L36 replacement or swap to L26

[Bing]

Well it's not been a good day for the bonneville. Beginning to feel like this car likes to be torn apart. I have only had this car for 3 months and torn it apart three times. Granted there is an extra time in there for not do the lim gaskets with the uim. I did all the maintenance items needed to keep it running or so I thought.

Replacement list is the following:
Aluminum frame lim gasket set
Sleeved uim kit
New belt tensioner
New series 1 water pump
Goodyear gator belt
Spark plugs and wires
Intense fwi kit (upgrade)
No dexcool
Valve cover gaskets

Anyway today I was driving home from Lansing, no problems good oil pressure about 60psi. I got about 1 block from my house and the thing was knocking terribly and the oil pressure went down to 40 psi and was erratic almost jumping in sync with the knock. It sounded like it was coming from the fire wall side down low, possibly drivers side. I think I just signed up for a motor swap.

L36 seems a little pricey for mileage, called around lowest mileage found was 110,000 for 850$
L26 with a range of about 30,000 to 100,000 for 1,100$-850$

So on to my questions:

If I went L26 route most places seem like they will only include the exhaust manifolds and intake no other accessories.
Would all my accessories bolt up to this motor? (I know about the uim switch)
What about water pump, belt tensioner are they a loss?

Anyway lots of work ahead doing research and getting all my options clear before jumping in head first.
Thanks as always.

[00Beast]

Yes, your accessories will swap right on. IIRC you will also have to swap the rear manifold, as well as the LIM and UIM. Not sure on the timing cover, i would think that's all the same. Your WP should swap over, along w/ the tensioner.

[Bing]

What do you think about reusing the uim and gasket for it? Only been installed about a month. I thought the lim was the same between the motors.

[00Beast]

UIM is fine to re-use, however I'd get another gasket.

I'm now not sure as to whether the LIM is the same. Hopefully someone who can confirm what is true will pop in.

[Bing]

Thanks so far for the guidance. Trying to make sure I don't miss any other related costs that would go into this swap. The reason I was asking about the lim is that the one that I have in use wasn't the greatest (corrosion) but still sealed up.

Would you suggest doing the lim gasket on the L26 regardless of mileage?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

IIRC the LIM is the same. All they've done is make the casting better. AFAIK the folks running L26's swapped their L36 accessories and L36 UIM's only. Again IIRC everything else bolted right up.

[sandrock]

L26 UIM is vastly improved as far as casting is concerned. Mine had the ports aligned perfectly.

[Bing]

Well at least I've got something going for me with this whole fiasco. What would 1.8:1 rockers do for the L26 is it worth it? I mean I'll have the perfect opportunity to do any work on the new motor while its out of the car.

[Jrs3800]

All of your parts will bolt up to it.... The series II and III have the same bolt bosses... If the engine still has the lower intake on it, and aluminum gaskets.... Leave it and install your parts on top....

If it has the aluminum oil pan you may be able to leave that on there as well... Will depend on what it came out of..

If its a real true series III it will have an aluminum upper intake and Black Valve Covers...

Skip the L36 and get the L26...

[Bing]

Definitely going to go with the L26. Been shopping around already, LKQ seems to have the selection and price I can go for. Looking at 06-08 grand prix based engine. This range seems to run about 400$-750$ plus shipping. I'm hoping that seeking the grand prix's L26 will let me keep the aluminum oil pan.
Any body know this for sure or not?

How about the rockers anybody got a say in that?

Thanks guys

[sandrock]

You can keep the oil pan. I did, and I like it so much better.

Honestly, I'd hold off on the rockers. Even with "small" changes between the L36 and the L26, there is a noticeable difference in the way the Series III runs. It idles smoother, pulls through the revs quicker, and overall just feels better.

Keep the balancer too.

[Bing]

Good to know, I'll stick with doing the swap for now and go from there. I'll post my progress and maybe some photos along the way. Eventually get some of the whole car when it's all back together inside and out. Plus Michigan weather puts a damper on the clean factor.

[Bing]

Alright little side track with the L26 engine. I have found a couple of them that are complete. By complete I mean all accessories even the whole wiring harness with pcm.

My question would be if I bought one of those engines, what would I be able to sell off all those accessories for? If it were a decent amount it might be worth it to get one of these, to help cover costs of shipping.

[00Beast]

Not much. I know Marty (olblueeyesbonne) takes the UIM's he gets to scrap. PCM might be worth a little money, same with the accessories and wiring.

[Bing]

So here is what I ended up getting. Just bought the engine today can't wait to get it.

http://www.lkqonline.com/custom/item_im ... mage_guid=

77k on the engine didn't seem too bad even though its an 07. Now all I have to do is clean up my pig sty of a garage before I can start tearing out the L36.

[00Beast]

I'd definitely give that engine a good scrubbing with some engine cleaner and a pressure washer.

You're also going to want to swap over the oil filter adapter (the part that mounts to the block) from your Bonneville.

[Bing]

Thanks, I definitely planned on cleaning it all up. Now with the oil filter adapter, just have to transfer the adapter not the springs or any thing else correct?

[00Beast]

Correct, you'll want the springs that are in the L26. The springs are stiffer in the L26, and will allow you to run 5W-30 vs. 10W-30. This will also have higher pressure than your 99 L36 has. They changed them in 02 or so to stiffer springs.

[sandrock]

You got ALL the accesories? NICE. Mine didn't...just came with the upper.

If HP Tuners supported that PCM, I'd take that and the harness off of your hands...too bad they don't.

Use that starter. Anything else is W-body spec (alternator isn't, you might be able to run that with your current harness)

[myfirstbonnie]

Also, IIRC the rear exhaust manifold comes out at a different location. Those will be easier to change out of the car.