OK well let me start from the beginning. First of all, I already think it'* a rod knock. Now to the juicy details:

My gfs bonneville was losing antifreeze like crazy. Of course, it'* the manifold gasket, but she keeps driving it like that. Not my decision. Anyways, eventually she comes out of work one day and her engine won't turn over at all. Fast forward to some idiot trying to start it by jumping it, of course it doesn't work. They tear it down, antifreeze is everywhere, and they clean the top end out. I don't know if they ever cranked it over w/o spark plugs to get the stuff out of the cylinders if it got in there or not. They put it back together and do an oil change, new spark plugs and wires.

When they start it up it'* misfiring a bit, and now there'* a sound coming from the engine when it warms up, and it gets faster as you rev the rpms up.

We drove the car to my place (no choice) and it performed as usual, just with a tapping/knocking sound coming from the front end.

Anyways, here'* the video, is my diagnosis accurate?

Maybe, maybe not. The gaskets may be an issue, but it'* more likely this:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38

And this: http://www.zillamotorsports.com/DEX

L36 down...

Sure sounds like the coolant did the bearings in.

this may sound like an odd question, but at this point, what is going to happen if she simply drives the vehicle as it is? Can she do any more damage, can she just drive it along as is? She was planning on driving about 3.5 hours to visit family, what are the chances her car won't make it there and back?

I know it may seem like a silly question, but other than the slight knock, the car seems to stay alive and have the same amount of power while driving...

If it'* as loud as the clip makes it sound... she ain't gonna make it out of town.

fair enough.

btw a mechanic "took a look at it" and said it'* the wrist pin. Of course, I take whatever this guy says with a grain of salt, because I don't know how he determined that...

I wouldn't drive it any further than around the block. It could totally go at any time in my opinion.

fair enough...

le sigh. I guess I'm gonna try and find a new block or whole engine around here. goddamn.

edit: ooo someone is parting out a Grand Prix with the same engine in my town! What would you guys pay for:

1998 Grand Prix long block or
3800 Series II short block with 100k on it?

He hasn't told me the miles on the long block yet...

Where are you located? Ed Morad (Ebay, but physically in OH) has a lot of used 3800 engines for a decent price. There'* always the junkyard too.