just thought i'd update you guys a bit. trans has been working great, although when cold it'll slip in reverse, so it'* always fun to try to get out of the driveway. but other than that, the two bottles of lucas fixed her right up [temporarily of course]. Today I went to fire her up, and winterize her, since it'* starting to get cold here. Fire her up, and she sounds great and idles cold [finally! yay!]. I was so excited i didn't have to ride the throttle anymore. Pull out of the driveway, and start driving and notice the oil pressure is slowly dropping and the engine seems unresponsive. Immediately I turn around and head back home. By this time i'm about 3 miles from home and she doesn't sound like she'* going to make it. I knew I wasn't far from a friend'* house, so I head there. I get about 500ft from his house, and think... maybe if I floor it it'll clear up [stupid eh?]. Floor it, and BAM oil pressure shoots up to 50PSI and the engine performs like she'* never performed before. I've never been thrown in my seat that hard from her before. shift at 4k [like always], still running great, and then i get about 50ft from the house the oil pressure slowly drops and the engine is unresponsive then I hear a really nasty clunk [which the engine stops upbruptly] and smoke is everwhere. Drop her in neutral and coast there.

He'* somewhat mechanically inclined, and comes out, we look around a bit, pull some plugs, check some fluids, and finally turn the engine over by hand [via hb bolt]. turns over alright until i hear a metal rattling noise and and then i can't turn it over anymore. He and I agree, blown rod... ?

Anyways, go through that whole ordeal, and he'* got a '91 regal... and he'* after a financial exchange, he tows me home. Boy was that fun. His regal is pretty fucked up... nothing works in it, except the engine/trans [no joke]. But it towed my beast home no problem.

Not sure what to do with her at this point... it'* cold and i don't think there is anything I can do for her at this point. The trans is on it'* last legs... the only thing keeping it together is some fluid... so that'* pretty much trash too. So I have a good car, with a blown engine and trans. Where should I go from here? My job is steady, but my income is not... average out like $50/wk

Are blown rods a common occurence here? Yeesh, I've heard stories from 3 (i think) people here! And myself! I think the problem was the bearing went, and it made a very bad clink clink, got worse, the engine blew, 500 kms from home!!
You got lucky!!

If the body has no rust, go for a junkyard engine and tranny. The car'* value may be nothing, but to you, to provide transportation for another 5-8 years, for a small price, is a pretty good deal!! Especially on these H cars.

count me as 4 and shes a work in progress

Count me in as # 5. My brother has a 91 bonneville parked in the back yard in good condition. The motor and trans are in great condition! We live between buffalo and rochester. My brother bought the car in Missouri a few years ago. No rust on the car and white in color. The car had 210k on the clock, but the motor has 50k, and the tranny was rebuilt around 195k. I bought an newer bonneville and parked this one in the back yard! Its cheaper to fix yours or buy another cheap car. Everyones fincinal situation is different.

I would price out used drivetrains...see if there are any good deals in your area and then go from there.

I have been thinking it over.... since I am still only 15, and have over 6mo to go until I get my license time is still in my favor. I'm thinking perhaps do the cheap thing and swap in another LN3 and rebuild the trans for under a grand, or do a */c s2 swap, but build up the engine and trans a bit. That would probably work out to about 2 grand or maybe a bit less depending on the mods. Or I could get rid of the car and just start on a new project [yeah.... like i could get rid of ol' pearl]. I'm thinking just doing both. I need to get a second job, and maybe then I can afford both. Probably not at the same time though. But Bonneville first of course .

It'* winter time, and there is nothing I can do at this point to the car, since it is too cold. So I am going to just park her and throw the cover on her and think about what I am going to do with the old girl for a few months. Come june though, i'm having a car no matter what.

man, you are having the worst of luck with this car :(

Sorry to hear. Dropping oil pressure usually means a bearing is on it'* way out. Remember the movies.. A loose motor is fast.. it'* about to self destruct and there'* nothing holding it back. That'* why you were so fast for a little.

Looks to his right.. check..LN3 and trans. Came ouf of Frankenbonne.. Hmmm???

yeah, you are right man... it all makes sense now why the car was really moving towards the end. it also explains why the rod went, since the bearings went. And the bearings went about when the hg blew after my first failed attempt [after that the oil pressure was never the same]. So basically my failed attempt at the hg killed my engine. For all you kiddies out there... leave well enough alone!

I'd love to take the engine/trans from Randy'* car, but the shipping costs are killer man. I still will rebuild the trans, and just grab another LN3. I'm thinking while i'm at it to rebuild the replacement engine and perhaps do some valvetrain work. Instead of doing the whole s2 swap, since that isn't what I want the car for. I want good reliable power, with superb fuel economy. The all out power car will come someday.. but it won't be the Bonneville, sadly.

Since the engine is trashed... is there anything I should do anyways for the winter? She'* not moving [obviously] nor getting any work done the entire duration of winter. The coolant is already lost, but the oil is still there i believe. I don't know if the freeze plugs went or if there is just a big gaping hole in the block... probably a big gaping hole knowing my luck.

When it blew..did you lose fluids or just smoke like crazy?