Just curious, since I am looking at some used cars:

If I come across an SSEi that I really want, but has high miles and a worn out engine, what exactly goes in to rebuilding it?

Since I am going to be doing a lot of modifications to it, I want a good solid engine.

Has anyone here gone through rebuilding a Series II L67?

I doubt a rebuild is anything you need to worry about. The Series II L67'* seem to go for damn near forever. My neighbor has a 96 SSEi that has 180,000 miles on it and it runs as good as it did with 50,000 miles, it'* still as peppy as ever too!

I'm just worried about wear and tear on things like rods and bearings. Who knows what the old owner did to the car. There may be some wear on very important things like that.

If you do go thru with a rebuild, you can add performance parts inside, and it'll save you a lot down he road. It'll cost a little more, but you got quite a few shops offering performance internals for your engine.

Don't these engines come stock with forged rods and pistons though?

The only thing better I can think of is higher compression pistons.

No, they come with hypereutectic pistons which isn't bad. If you have the time I'd definately suggest at least a freshin up rebuild. Replace the rings and all the gaskets. Just a basic rebuild. You're right, you don't know the condition it was in. You could go through a fair amount of time and money just to have it start knocking 172miles later . At the very least go through the bottom end and check the bearing clearances. It doesn't take much time or effort and can really save you some time down the road

Thanks Jay, good info.

My dad is a master mechanic, so I will have no problem getting that stuff done.

I know a girl at my school who bought a car, only to throw a rod a few hundred miles later. It was a 3800.

did the GIRL have oil in her car....not a very typical thing for the 3800s

It wasn't her fault. She took care of the car. The problem was the previous owner. He/She probably didn't lube it properly.

sure sure, The reason I had to get my engine rebuilt (twice) was those damn cam bearings. The first time it happend I blew the number 1 cam bearing which didnt hurt anything, and only thing was the oil pressure was bypassed so I always got a crappy oil pressure reading. So it was all fine rebuit, get out on the highway... It dies, and I get it back to the shop, and they say its the timming chain(on a non interference? engine...) so Im thinking.. great I gotta buy all new stuff. I get a call later that week, and the reason it wont turn over is that Cam bearing number 3 siezed. So it didnt wreack anything else, but I still had to get a new timming chain cuz it snapped.