Deal or no deal?

JKRIGSBY · 05-29-2009, 02:56 PM

I have a chance to buy a 2001 sc2, dohc, with 100k miles, for $800. However, the man says it has a noise in what may be the bottom half of the motor. Hes no mechanic, but said the car either hasnt had the oil changed regularly, or has ran out of oil at one time and got hot. Is there a good motor flush I can start out with from scratch, or where do I start first? Any answers appreciated.

blackeagle1 · 05-29-2009, 03:19 PM

It's most likely a rod knock. You would be looking to have to rebuild the bottom end at least. No engine flush is going to fix it. $800 sounds like a decent price if the rest of the car is in good shape. If you do it yourself, a rebuild is going to cost from $500 to $1000 depending on how far you go. You may also try to find an engine from a junkyard but a good one is hard to find.

mr18436572 · 05-29-2009, 06:43 PM

Yup if its an engine knock, you will be spending a lot more on top of the price of the car.

Since I dont have experience with rebuilds or engine swaps, I always stay away from cars that are dirt cheap because they need engine work.

blackeagle1 · 05-29-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr18436572

Yup if its an engine knock, you will be spending a lot more on top of the price of the car.

Since I dont have experience with rebuilds or engine swaps, I always stay away from cars that are dirt cheap because they need engine work.

That's exactly the ones I go for. Nice clean cars with neglected engines. I buy them cheap and rebuild the engines and give them to my kids or drive them myself. I stay away from the ones that need body work or have some sort of structural damage.

velleguy73 · 05-29-2009, 11:32 PM

Thats a decent price for a '01 SC2 with 100k on the clock. If it is a spun bearing, Have her rebuilt, do the work yourself if you can. Search craigslist, ebay, & autotrader and see what a running example is worth. Easily 1-2k more than the total investment.

groingo · 05-30-2009, 11:20 AM

Knowing what you do about the car and the engine knock, there are two huge drawbacks to consider.

1. The engine could lunch itself any time from what you have described about its lack proper oil changes.
2. If it does run fine but knocks it makes the car very difficult to sell if you need to because of the knock...few will touch a car regardless how nice if they can hear something trying to get out of the engine.

For $800.00 you could do better....keep looking.

adventureoflink · 05-31-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by velleguy73

Have her rebuilt, do the work yourself if you can.

And when you do get it rebuilt, don't forget to put drain hole(s) in the pistons!

05-29-2009, 02:56 PM	#1
JKRIGSBY Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ashland,KY Posts: 16 1998 SL2	Deal or no deal? I have a chance to buy a 2001 sc2, dohc, with 100k miles, for $800. However, the man says it has a noise in what may be the bottom half of the motor. Hes no mechanic, but said the car either hasnt had the oil changed regularly, or has ran out of oil at one time and got hot. Is there a good motor flush I can start out with from scratch, or where do I start first? Any answers appreciated. ... JKRigsby

05-29-2009, 03:19 PM	#2
blackeagle1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxford, MI Posts: 1,133 blackeagle1's Photos 2000 SL2 1997 SC2	Re: Deal or no deal? It's most likely a rod knock. You would be looking to have to rebuild the bottom end at least. No engine flush is going to fix it. $800 sounds like a decent price if the rest of the car is in good shape. If you do it yourself, a rebuild is going to cost from $500 to $1000 depending on how far you go. You may also try to find an engine from a junkyard but a good one is hard to find. ... Current Fleet: 97 Black Gold SC2 Manual 97 Silver SC2 Auto 98 White SL2 Auto 00 Silver SL2 Auto 03 Pontiac Montana 00 Yamaha SUV1200 Waverunner

05-29-2009, 06:43 PM	#3
mr18436572 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: AZ Posts: 1,299 mr18436572's Photos 2000 SL2	Re: Deal or no deal? Yup if its an engine knock, you will be spending a lot more on top of the price of the car. Since I dont have experience with rebuilds or engine swaps, I always stay away from cars that are dirt cheap because they need engine work. ... 2000 SL2 auto - 167k - sold 1996 SL2 auto - 161k - sold 1997 SC2 auto - 105k - sold 2000 SC2 auto - 117k - sold 1996 SL2 auto - 250k - sold 2001 SC2 5sp - 160k - sold

05-29-2009, 11:32 PM	#5
velleguy73 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Farmington MI Posts: 1,208 velleguy73's Photos 2001 SL 2002 SL	Re: Deal or no deal? Thats a decent price for a '01 SC2 with 100k on the clock. If it is a spun bearing, Have her rebuilt, do the work yourself if you can. Search craigslist, ebay, & autotrader and see what a running example is worth. Easily 1-2k more than the total investment.

05-30-2009, 11:20 AM	#6
groingo Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 247 groingo's Photos	Re: Deal or no deal? Knowing what you do about the car and the engine knock, there are two huge drawbacks to consider. 1. The engine could lunch itself any time from what you have described about its lack proper oil changes. 2. If it does run fine but knocks it makes the car very difficult to sell if you need to because of the knock...few will touch a car regardless how nice if they can hear something trying to get out of the engine. For $800.00 you could do better....keep looking. ... 94 Saturn SW1 (Cash for Clunkers Reject....no kidding) 96 SL2 (Rescued)

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