New Engine? (STORY)

Well let me start at the beginning (if you just want the basic story skip to the last paragraph) :)

I was looking for a nice fixer upper for my first car on www.craigslist.com and I found a 1988 Oldsmobile Regency for $100. So I said to myself I got to go look at this, being that it isn't that far from my house. So after calling the owner and talking to him about the car he says I should come see for myself and we can talk in person so I get a ride from my girlfriend and I'm on my way to see it.

After getting lost on a 10min drive and calling for directions (twice) I get to his house and see many nice old cars. He had a few cavaliers, 2 camaro's, a cadillac and in his garage he had the 88 Olds looking so beautiful except for some dust from sitting about a year. After being a good host offering drinks and what not we sit down and start talking about the car and why he was selling it for so cheap.

Well he says. I just put new rotors and brakes in the front and new drums and brakes in the back. He had just replaced the transmission fluid, new water pump, and an oil change, minus the oil filter because he couldn't get it off. The next day he said he was driving it to work and it started getting shaky but he didn't pay it any attention. By the time he got it home it was getting hot and was rather loud so he parked it in the garage and didn't move it since.

So after showing me the outside and inside of the car which was beautiful. The interior was leather without a single crack or rip on any seat, the dash was perfect without a single crack. Basically the interior was perfect, it even smelled good and was so comfortable. The exterior was beautiful no dents, scratches, paint was barely faded (pretty good for a 9yr old paint job) and the only problem was a slightly saggy bumper that I didn't notice until he pointed it out. Everything on the car was original and looked perfect.

Now we got to the engine and he showed me everything that was new, it was still shiny compared to the rest of the engine. And then his phone rang and he ran in his house to answer it. While he was going I started doing my mechanic thing and checking to see if he really did everything he said he did. I checked the transmission fluid on the car and it was full and even clean. Then I checked the oil, stuck the dipstick in pulled it out WTF? no oil!!. Then I realized when he did his oil change he 4got to fill the oil back up. Better yet he drove it to work and back with no oil which i'll estimate at 20miles. Last time I checked that wasn't good.

Now that was the story here is the real reason I posted this. The car has 175K on it and its a 6cylinder. Now I'm guessing the rattle he heard was a cracked rod which would mean I have to rebuild the engine, right?
If theres a way around rebuilding the engine please let me know, also is there somewhere I can buy a good but cheap repair kit for a 88 Olds 88? Also if anyone knows will marking the car as non-operational at the DMV get me out of paying for back registration because it really isn't non-operational and I don't want to pay registration for a car that I can't drive yet. Thanks.

This is going to be a touchy subject, and you will probably get conflicting views.

I would say you're looking at a new motor. It's will probably be cheaper than trying to refreshing the existing motor. Besides bad rods, you are also looking at bad bearings, rings, pistons, and probably bent valves and scored cylinder walls. Remember the oil lubricates all moving parts, and metal to metal is going to create problems. If you decide to rebuild the existing motor, you are looking at having to replace basically everything internally. Also probably have to have the heads and block machined or sleeved. Before that it's best to have them magnafluxed for cracks or fissures. A cracked cylinder wall can be sleeved but that won't guarantee that it won't give you problems. A cracked head is basically garbage. Well thats from personal experience. Weld repaired heads don't seem to work well. If you choose not to buy a new motor, try looking at the junkyards for a low mileage car with collision damage. Thats your best bet for finding a suitable repair motor. Upon geting such a motor, it's still a good idea to have it refreshed.


As to the other question you have, my state doesn't offer such an option. They do have a junk vehicle option, however to get the junked status removed from a title take a lot of hassle and the vehicle has to be checked for everything.

Well actually it isn't as bad as I thought. I pulled the engine out looked at it and the only thing bad is 2 cracked rods. And 1 bad head.

Is rebuilding the engine even or option, should I just replace the engine still?

Rebuilding the engine is alwasy an option as long as the block is still salvageable. The question then becomes is it cheaper and easier to just replace the engine.

Rebuilding the engine is alwasy an option as long as the block is still salvageable. The question then becomes is it cheaper and easier to just replace the engine.

The block is in perfect condition, from looking at it. I don't know if there is a specialist or someone I should take it to just to be certain or a tool I can use.

And it probably would be easier to just replace the engine but I don't know if it will be cheaper. The rebuild kit is less than $1000 and I don't know anywhere I can get an engine for that price or around it. If anyone does please let me know.

Before I put a lot of money in this car,think about the miles and 175k on the rest of the drive train? I would look for a good used engine with less miles.

Before I put a lot of money in this car,think about the miles and 175k on the rest of the drive train? I would look for a good used engine with less miles.

After looking @ the engine I think I may go for that. Does anyone know where I can get a good used engine?

Well decided to try and save this engine, but I have already put a new engine in the car but I was wondering if it would be possible for me to pull a rod out of a donor engine from a junk yard?
Could I just take my old rod out of the broken engine, go to the junk yard and match it?
Or should I still just buy a rod and piston rebuild kit?

Well decided to try and save this engine, but I have already put a new engine in the car but I was wondering if it would be possible for me to pull a rod out of a donor engine from a junk yard?
Could I just take my old rod out of the broken engine, go to the junk yard and match it?
Or should I still just buy a rod and piston rebuild kit?

I'll sell you a really good engine if you're willing to pick up a junk car in Missouri...but your'e in California so that may be a bit pointless.

Has 45k original miles before I got t-boned at an intersection. Never abused as I was the second owner after a little old lady. I've been slowly parting out the interior and doors (minus front passenger and wrecked drivers) so about the only good parts left are the engine (minus the coilpacks/ICM and destroyed oil pan), Transmission (assuming it wasn't destroyed in the wreck), and exhaust...and the back windshield if you feel like taking it out.

What I've really been looking for and wanting is a car to drop the engine in but whatever the car is, it will need to have an engine for its oil pan, ICM, and coils...

If you do want It I can give you a price, but, yeah, youre a bit far away to pick up a wrecked car.

Just a thought
-Eric