Compatible engines

I don't know anything about cars, but I am trying to do my dad a favor. He has a 99 Malibu that needs an engine, but he has heard that there's a lot of problems with the Malibu. He has also heard that the Corsica engine is compatible with the Malibu, but he doesn't know for sure. So I am hoping to find out whether that is true or not, and I figured this would be my best place to start.

I moved your thread to the Malibu section and corrected your post so it makes sense here.

Depends on what engine. Chances are it's a 3.4 L and yes the engines should be a direct swap so long as it's the same year. However, the Corsica was not in production in 1999.

I know the Corsica had a 3100 V-6 at some point, so that could work. I think it also had the 2.2 4-cylinder so that would work too. There was never a 3400 in the Corsica or that gen-Malibu, so don't worry about that. The bigger question is: why bother with an ancient POS? Time for the junkyard, IMO.

For engine swaps, I always use car-part.com plus you'll find what they cost and who has them--

I do know a 99 Malibu used only the 3.1L or 2.4L (POS) engine. And it is always best (plug and play) to put the OEM style engine back in.

Right, that gen Malibu did use the 2.4; the next gen ('04-'07) switched to the smaller 2.2 which I found really scary in a rental I once had. Great low-end, horrible once you got up to speed.

If your Dad is a dyed-in-the-wool Chevy guy and doesn't want to spend $ on a new car, maybe you can find an '04-'07 Malibu with many less miles than the '99. The 3500 V-6 engine is excellent; I know, I still have one.