Engine Knock? Easier to replace or rebuild engine? tranny?

[welchartgalleria]

My 2000 SLE has a loud engine knock and I am for sure that the engine is done. I just don't really know the next step. A used engine with 80,000 miles is around $600.00. The rebuild kit is around $500.00, but I also don't know how bad the block is if anything. Also, my transmission is making really hard shifts and whining. So that probably needs a rebuild as well and a shift kit. Is it easier to do all this myself?? Me and my dad can make it a project. We have plenty of knowledge when it comes to this type of thing. The labor cost for this would be ridiculous if i had someone else do all of it. What should i do? and any tips would be very helpful. thanks!

[FIND]

If you rebuild, there is some machining that should be done, also you should always have your head checked for cracks. You also never know what kind of internal damage you have done to the engine, such as gouging the crankshaft... With machining costs (and possibly the cost of replacing internal components beyond the reman kit), the cost of rebuilding can easily exceed a replacement junkyard motor. The trade off is that, if done correctly, you have a motor that is as good as the day your car left the factory. The junk yard motor is just another motor with a bunch of miles on it, and you really don't know what kind of life it has had.

Another option, is spending more on a reman engine.

Also, remember, on top of any motor swap or rebuild, there will be a lot of additional cost, fluids, filters, plugs, wires, hoses, belts, gaskets and so on.

[welchartgalleria]

Okay i will probably go with the junkyard engine. But what about the tranny? A rebuilt kit amd shift kit should be alright? Unless the shaft is messed up...i guess i wouldnt know til i tore it apart, but i can always just drop it off somewhere if its tll bad for me to fix.

[Jrs3800]

If you go the Junk Yard route for a motor.... Get an L26 3800 Series III for an 06-08 Grand Prix Vin 2

[welchartgalleria]

But will it match up with the trannys gear ratio? And why go with the series 3?

[chelbanger]

Because the series 3 has updated UIM and aluminum LIM gaskets I believe