scrap or fix?? *help please*

[1996grandprix]

hi every one,
im new to this but i have a 1996 pontiac grand prix that has a blown engine i believe (pored out smoke from under hood and never ran again and water/oil in intake) but my question to you guys is is it time to scrap the car or should i replace the 3.1? its got around 124 thousand (cant rember been parked for 9mounths) but the engines for these go for about 300$ around here its got the iffy 3100 (3.1) i love the car but it needs rust repair badly. the rockers are gone and theres a hole around the wheel well but thats it for rust. the inside of the car is good. it just needs a few things fixed. but any help is thanked. (keep in mind this was my 1st car and im only 16 and cant aford a new car only have part time job) ive driven this car to mississippi and back 2 times already and it was a champ!!

thanks in advance -Joshua

[Scottydoggs]

unless you want to fix the rust issues, probably best to part it out, then junk it.

[1996grandprix]

i dont mind the rust issues, i can fix them. im just not sure if i should replace the engine or scrap it.

[Scottydoggs]

well if you can fix the rust, why not drop a another engine in it, if its only $300. the rust will cost more then that im sure.

[1996grandprix]

i wasnt sure if it was worth it. i had my friend go out and see if it would crank with jumper cables on it and he said it fires but wont fully fire up. i know my cars well and that really doesnt sound like a blown engine. but i can never be sure. when i get time off of work im gonna haft to get it towed back to my house and tear into it. what would you requremend to do first? see if it runs or just pull and drop?

[Scottydoggs]

drop the oil, see what comes out, look for blown hoses, check the coolant levels, as well as the tranny level if you get it fired back up.

if it smoked under the hood and quit, you need to find out whats blown out on it.

the 3100 likes to blow lim gaskets, and head gaskets. if could have blown one of them, a compression test will show a bad head gasket, milky oil should be the lim.

[1996grandprix]

well i know it had a little coolant leak so i put coolant in it that morning on my way to school. and it was good. but on my way home it was getting warmer then normal then all hell broke lose when i turned a corner. im gonna see if i can get it home before i go to work tomorrow and throu a new battery in it and see if it will fire up. i hope its simple because im gonna be driveing probily 20 minunits everyday for work. the oil when i cheaked it wasnt milky, it was black (needed a oil change) ill try to get it home soon and ill go from there. BTW you gotta sweet regal!!

[Scottydoggs]

sounds like you blew a hose or something, look for that before starting it up.


thanks. the regals been a labor for sure, started out as a turn for sure.

[1996grandprix]

i recently did a top end swap on one. (supercharger) and the ting is a in alot worse shape then yours. (super rusty getto paint job loud ect) haha

[Scottydoggs]

i lost my exhaust as well, muffler, then the res went. then the hanger rotted off the intermediate pipe, so i had to re weld all that crap.

paint was in poor shape. pics hide the door dings and chips pretty good. what paint is left ( both bumpers need paint bad) a porter cable buffer brought back to life.

[1996grandprix]

so, i got the car home and well it runs. not very well but it does. its knocking but not very loud. (like piston slap i know these will do that to) and its smoking very badly (en off to make me shut the car off and had the fire department called) so would it be worth it to rebuild the engine? i priced everything out and its only 250$ to do. i want this engine to last a long time if i do rebuild it because im going to school full time and working a job after words. i am already kind of out of my budget by fixing this car (only working 1 day a week ) but i need this car fixed as soon as possible for work (cant relay on people for rides anymore and cant afford a new car or cant lease one because im under age...). another issue im having is the check engine light came on ( random misfire and both o2 censers) i know the misfire is there but the o2 censers did not have a problem before this engine problem happen so what could the problem be?? (bad o2 censers??)

sorry for throwing all these problems at you but you seem like you know what your talking about with these engines.