Wow, that's just my luck. I probably couldn't even afford the shipping from your driveway to mine though.

 

I'm going to be selling another of my projects so it looks like I may be able to buy an engine after all. This one is knocking on startup and over 2k rpm now. It also started making an intermittent chirp sound. I'm just letting it sit so I can still start it to back it into the garage if/when an engine replacement becomes a viable option.

I read the sticky about which 3.8s fit and I've been looking on eBay for a decent FWD option. Since everything else on the Camaro works, I should just need gaskets to swap the Camaros parts over to a replacement FWD engine, correct? Should I also replace the oil cooler since it's had oil/water run through it?

 

Oil cooler in a 3800 is not ringing a bell. I know the V8's had one. If you have one it could be flushed out with oil or kerosene.

Assuming its automatic to automatic it should require just gaskets. I would recommend plugs/wires and motor mount as these items are MUCH harder to replace with the engine in. On the plugs people will tell you that your need a $10-12 plug. I put a $1.48 AC delco plugs that was listed as an option and I put 100K on the 2002 motor. It got 30 MPG when I started and 29-30 on the last tank I checked 5 years later.

Also if you get any extra cash fresh primary o2s can wake an engine up.

 

yep and i would do head gaskets for piece of mind. would not have to worry about em for 100-200k miles so long as antifreeze is changed regular. should be able to flush the cooler and be good to go.

 

I know this may not be popular, but depending on the damage to the bearings, I've seen these 3800 engines brought back to life. Here's how:


1. Dump a full bottle of seafoam into the engine crankcase.
2. Drive it around the block a few times for 2 days.
3. Drain the oil and change the filter
4. Use 2L of 10W30 oil and the rest with with Slick 50 High mileage engine treatment.


Slick 50 has Teflon that will coat your bearings and lubricate your engine lifters and valves. However, if the babbit coating around the bearings is gone like Gorn said, then you need to replace the engine. But, if it works you might get some enjoyment out of the car before you replace the engine. Also, drain the water out of the cooling system and use coolant. Bleed the system properly too. Good luck!

 

Mrfreez, I was thinking about doing something like that too, but the other day when I was about to pull it back into the garage, the engine locked up. Now it's stuck at the end of my driveway.

 

if she froze up cold then chances of getting you to the garage are out the window, get the comealong out. when they seize up hot it will usually start back up when cold.

 

No such luck, it was cold. I'll probably end up pushing it up the driveway and into the garage because I've got nothing to attach a strap or pulley to in the garage. Won't be the first time though.

 

Sometimes when you spin a bearing you can turn the engine backwards with a breaker bar and free it up. It may start again and run for a few minutes. Craby I think the seized hot but ok later is with oiling issues and the pistons getting hot and expanding until it seizes. As a general rule once a bearing spins there is a LOT pressure and nothing is turning until the bearing cap comes off.