My new 97 Firebird project I got for a 1,000.00

[JeffP1167]

There was talk of head gaskets, radiator, rear main seal. So a leaking rs could have starved engine of oil. Or may coolant in oil killed them or badly overheated

 

[JeffP1167]

I'm going to start on the firebird next week. I found a local 113k 3.8 for 750.00 but will first drop my oil pan and see if the crank issue damaged the block. Maybe I can get lucky and just put a new crank kit in it. Maybe the rods survived who knows.

I will post up some pictures of my progress.

I have decided to add a LT1/4l60e to my 97 v-6 camaro though so I have a car with some muscle. I'm going to start looking for parts for that project soon. I might even look into a LSx engine for it.

 

[JeffP1167]

Well I almost have the v-6 ready to pull. I will let you all know what is damaged in the motor

 

[JeffP1167]

well the 3.8 block is cracked. The crack starts at the rear main seal cover plate then dissappears behind the starter and then looks like it continues into the block near possible main caps.

Found another great running 3.8 for 700.00 it came from a 96 firebird. I will eventually drop the pan but it is pointless now. I'm sure it won't be good. The oil seeping out of the rear of the balance shaft has grey gritty material in it so that is probably bearing material. but either way the car costed a grand and motor 700. Cant touch a 97 firebird this nice for less the 2700.

 

[mrvette]

well the 3.8 block is cracked. The crack starts at the rear main seal cover plate then dissappears behind the starter and then looks like it continues into the block near possible main caps.

Found another great running 3.8 for 700.00 it came from a 96 firebird. I will eventually drop the pan but it is pointless now. I'm sure it won't be good. The oil seeping out of the rear of the balance shaft has grey gritty material in it so that is probably bearing material. but either way the car costed a grand and motor 700. Cant touch a 97 firebird this nice for less the 2700.

Bandit.....:trumpet:

 

[Twin_Turbo]

want...pics...of..cracked...block

 

[JeffP1167]

want...pics...of..cracked...block

Will get some later. Car is at my girlfriends and no access to computer or my camera.

 

[JeffP1167]

Today I picked up the replacement 3.8. It came from a wrecked 96 firebird, however while the wrecking yard said it had 114k miles the block and heads are chevy orange and there is barely and grease or oil build up anywhere.

any 3.8 including my project firebird and my 97 camaro has black block and heads. so I believe the engine was rebuilt recently (crossing fingers)

They started the motor in the wrecked firebird it came from and it sounded really good and no odd noises. Oddly it could peg the oil pressure gauge so I am not sure if that could be a problem and maybe I should check the oil pump. Believe the gauge went to 120psi.

 

[JeffP1167]

here is the 3.8 that came out of the 97 firebird. Here is the crack in the back of the block where it starts or end.



Here you can see it run behind the starter then I can't tell where it goes.



In this picture where the 4 bolts are, is a aluminum cover on my old 3.8. When that cover was removed greyish oil was oozing out of it is either the cam or balance shaft. Probably bearing remains running throughout the motor.

 

[JeffP1167]

You can see how clean this 96 3.8 I bought for 700 is. It should be black but it wasn't cleaned after pulled from the firebird. I kind of think it was recently rebuilt but not sure. But either way it sounded really good in the 96 firebird.

 

[mrvette]

:stirpot: ONCE again, the man don't need a gun......

:harhar::lol:

 

[JeffP1167]

Wow this crack is huge. Block spit almost length of motor on drivers side. Split from bell housing surface to motor mount and by the motor mount chunck missing large enlightened to stick finger in block and touch crank

 

[mrvette]

Wow this crack is huge. Block spit almost length of motor on drivers side. Split from bell housing surface to motor mount and by the motor mount chunck missing large enlightened to stick finger in block and touch crank

:hissyfit::flash:

YGTBFSM......yet the engine RAN??

:bonkers:

 

[JeffP1167]

Wow this crack is huge. Block spit almost length of motor on drivers side. Split from bell housing surface to motor mount and by the motor mount chunck missing large enlightened to stick finger in block and touch crank

:hissyfit::flash:

YGTBFSM......yet the engine RAN??

:bonkers:

Yep the motor ran like this. It clattered and stuff but ran.

 

[Twin_Turbo]

Run it till it grenades and shoot a vid

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[mrvette]

Run it till it grenades and shoot a vid

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

SADIST!!!!!!:evil::hissyfit::banghead:

 

[JeffP1167]

Here is the damage to the old 3.8

Pieces of connecting rod and bearings broken up in oil pan. Looks like one rod bolt snapped and the other threaded itself out.





This is what the crank looked like. I believe the rod nehind this journal was getting ready to leave as well.





here is the piston, it wasn't siezed it just pushed out of the cylinder (surprised it didn't fall down to the crank and disintegrate the engine)



here is the crack, I couldn't get a picture of the rest of the crack but it ran the full length of the block on the drivers side.



chunk missing







when oil pan was deopped this section of the block fell off



it came from here





Yes the motor ran like this, had around 40psi oil pressure and yes I drove it a block like this.

 

[JeffP1167]

I bought a pressure washer and when pulled the transmission looked like a sludge bomb went off by it and it was completely covered in greasy crap.





Also did the front suspension and will do entire bottom of the car.

The replacement 3.8 is all ready to go back in the car now and has every possible part back on the engine.

 

[mrvette]

YGTBFSM!Q!!!!!! NFW!!!


:crap::gurney::hissyfit::drink:

 

[Twin_Turbo]

Pfew, in the beginning of this threa I thought there was something seriously wrong with that engine...... :confused2: