Octavarium454 Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Well the 97 GTP has developed a rod knock on the way home from school today and now I face a dilemma. Considering that removing the oil pan is kind of a bitch on these, should I take the risk to put new rod bearings in or just start looking for a new lower end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q-Ball Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Do whatever you can. Although it would almost be better looking for a low mileage engine and tranny combo. But yes, I heard you have to drop the subframe to get to the oil pan. I've also heard stories about jacking up the tranny to make room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mra32 Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Get a higher compression NA block! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavarium454 Posted February 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thing is I had always meant to sell the car but it was a temporary driver until my 95 is fixed. So I can honestly care less about performance gains, but I can get a NA block pretty cheap I think. Like I said, I was about to sell the thing, and it goes and pulls this shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Take it for what it is, however I've read several times over that replacing the bearings on the 3800 based engines are pretty much pointless. In most cases, after a few thousand (or even hundred!) miles, they usually start knocking again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Chances are, if the rod is knocking, there's attendant crankshaft damage, and the rod may require resizing. Very difficult to get a good outcome working from the bottom. It's not impossible, but the odds are against you. If it's a keeper, I'd find a good short block. If not, I'd drive it till it dies. Take it for what it is, however I've read several times over that replacing the bearings on the 3800 based engines are pretty much pointless. In most cases, after a few thousand (or even hundred!) miles, they usually start knocking again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavarium454 Posted February 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Well I'm going to start tearing the pan off tomorrow as we got a half day in school but I got an ad on craigslist saying I'm looking for a series II short block, so I'm hoping something works out. Oh, and what is the usual cost of rod bearings for a 3800? I got new bearings for every rod and they only cost me 20 dollars at advanced auto. My brother, who just put bearings in his neon, payed 36 dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I don't know about 90*s, but 60*s can be had for cheap cheap cheap around here. Just get a new (used) one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Take it for what it is, however I've read several times over that replacing the bearings on the 3800 based engines are pretty much pointless. In most cases, after a few thousand (or even hundred!) miles, they usually start knocking again. True that. When my car's original 63k mile L36 spun a rod bearing almost 2 years ago the dealer I had it taken to didn't even want to debate just rebuilding it over putting in a whole new motor. Luckily since I had a GM warranty, they opted for a new crate motor win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I'm really curious now. How in the world does one spin a rod bearing? I've never had it happen, nor has anyone else in my entire family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alec_b Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Depends on a lot of factors. He may have done nothing wrong to cause the bearing to spin. A previous owner could have overheated the engine and caused severe oil breakdown, preventing the bearings from being properly lubricated. Sometimes it can take years or multiple periods of abuse, especially given how tough 3800 engines are, but basically he was just unlucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavarium454 Posted February 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I'm really curious now. How in the world does one spin a rod bearing? I've never had it happen, nor has anyone else in my entire family. It started off as a SLIGHT, and I mean SLIGHT, knock at start up, and would disappear after about a minute. This went on for a good month. Then while I was coming home from my schools basketball game, which is only a 2 minute drive from the school to my house, it turned into a LOUD ass knock and the engine stalled the moment I pulled into my driveway. I bought the motor off some guy about 6 months ago and I put about 1000 miles on it before this happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 Best guess would be the bearing had spun, and it's been slowly tearing itself up ever since. I'm really curious now. How in the world does one spin a rod bearing? I've never had it happen, nor has anyone else in my entire family. It started off as a SLIGHT, and I mean SLIGHT, knock at start up, and would disappear after about a minute. This went on for a good month. Then while I was coming home from my schools basketball game, which is only a 2 minute drive from the school to my house, it turned into a LOUD ass knock and the engine stalled the moment I pulled into my driveway. I bought the motor off some guy about 6 months ago and I put about 1000 miles on it before this happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 3, 2010 Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I don't suppose anyone here has a video or sound clip of what this kind of thing would sound like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavarium454 Posted February 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2010 I don't suppose anyone here has a video or sound clip of what this kind of thing would sound like? Let me find a camera quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 Isnt that what happened to Johns 94 Cutlass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaPrix Posted February 5, 2010 Report Share Posted February 5, 2010 not a 3800 but my 3100, spun bearings typically sound similar. Happened couple years ago 6months after buying my car yay...atleast I got an engine with half the mileage of the car now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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