Hey guys I'm new to this forum and new to Bonneville'* in general and i was wondering if you could help my friend out.

My friend has 1996 Pontiac Bonneville 6cyl auto with 118k that is in near perfect shape. The other day he was driving and apparently the engine blew up. Lots of metal shaving in the oil .

What would his best option be? Should he sell the car as is or replace the engine and keep driving it? What is this car worth in perfect working order and its worth without an engine?

Please keep in mind he is a college student and can't/doesn't want a loan for a new car. Also, the car has never had any serious issues, as far as he is concerned it ran prefect until this unfortunate mishap.

Thanks for your help!
P.*. Sorry if this is in the wrong section, i wasn't sure where to post it

since your in SLC..theres a BUNCH of junkyards with cars that have the series II motor in it.....you should be able to get a NEW (used) junkyard motor for $300-$500...you just need someone to install it.....If your mechanically sound you can do the job in a weekend with the correct tools and a cherry picker.

I consider my self pretty handy installing motors but i have never worked on a front wheel drive car. Is it much different or difficult?

omg another 5.0 owner!

A 3800 can be had at a junkyard for rather cheap. Around me you can get any longblock from a chain called Crazy Ray'* for $150, that'* with no warranty. Would your friend be doing the labor or would a shop?

As far as value goes it really depends on where you live. When I sold my '97 for my 'stang I only got $2700 for it and it was in immaculate shape with 80k miles (the bonneville).

Personally, if I were attatched to the car, I'd have the engine replaced.

EDIT: No, it'* not much different than installing an RWD engine, you're just installing it sideways.

Hey Vic, my F150 has got a 5.0 too.

Let'* not go off topic...althought your fiso'* isn't an HO.

its not super hard..you need a cherry picker and a good array of sockets.....with a chiltons guide you can figure it out...

the car is not worth much at all without a working engine..maybe $300 or so.

A bonneville is one of the easiest motors in the universe.

Pull the fans
Unhook the exhaust
Unbolt the trans (including one on the back that has to be gotten through the passenger wheel well)
two other bolts off the rear or the trans and one other motor mount..

It'* out.

Its not much different than doing a rwd. What the motor comes out of will make a difference as there may be some brackets that need to be swapped for the ones on the Bonne.

Thanks for the help!

I am pretty sure a shop would be doing the work, although sounds like something i can pull off if i had a cherry picker.

What motor'* could he use out of a junkyard? I mean what cars would have the same motor?


VigCS
So would it be unreasonable to expect $2500 for the car with a new motor?

btw, i have an 89 5.0 Stang and a 90 5.0 F150, so i got two!

Hans
Thanks for the advice, $300 dollars sounds like a rip off for a car in such nice shape, and Chiltons is awesome! Used it on my truck to rebuild its motor.