feel free to move this to a different forum if it fits better elsewhere

my motor spun a bearing about a month and a half ago, and it damaged the crank, the rod, and the bearings. i've found rebuilding a motor is a pain in the @$$ and driving my mother'* car around is getting tiresome......so i'm gonna buy a new motor.

in my area, there is a 3800 that was in a 99 GP, and got about 150k miles out of it (my car'* OD says 129 k, so it'd be a step down)...but if its a 99 with 150 k, they must have mostly been highway miles, and it'* only $650, so it would get me around town for probably another year or so...then i could rebuild my motor and sell it, or sell the good parts

also, i already bought an APN UIM kit, and aluminum framed LIM gaskets, so i use them to prevent our unfortunate-but-common problem in the "new" motor.

any reccomendations?

FYI... i got a 98 GTP L67 with 100k for $435 with no core charge..

personally i think you can do better.. but if you are strapped for time, it might be ok

does it have any warranty? is there a core charge?

I agree with Haro.. these motors are in everything. You should be able to do better on price.

really? this is the best deal in my area...i'll call a few more salvage yards, so far i've just looked on the internet....i just like $650, because a rebuit motor would be $1,500 to $1,800...there was one on the net out of a 2002 buick regal with only like 80k miles, but it didn't have a price...i'll give them a call today

wait, what does core charge mean?

a core charge is what the charge you...usually on reman parts...if you don't return the old part...for exaple...if you buy a reman water pump they want the old one returned to the store so they can rebuild that one...if you don't give them it back, the charge you a fee untill you bring it back

so then the core charge would be to just take the engine and keep my damaged one? and the core is more or less than if i returned my old one?
anyway, i found a used engine from a private seller, all the ad said was "96 GM 3.8 motor, runs excellent, $300"...so i'd probably have to transport it myself, and i'd definately have to talk to the guy to see how many miles it has and what it was in etc.

i called the guy, and he said it was out of a 96 oldsmobile, it would be $400, and $40 to bring it from madison (about a 45 minute drive to where i am)....the part that pleases me is it comes with a one-year warranty (i was assuming there was none)...so that'* the route i'll probably go

one year warranty.. $400?

yup.. much better

It does pay off to shop around

Kudos!! Let us know when you get her in and pictures please of the progress