What I'v Been Working On

well, i havent been on much lately. but my time was being well spent. my one neighbor has had a century wagon for around 4 years now. white wood delete. semi solid body. nicer car for the salt belt. well a month 1/2 ago she took it to another one of our neighbors for him to fix it. she said it had a blown head gasket. the guy insisted it didnt. week ago she finally had enough and sent me to get the car off of him. we come to find out it most likely does have a blown head gasket (oil looks like chocolate milk) and shes out of $300 she paid him. the guy totally screwed her over and now im cleaning up his mess and trying to buy the car aswell. its a 1996 Buick Century Wagon, iv nicknamed her the "Swaggin Wagon". Dark Blue Interior with the 3rd row. around 120,000 miles. she made it to north carolina and back last year!

 

freind of mine had sedan verison with 3800 motor, i drove it about 20 miles for him, i was impressed how quick it ran

 

yeah, i was driving this one around a little until we realized she was right, and that it did have a blown head gasket. its pretty zippy!

 

http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/issue/article.aspx?contentid=100681

that read may have just solved a **** load of problems with this car!

 

Looks like that car has the common intake gasket leak issue. Really common on these cars.

 

i sure hope so!

 

What I would worry about is bearings (cam AND crank/rod) if it's been driven much with the milky, unprotective oil in it. The 3400 V6 (same engine family) in last fall's adventure purchase of Shill-O-Ette ($300 '98 Silhouette minivan) failed that way. Had the intake leak and blown head gaskets when I got it. Spent $601 fixing that. Then the transmission failed. Junkyard replacement $700 to put in, it turned out no good with shudders and clunks and no third gear, replaced again, replaced radiator and one axle, another $300-$400 into it for that, and then after a freaky lady test drove the ever loving crap out of it for ten minutes, it had a hard knock. I scrapped it at that point after wasting well over two grand on it (don't forget the taillights, headlights, mirrors, turn signal lenses, two tires, interior bits, and more).

Might consider replacing the WHOLE engine...

 

have an idea on new/used prices on a 3.1?

 

Just do the intake gaskets. It's most likely ok, and the gaskets are cheap. I know your personal labor is not cheap, but it's not a horrible job. New gaskets, fresh oil, fresh coolant, and then change the oil again in about 100 miles. I bet you'll be ok.

 

sounds easy enough. thats what ill do!