How does everyone feel about throwing money at rebuilding an unknown engine? My gut reaction was this is an opportunity to buy a new engine.

 

Hi ph59,
Remember, if in fact your broken motor is original to your new car, a lot of the value in the car is THAT motor.
So don't let it get away, and IF it still has the original pad surface and stamps, make sure the pad doesn't 'accidentally' get decked if the block is decked as part of a rebuild.
That HAPPENS, and there's no way back from that mistake.
Good Luck as you get this all figured out and straightened out!
Regards,
Alan

 

I agree with Alan. IF it's the original motor and still has the stamp pad intact, it's worth rebuilding. Otherwise it would probably be less hassle and money to get a crate engine.

 

Took the heads off today. Motor is shot. It spun #8 cyl. rod bearing which made the piston hit bottom of head. There is no piston left on bent rod. Just wrist pin that really gouged cyl. wall. Heads might be OK except for valves in #8. Bent. So bottom line is ,it is no longer a numbers matching car. Looking for motor I guess. PO did ok by me with the $2500 but he should have. He advertised it as a new motor. I knew before I bought it that it wasn't a new motor just by the way he talked. He was a real dummy when it came to cars. Just a rich guy that bought a vette, which seems like that's pretty common. But the price was right and even the two guys that checked it out on my behalf didn't notice any rod knock noise. I truly believe it just happened. I do not fault the PO. DO DO happens. I picked up the car and hit the highway. Yeah, the speed limit is 70 but that's just the chance I took. Sometimes you are the ball, and sometimes you are the bat!! And if a $23000 car can't make a 700 mile trip somethings wrong!!! I know it's old but hey, it's gotta at least run. Life goes on.

 

If you are worried about numbers matching block the engine block can be saved, That's why they make cylinder liners for blocks. Any decent machine shop can handle installing a liner in the damaged cylinder

 

At least hold on to the block, it might be worth it to the next buyer if you ever sell the car

 

Installing a sleeve is common and not a big deal. On an original motor it is worth it.

 

Thanks for the comments. I will check into all of the suggestions. The research begins!!!!

 

I would let a machine shop evaluate it and give you a list of options

Good luck...I would flip out on the seller

 

Buyer beware. I think the seller is a real stand-up-guy. He didn't have to give you a dime in my opinion. You even said it yourself "I knew before I bought it that it wasn't a new motor just by the way he talked." And you still bought it. I think you are very fortunate on this deal.

 

Not meaning to be a big jack *** but I have to agree, reagrding getting any money back at all. I would never have given back any money because I would have been sure you knew what you were buying and if you still bought it then it's really your's. I would also never have taken a chance on that old of a car making that lenght of trip without going over everything myself and then having a real good mechanic going over it also. Glad it worked out well for you and I do agree that the PO was a good guy.
Johnny Y

 

Oh yeah, agreed. I do think the po is a half way decent guy. Ya'll are right, he didn't owe me a thing. I am lucky that I got 1 cent out of him. It will help on the cost of the rebuild. I didn't give him a bunch of lip. After all, I was out to get money from him that he legally didn't have to pay!!! Plus, like I have said, I truly believe he didn't know about the spun bearing. It had no engine noise when I left his house.
My motor guy is coming over to look at it. He said that if the bottom and top of cylinder and same block area is unhurt a sleeve is most likely possible and no big deal. He said done right it is nothing out of the ordinary and nothing to worry about. So that was good news. The damage is right in the middle of cyl. where wrist pin dug into wall. Of course it will require a TOTAL rebuild. Crank, rods, valves, everything. But that's OK, I ended up getting a BB 69 t-top vette for $20,500 with a matching # motor that needs rebuilt. Factory sidepipe car, leather int., PB. It needed rebuilt anyway, blown up or not- it was over due to begin with. That's why it blew. So to do it right with forged stuff and top of the line parts, not to mention upping the power a little, I'll still be under $30G. That's with new clutch to handle the more power and I'm sure I'll do the front end while I'm at it.
The body and interior are in very very good cond. Very good chrome. Just the usual head light and wiper door problems and some interior lights. Nothing major or real expensive to fix. I can do all that myself. I can rebuild the motor to but with this much money and machine work involved, I'll let the pros handle this one!!! Should be worth in the $35G ball park when done I figure. Not planning on selling it though, so value isn't really that big of a concern.
I'll let ya'll know in a couple weeks (machinist is on vacation) about salvaging the motor. Until then, I have PLENTY to do!!! All in all, I feel pretty fortunate it all ended up the way it has so far.

 

I can't recall what you have said about the transmission regarding what it may or may not need, but I would look at the rear end and all the drive shafts due to the new horse power. Plus those damn trailing arms. It sure would be good to have that all being done at the same time instead of right after you install the new or rebuilt motor. Plus it might save some cash getting it looked into and handled before you have a problem or failure. Also great time to do some engine bay cleanup and work while that BB is out. Sounds like lots of C3 bonding is in your future.
Johnny Y

 

Sorry to hear about your new "project" car. and glad you didn't take me up on my offer to pick it up for you! If you are anything like me, this is where your wife will really get upset! If I had the motor out, I would see more and more things to repair and replace and next thing you know, the wife's car comes out of the garage so you have room to work on yours. And before you know it, the interior comes out, the body might as well come off, now you can make it perfect! It will look better than GM could have ever imagined.

It will take discipline to stay on budget and a schedule! Good luck. I know I would need it. It's that little streak of OCD in me that gets in my way all the time! BTW, I'm in Northern Virginia near Front Royal.

Rich

 

Sounds like a really big hassle but that you came out okay. It will be nice to know what you have for a motor when you start it up.
It also sounds like you approached the PO reasonably, which would be hard to do when stressed out by the circumstances, but that it paid off. That was really a stand up thing to do in giving some money back.
When it is done, if possible, I would send him a photo of the car all done and tell him thanks. He must have felt bad or he would not have helped out.
Good luck with it. Sounds like it will be a great car soon. Post up some pictures of the progress.