97 GTP Threw a Rod New motor what to get

[strotma]

Guy’s and Gal's I’ve learned a lot about Grand Prix’s by searching on the automotive forum for the last couple of months.
With careful thought I purchased a 97 GTP 50,000 miles from a guy in Northern Iowa.
It looks, like my luck ran out 9 days and 500 miles later when I threw a rod. The mechanic in town said that the car must have been rode hard and I mean really hard.
ONE BIG HOLE IN THE BLOCK
My question to any body, what kind of engine should I drop in to replace the 3800 SC.
Spending that kind of money I might as well go for broke, which I am already.
All the little things mentioned below I fixed through reading this Automotive Forum.

This is the letter I’m sending to my seller on E-Bay. Don’t know why I’m sending it but I guess he would want to know how his old car is doing after a couple of weeks.

PS: My son got his license this week, hit a curb sliding on ice and bent the frame of our 93 Grand Prix. BAD CAR WEEK

Dwight:
Thursday night the 9th of Feb. I threw a rod in the car I purchased from you Jan 30th. I was just turning off a exit ramp on I 74 going about 40 when I heard a big bang. The service light came on and black oil burnt smoke surrounded the car. I towed it to a service station jacked it up and saw a hole the size of a baseball in the block. Replacement cost between $4,000.00 and $5,000.00. $3,200.00 for rebuilt engine the rest for labor.
I didn’t mine paying a little more than I should, for a car I really liked. To have a car 10 days, putting about 500 miles on it, and now it’s useless. Judy and I saw what you paid for it from the savage dealer in Des Moines before I handed you the money order and I still bought from you, my mistake. I didn’t even mine the little things, no radio or clock display, drivers seat stuck in down position, drivers window has to be forced up, no car manual, no remote fogged up head lights, the trunk release is useless, passenger side head light wiggles when going about 60, drivers side fog light not working and a small oil leak.
But I’m paying around $12,000.00 dollars for a car that’s worth about $6,000.00 when it’s running.
I feel stupid betrayed, and broke.
Congratulations I just won a very expensive lemon.
Thanks
Mark & Judy

I would have liked to post some jpg's but it looks like that’s forbidden!!

[kustomkid54]

Mark,
You paid what for a 1997 GP? I bought a 1998 Grand Prix GTX and didn't pay half of that. Man, the next time you are going to buy a car, take it to someplace to have it checked.

[omicron]

I would have liked to post some jpg's but it looks like that’s forbidden!!

That part depends on where the picture is linked from, and maybe the pictures are too big. Sign up at http://www.photohost.org and then you can upload pics and post pics all day long.

Anyhow, i'm sorry to hear about the misfortune with the grand prix's. It appears you and them just don't get along very well. Be it '93 or '97. Your best bet would always be to replace the engine with another 3800 series. If it's supercharged or not, that's your decision, cheaper if it isn't.

Maybe you could part out either pieces of the 3800 that are still in perfect working order to get some extra cash. You know, people with those engines are looking for alternators and even s/c's all the time.

Good luck with what's happening, maybe you can find out some more info on the installation of a new 3800 at http://www.3800tech.com/forum/ .

[BIG-L]

Sorry to hear that!

If your looking for a block or even an engine,you can try [email protected](Ed Morad) he is the parts guru for 97/03 gp gtp's.He has about any part you would need.

~Larry~

[strotma]

Thanks for the responses.
Paid $7,000 for car. As I said I liked it. Did over pay. But that’s my problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Called around Saturday.

Local shop said about 5,500 total with tax. “Jasper Engine out of Indiana”
Dealer said 3,100 plus 1,000 labor That sounds low to me. Must have been a Saturday Service Tech guessing. “GM Crate Engine”
Local performance shop doesn’t know complete price yet. But we talked about PCM, fender well K&N filter, and 3.4 pulley. Told him filter and PCM already installed. Pulley was going on this weekend. BUMMER By the way local muffler shop would not Delete the U-Bend. He said it’s against the law part of the CAT. Know big deal. I’ll find somebody who will do it as soon as the car goes down the road by itself again.
The performance shop also talked about putting a heavy duty lower end in and more horses. I will talk with him more on Monday. Don’t know what he means or more important the total cost.

Took omicron suggestion and here are some jpg’s of car and hole in the block.

http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...5jD6RG&i=27326

http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...5jD6RG&i=27327

[strotma]

Those links turned out nasty.
Hope these are better.

http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...5jD6RG&i=27360

http://www.solisearch.net/ims/pic.ph...5jD6RG&i=27361


kustomkid54: I doubt if any body could have predicted that out come.
It rode and sounded perfect. But I'm not a mechanic.

[GTP Dad]

Try cherry-auto.com. They had several engines for the GTP with 1000 miles and a two year warranty for $1375 plus shipping. I don't know if you want a new engine or almost new but this is an alternative.

[stlwagon]

Wow... That's a real shame. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

As for the u-bend delete, find another exhaust shop. Although it is one piece, the ubend is not a functional part of the cat so there is no reason is can't be removed and have the new piece tacked in there.

Hang in there. Once it's all fixed you'll have a nice ride.

[strotma]

Here's another URL that has more pictures and a video. Video was taken at the Service Station a day or so later. Download slow. -- Hosting from my pc.

http://www.tuesnight.com/throwrod

GTP Dad: I browsed cherry-auto and it looks very interesting.
I'll call them Monday.

Thanks
Mark

[jon95se]

unless you are going to change the pcm you need to throw in the same thing again. (correct me if i am wrong.) you should be able to just get a block, throw on your heads,intake and s/c should be able to save you a little bit of money.

[strotma]

Thanks GTPDAD

If I'm reading it right. Looks like that price includes shipping to my zip.
$1,345.00

http://www.urgpartsearch.com/link/se...estTimeout=500