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350,000 mile Duke in a Lumi, oil runs right through


zoideraserb

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well.. my grandma has a 90 lumi with a 2.5 duker in it that has been kickin for just under 350,000 miles, and finally gave the ghost and the timing chain slipped and knocked a hole in the timing cover and the front main gave out. Now.. my question is, how bad is it to pull a 2.5 and put in a 3.1 or something similar, or probably another 2.5. I can get a 3.3 from a century but they didn't come in a w-body originally, so i would have to use the 3800 accessories right? She is going to junk it if i don't buy it, and i don't wanna see it die since it still has life in the body, its has almot no rust and is worth a new motor or a rebuild, but i'm afriad that rebuilding it wouldn't do any good.. thoughts, and opinions please.

 

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Since you have a car whose engine needs to be pulled either way, I would drop in a TPI 3800 and turbo it..

 

..The 3300 is relatively worthless and serves better as a boat anchor.. I like the Duke if Im not after power gains, or like going no where near the speed limit, but I think in this case, a nice, SMOOTH RUNNING V6 would be the way to go..

 

Good luck!

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buy it and figure out what to put in it.

 

I would do a total drivetrain swap with harness and all, perhaps hooking a 3400 motor to a 93 4t60-e and using the 93'd ecm and engine harness!

 

don't forget you would want to upgrade the front struts/springs if a heavier engine goes in!

 

how much will she let you have it for? I figure it's max value would be $75 :P

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For the same price as a duke, you could drop in a l67 (without supercharger), turbo it, and call it a day. But for reliability, I would probly find a nice 3.1 and call it a day.

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you would probably be better off just junking it....although if you were hell bent on rebulding it, drop in a 3800

 

why would it be better to junk it? the trans is less then 2 years old, and the body is still better then that of the 60k mi. cutty i had a while back. They just don't make em like this Lumi anymore. I might check today and see what a duke will cost me. and White93z34, you'll have a pm shorlty. But i'm tired of seeing 3800s, and 3.1s and 3400s, i'm thinking a 2.5 with a 3.0 marine crank in it, with some head work (a nice p&p) and exaust. But if i was going to go the route of a L67, it would HAVE to be a 5spd and turbo'd.. and i don't have the time/money to sink into all that right now. Unless someone has a T28 or a t3/t4 and a L67 they wanna donate, and a trans as well lol. I'll go talk to my aunt today, and tell her not to junk it yet (my grandma is in a nursing home temporarily and shes hadleing her car and house while she is)

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no matter what you do the duke will always be a sub 150hp engine. I'd just put in another and drive it into the ground for daily use. total cost should be no more then $500 to get it on the road for another 300k.

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no matter what you do the duke will always be a sub 150hp engine.

 

Are you for real? There are a couple dukes that are just over 175 n/a on s10 forum, trust me i can get the potential out. If i was going to build a duke, it would be forged, turbo'd, and sprayed. and spank on some l67s and 3400s. Wouldn't you be pissed if you spent all the time and money to swap in a L67 and got spanked by a built duke? lmao

 

That 2.5 gave her 350k without any real issues, shit man, fix it.

 

I support the Duke!

 

I'm with you, I wanna find a good duke and throw it in and go. I'll save the fast cars for my mid life crisis lol

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for reliability, I would probly find a nice 3.1 and call it a day.

x2- All of the 3.1's my family and myself have owned last forever with great reliability. I'd look for a 5 speed to go along with it for more fun and no tranny worries. JMO

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Are you for real? There are a couple dukes that are just over 175 n/a on s10 forum, trust me i can get the potential out. If i was going to build a duke, it would be forged, turbo'd, and sprayed. and spank on some l67s and 3400s. Wouldn't you be pissed if you spent all the time and money to swap in a L67 and got spanked by a built duke? lmao

 

when i still had my iron duke car it was possibly one of the slower things on 4 wheels that i have ever driven. mod it all you want and spend god knows how much on it and i will put money that it will not break 200hp and run reliable.

 

i support the duke and all, but lets remember that it was made for commuting, not performance.

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i support the duke

 

I want to make buttons that say that. :lol:

 

I would replace the duke as well.. might as well make it plug and play, especially if someone is offering you an engine that would work.

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for reliability, I would probly find a nice 3.1 and call it a day.

x2- All of the 3.1's my family and myself have owned last forever with great reliability. I'd look for a 5 speed to go along with it for more fun and no tranny worries. JMO

 

If i can find a good 282 and a 3.1 for about what i can get a duke for i would do that, I loves me some 5spds. Hell i'm driving a 1976 AMC 3spd over a 93 Excort right now, gas mileage and all lol. that don't matter, i just feel more like I'M driving in a stick and not so much in an auto. i guess you feel about the same. But i think a 282 with the duke would help it alot in the slow factor.

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I would replace the duke as well.. might as well make it plug and play, especially if someone is offering you an engine that would work.

I agree. It would be an easy swap and you would get to keep your good tranny. Buy the car for $100, put in $500 and you have a reliable car that gets good MPG.
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i support the duke

 

I want to make buttons that say that. :lol:

 

I would replace the duke as well.. might as well make it plug and play, especially if someone is offering you an engine that would work.

 

Way to misquote... :rolleyes:

 

This isn't a drag car, street racer or 100mph cruiser, For a daily driver (esp in the city) the duke has enough pep to move the car around. the 3.1 is an EXCELLENT motor, but bother dealing with all the shit needed to convert the car over?

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