02 Vue Motor shot. Go from 2.2 to 3.5? How? What's the cheapest way?

[Gr8Vue]

Well, I am not sure what happened, but the guy who did my last oil change said maybe the people who did my last oil change did not empty out all the old oil, and some dirty oil probably clogged the oil filter not allowing the oil to circulate and lubricate, and in turn causing the motor to throw a rod, which it did late yesterday. So, after being stuck on the side of the road a couple of hundred miles from home, my 02 Vue is at the Saturn of Greenville in need of a new motor. And my extended warranty expired 1400 miles ago. It was a 4Cyl 2.2, and I am wondering, if I have to put a new motor in, which is probably the case, could I put the 3.5 Honda V6 in, and if so, and even if not, what is the best and cheapest place to get the swap done? Anyone know of any places to get rebuit Saturn motors from? :(

[ssicarman]

Welcome to the Board.


The cheapest way?

Put another 2.2 in. Put a 3.5 in and you will need to replace the transmission and the wiring harness and the PCM and and and.

[David Harleyson]

Well, I am not sure what happened, but the guy who did my last oil change said maybe the people who did my last oil change did not empty out all the old oil, and some dirty oil probably clogged the oil filter not allowing the oil to circulate and lubricate, and in turn causing the motor to throw a rod, which it did late yesterday. So, after being stuck on the side of the road a couple of hundred miles from home, my 02 Vue is at the Saturn of Greenville in need of a new motor. And my extended warranty expired 1400 miles ago. It was a 4Cyl 2.2, and I am wondering, if I have to put a new motor in, which is probably the case, could I put the 3.5 Honda V6 in, and if so, and even if not, what is the best and cheapest place to get the swap done? Anyone know of any places to get rebuit Saturn motors from? :(

At the risk of sounding like a smart*****. There is no easy way to make that change. Can it be done? Sure. But you had better have a bushell basket full of $100.00 bills. It is not as simple as "dropping in the motor". EVERYTHING has to be changed along with the engine. Including, transmission, half shafts, intake and exhaust plumbing, radiator and an engine and chassis wiring harness complete with BOTH computers. With out a doner vehicle this will cost more than it is worth. The easiest way is to trade whats left of your 02 on a good used 04 or 05 with the V6.

[Gr8Vue]

Yeah, sounds like too much to go up to the 3.5. Will they give me anything for my motor somewhere? How much should I pay to install a new motor, and how much should I pay for a rebuilt or salvaged motor?

[IMkenNY]

This past spring I converted a 4Cyl VTi Vue to a 3.0 with the 5 speed automatic. It was a major undertaking that took almost 100 hours and was only feasible because I had a salvage vehicle to get all the parts from.

Here is a link to that project:

\http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53741&highlight=4cyl+conversion


I do have the 4 cyl 2.2 from that 2003 with just under 36,000 miles that I am willing to let go dirt cheap if you are interested.

[Bill Murray]

Well, I am not sure what happened, but the guy who did my last oil change said maybe the people who did my last oil change did not empty out all the old oil, and some dirty oil probably clogged the oil filter not allowing the oil to circulate and lubricate, and in turn causing the motor to throw a rod, which it did late yesterday.done? (

Oil filters have a bypass feature, in the case of the 2.2 it is built into the engine block, not in the filter. The bypass is designed to prevent loss of lube from a plugged filter. Another good reason to do your own oil changes which on a 2.2 Ecotec is extremely easy..... :D

FWIW I've seen a lot of low priced 2.2 Ecotec motors on eBay in the 600 dollar range.

[Gr8Vue]

Thanks. The thing that kills you on an eBay motor is shipping when I can get them from the junkyards around here for $550-$600. Thanks for the info on the oil filter, though. I don't know what happened, other than I don't have my Vue now, and will seriously consider doing my own oil changes from now on.