3400 Motor - Removing Oil Pan to Access Connecting Rod Bearings?
September 7th, 2016, 9:31 AM
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3400 Motor - Removing Oil Pan to Access Connecting Rod Bearings?
I am purchasing a 2001 base model Impala from a friend of the family sooner than later (already have it at our garage), but I need to get some engine (and perhaps chassis) specific guidance as so that I can plan my repair best.
He is selling it to me for $500 with 117k on the odometer (it literally was his grandmother's car), however, it had next to no oil in the motor and no visible coolant (though when we checked for evidence of overheating there was none). With that said, it has a knock (more like a ticking) at the far driver side of the motor and we suspect that it was starved for oil, damaged the connecting rod bearing (the ticking), and it's not flowing oil to the top of the motor as well as it should.
The plan is to replace the connecting rod bearings via the bottom of the motor by removing the oil pan, but I know there are a series of steps outlined throughout the internet as to how to do so (lifting the motor, etc). We've done it on other motors, but never a 3100/3400/3900 series so I wanted to reach out to you guys and get the low down as to if there is a problem with our plan. Also, is there anything I should look for in particular on the 3400 as to why there isn't much oil getting to the valve cover similar to how the 3100 series all had LIM issues?
Worst case scenario, I am planning to invest in a junk yard motor and rebuild it outside the car on our rotisserie in case this one grenades at any point later down the road.
Any and all help is appreciated and I can reply to any questions as best I can.
He is selling it to me for $500 with 117k on the odometer (it literally was his grandmother's car), however, it had next to no oil in the motor and no visible coolant (though when we checked for evidence of overheating there was none). With that said, it has a knock (more like a ticking) at the far driver side of the motor and we suspect that it was starved for oil, damaged the connecting rod bearing (the ticking), and it's not flowing oil to the top of the motor as well as it should.
The plan is to replace the connecting rod bearings via the bottom of the motor by removing the oil pan, but I know there are a series of steps outlined throughout the internet as to how to do so (lifting the motor, etc). We've done it on other motors, but never a 3100/3400/3900 series so I wanted to reach out to you guys and get the low down as to if there is a problem with our plan. Also, is there anything I should look for in particular on the 3400 as to why there isn't much oil getting to the valve cover similar to how the 3100 series all had LIM issues?
Worst case scenario, I am planning to invest in a junk yard motor and rebuild it outside the car on our rotisserie in case this one grenades at any point later down the road.
Any and all help is appreciated and I can reply to any questions as best I can.
