So far, I've got 200,000 miles on the original '96 engine, with only one upper and lower intake and head gasket change at 120,000. Anyone else getting this kind of mileage out of a supposedly "junk" engine?

yeah i have a 96 monte carlo and its got 153,000 miles and its still running great!

I would not say the Monte engines are junk.. they have always had solid engines, even the lumina did pretty good.
All my chevy's typically clear 150K with no problem. I will get tired of a vehicle before the engine starts crapping out.

Oh, I'm not saying they are junk, but I hear a lot of people downplaying the little 60 degree V-6's. For a slightly modded 3100, it's pretty quick..

Oh, I'm not saying they are junk, but I hear a lot of people downplaying the little 60 degree V-6's. For a slightly modded 3100, it's pretty quick..

I would agree with that.. the 3100 are pretty torquey

I park cars in a parking lot that sees up to a hundred cars a day and I've driven several 96-99 monte's with 160k or more miles on them.