I have a 1995 Saturn SL2 that currently has a knock in the engine. It was my first car and I am going to rebuild the motor to keep it around for a winter car at least. The car is automatic sadly. Is there anything I can do to make it a little more fun to drive/more powerful when rebuilding the engine? Any advice would be appreciated as this would be my first real project.
Moved
Let me start by asking a few questions to get some more info here.
Does the car have sentimental value or you want to keep it for a winter car for some other reason?
How much are you willing to spend? or is this just going to be a cheap beater?
For a 14 year old car that isn’t worth much I’d just buy a junkyard motor from a totaled car with lower miles and go from there. You don’t know what damage is done to your block from the rod knock.
Talk to LZ. lol
WERD. dont go to any pos junkyard tho, go to one that gives the warranties on motors for like 3 months or w/e.
the engine there will cost less than 400$, to rebuild would be A LOT more
Waste of $
Scrap the car for 200 bux and buy something else for under a grand.
But if you really have to keep it…Junkyard Motor FTW
Junkyard motor. It is going to cost way to much to rebuild.
Anyone with a brain can swap in a new motor with ease in a day.
you can get an sl2 motor from m&m for $150, do that instead of rebuilding it.
Sell and start with a different platform if your looking for fun to drive and powerful.
Sorry, wasn’t sure where to post this exactly.
No sentimental value really. The car has less than 70K on it. I was going to keep it as a winter car because I can beat on it, I learned how to drive through snow in it and its kind of fun to drive in winter. Price isn’t really an issue but I wouldn’t want to put more than a grand into it as it is now. My dad suggested rebuilding the motor or at least going through the old one to see if anything is usable from that. The 1.9L DOHC saturn motors are hard to find locally and the ones I have found online have been ridiculous prices for a used and abused engine. I also figured it would give me an opportunity to learn more about cars because until recently i’ve been rather clueless.
Right now my DD is a 2000 Cadillac Deville. I planned on getting the Saturn running, selling the Caddy and buying something more fun for summertime. If I had a fun summer car it would be good for me to keep the Saturn for winter.
I was there recently and didn’t think to ask. If they have one for that price I’d consider. I just don’t want to be in the same boat with a shitty motor again a few months later.
To rebuild a motor, almost any motor, with OEM/stockish replacements your looking at close to 1000.00. For that price you can go through 3 to 5 different junk yard replacements.
If you have no sentimental value for the car, but you obviously like the car and have some affinity for it. IMHO i say go for the junk yard replacement. Have a friend who knows what they’re doing stand by and watch you do the work. There’s your best bet.
Dude thats all that are M and M are DOHC motors.They are 150 and they pull it.I just got a SOHC engine from there and swapped a motor.There are about 4 or 5 DOHC motors in there as of thursday.
My friends built a saturn.They are the biggest waste of time ever.If you plan on selling it ill buy it from you.How does $300 sound?
Youll need a cherry picker and the right tools.Def need air tools.
Sounds like a rod bearing. Not too bad. Could probably fix it for $50. Drop the pan, pull the cars, replace bearings, spray it = done!
$50 sweet
I’m pretty sure it’ll be more than a $50 fix. I have all the tools here. I’m going to keep the car around and just keep it stock for a DD over winter/when its shitty out. I’ll call M&M on Monday and go from there. I was told I could probably rebuild the engine for about $500 in parts though. I’ll give an update when the work will be done and this time will probably post in the DIY section.
They have them there.I know.you have to go there and pick the motor out they wont do it for you.Dude its just a saturn a DIY isint going to be interesting and its not an accomplishment by any means.
Being a '95 with no CEL inspection… FWD Northstar or 3.8 supercharged swap doable?
I still say go Junkyard motor and if you want to learn more just tear down the old motor after you swap in the new one and just see what you can learn on your own. I wouldn’t invest any $ into a motor that’s got a knock when you can replace it for dirt cheap.
Alright so more than likely I will just go the junkyard route and save some cash towards my toy (not sure what that will be yet) and I won’t bore anyone with DIY threads on the Saturn ha.
Thanks for the input guys I’m sure I’ll need your help again.