chevyman75
Full Access Member
I am looking at a '96 monte carlo its got a new 3100 v6 engine.... BUT it has a weird tick sound. the guy said he thinks its a lifter but it didnt sound like a lifter... any ideas??
(off topic) help
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3100 is not a bad little engine but a serious tick might indicate valvetrain issues. Possibly an engine that somebody didn't change the oil in regularly. 
NEW engines don't typically have such an issue. Maybe their "new" engine is actually just another engine from the boneyard.
I'd get it looked at before I plopped down my cash.
NEW engines don't typically have such an issue. Maybe their "new" engine is actually just another engine from the boneyard.I'd get it looked at before I plopped down my cash.
chevyman75
Full Access Member
ok. i went on some other forums and they said that a light lifter knock is typical for the 3100.. and he only wants 800 for it and his friend that put the motor in works at seidles.
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Price sounds pretty right. If the engine is something you trust, that's darn cheap if the car is remotely nice.
Yeah the 3100 is a pretty stout little engine. It's no 3800 but it seems like a pretty good deal for 800.
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The 3100 was actually an updated version of the old 2.8 V6. Not extremely powerful but a pretty good engine. I'll agree the beastly 3800 was a great engine... almost impossible to kill.
OldCracker29
I've been knocked down drug out and left for dead
nubuilder
Why buy new when you can restore?
Well, with a tick, at least the engine runs.
A very good friend of mine bought a '96 Monte (aka Lumina) with a bad 3.1; we just junked the motor. Somehow one or more of the cylinders fused in place/locked up.
I've never had experience with them, but they seem to be reliable engines as long as they are taken care of.
I guess for the price, you could always have it looked at and not loose much. Unfortunately, that body style isn't all that sought-after so I don't think you could make your money back in parts (my friend still has a rust free body that he'll be scrapping before snow falls no matter what).
A very good friend of mine bought a '96 Monte (aka Lumina) with a bad 3.1; we just junked the motor. Somehow one or more of the cylinders fused in place/locked up.
I've never had experience with them, but they seem to be reliable engines as long as they are taken care of.
I guess for the price, you could always have it looked at and not loose much
. Unfortunately, that body style isn't all that sought-after so I don't think you could make your money back in parts (my friend still has a rust free body that he'll be scrapping before snow falls no matter what).
