correct front clip and rear deck. Not many people buy V6’s that need motors unless they need the parts.

Using a set of lifters from a motor that was starved for oil is just a bad idea. When I did the math there is just no way to justify repairing a damaged motor if your going stock but if i was doing all that work I would not reuse the cam and I would not do all that work without doing a valve job. Those valve guides where not designed to last a 1/4 million miles.

 

keeping your car? fix it (the way it is/was)

want a v8 car? go buy one

That is sound advise, hear it or dont

 

Does any one listen to me? Why spend $1500 rebuilding a stock motor when you can get a low miles running engine for $500? Your call your money.

OH and I paid $500 for my car with a damaged but still running engine, body and interior was in great shape, and still is.

Massey

 

Hahaha I love DK's comment lol