OK I am a total newbee to this car. I bought this car with tranny problems, and the last owner spun a bearing in the engine, (I think load knocking). I only paid $500.00 for the car. Other than the problems I listed above and a couple minor dents, the car is in great shape.

First question: How hard is it going to be to re-build this engine? I was going to try and get away with just grinding the crank, and replacing the bearings if there is no other obvious damage to the engine.

Second Question: The previous owner told me that the trans will not shift out of first gear. Is this possibly electrical? His daughter didn't let that stop her from driving on the freeway, hence the first problem.

Third Question: Should try and get rid of it ASAP? :)

Thanks for any and all help in advance.
Clint

Rebuilding the engine itself shouldnt be that hard once you get it out of the car. (emphasis on getting it out of the car) The problem is.. getting parts. This will be your best bet if the local autoparts store doesnt have it: http://www.cadillac-parts-dealer.com/parts.htm


The crankshaft, brand new with bearings: $1,232 :banghead: Since that site gives discounts,thats the price off from $1,643. Otherwise, regular bearings n related are fairly cheap. :cool:


As for the transmission, it may be electrical.. but im going to guess that she drove the car a while in that situation, so its probably shot. :canttalk:

Seeing that your knowledgeable in engine work, working on a new-age DOHC engines, should know how to adjust the cam timing again. Also, your working on a foreign car under an American name... its German throughout. So dont be surprised if there are any snags taking it out or apart. A shop manual can save lol. And since your doing major engine work anyways.. you'll need to know torque specs etc.

So Jeffery what do you think about getting a running engine out of a wrecked car? I found a couple of them with 6 month warranties, one for $750.00 including shipping the other for $900.00 + shipping.

As far as local autoparts stores, I have checked most of them and all they offer is crate engines for $2500.00. Is it possible to get oversized bearings if I have the crank ground? I have talked to 4 local machine/engine building shops, and all of them say they won't touch it. :canttalk:

I am a little disappointed about this. :disappoin The more I read the more I wonder if this is going to be worth it. If I put say $2500.00-$3000.00 into the car and I paid $500.00 for it is it worth it? :hmm:

GOOD LUCK :tisk:

The car used, at a dealer would usually run 7-10k.

Some possibillities for engine parts:

Saturn L Series and VUE - 3 litre V6 is the same engine as ours, just detuned with a different intake and heads. You could get the bearings and camshaft.

Cadillac CTS - 3.2 litre V6 is just a larger version of ours, slightly tweaked. Maybe bearings and maybe camshaft.

The 1999 model year was the point at which the car was redesigned, the engine was worked over a bit. You have electronic throttle, coil on plug ignition and some other bits. The 99-01's are the best Cateras. Virtually no major problems. (keeping in mind anything can happen).

Seems to me getting the engine out of a wrecked car with that warranty is not only cheaper, but you know it works and you still get that warranty. While your at it, make it a combo- yanking the transmission with it too. That adds more money though but you get them both and you know they will work without conflict. Just make sure it came out of a 1999 model!

They can be nice cars if taken care of, just like any other Cadillac. Certainly getting it for 500 dollars, spending 2000... not even close to what you would have gotten at a dealer. While your at it, you could have the transmission diagnosed and see if it needs to be replaced or if something can be fixed.


(If theres no damage to the crankshaft, bearings are cheap- which leaves you with the transmission)

Uh-OH! :bonkers: :helpless: I just got the title and it says '98. Is there any place I can verify the Vin to make sure what year it is? If it is truley a '98, should I even bother with putting this much money into it? If so
can I put a '99 engine and tranny in this '98?
Here is the carfax report. (http://www.carfax.com/cfm/FSBO.cfm?report=CFX000007117951 )

Doh.

You'd have to add electronics to the car, change the accel linkage etc.

Id say the car isnt worth it now. But unless you really wanted , you could do with the 98' items. I'd be good to check the oil cooler on the engine you bought, put in a new one or reseal it. And then put in new valve cover gaskets too. Make absolutely sure that the recall tensioner work has been done to the engine. (Pulleys, tensioner and possibly water pump). Unless its a new crate engine, or rebuilt then you shouldnt have to worry about it. But if you buy one pulled from a car that was running, you should do that work. I have documentation on how to do oil cooler reseals if needed.

It could still work i spose.

Well I spoke with the actual owner of the car, (been dealing with the daughter). He seemed like a pretty honest guy. He told me that the radiator was replaced with a new one last year, and that the timing belt had slipped, so the engine was rebuild just 14,000 miles ago. I asked if the car ever had any electrical problems, and he said no. He said that he really liked the car, but just didn't want to pay someone else 4K-6K to fix the current problems. So I figure I will put $200.00 worth of bearings, seals and gaskets into the motor. If that solves the knocking problem, then I will address the tranny.

I guess I am just having a hard time letting this go, becuase it is a good looking car, and seems fine other than the stated probelms. The car has 114000 on the odometer. Wouldn't these known problems have already reared thier ugly heads by now. Maybe I am just being naive. :rolleyes2

You know, i just remembered that a member on here ; Phantom_GTZ is looking for a Catera with a bad engine to turn into a race car. Im not sure where he lives but...

Send him a private message if you can. Surefire way to get rid of what you have.

Hey JefferyG

Where can Iget my hands on a shop manual for this car? I have the engine ready to pull with the exception of the heater hose goign from the back of the engine to the firewall. There is some kind of funky connector that I can't figure out, not to mention that it is hard to get to.

Just a side note, this engine was supprisingly easy to get out. Everything is very modular, I just labeled all the plugs and vacuum lines so that I can put it all back in the right place. :rolleyes:

Doooooh! :D
In case anyone cares, the heater houses come off very easy. I wish they all came apart this way. They connector works just like a quick release air line. Just pull the ring towards the house, and pull the house off of the fire wall. :)

Well I finally got the engine apart, now to have the crank gound. I was actually very surpriced how easy all of this has been.
I guess the real test will be when I put everything back together, and try to fire her up the first time.

Wish me luck.

Very cool! Im wondering though, if you could take a picture or two of the engine totally uncovered, like it is now. Just for reference and information other users may need or ask (what do the cylinders look like, how thick is the block etc.)


I do wish you the best of luck , re-assembling engines takes time and its hard, even with a shop manual in hand. Been there, done that :bonkers:

yes keep us informed, cclark!

I will take some pictures before I start to re-assemble the engine. The block is actually kinda small, The heads makeup about half the engine size.

get pics! good luck...if i were you i'd see about putting a totally different engine in it, LOL :-D

If i had more time I would probably put in a different engine.
I have only four weeks to get the car done, as that is when my new lathe should arirve and take its place in the garage.

I am starting my own machine shop, and need to get this car done so I can make room for the machines.

Ok guys

Here are the pics. If there is something specific that you want to see let me know.

Bottom End (http://www.geocities.com/cclark440/images/BottomEnd.JPG)

Cylinder Walls (http://www.geocities.com/cclark440/images/CylinderWalls.JPG)

Intake Port (http://www.geocities.com/cclark440/images/IntakePort.JPG)

Valves (http://www.geocities.com/cclark440/images/Valves.JPG)

Great! Thanks man.

That may help for anyone wanting to do modifications in the future...