I picked up this car last Monday in Moses Lake, Washington. This is 350+ miles from home in Oregon. It is the same year and color as my wagon. I was told it quit on the freeway, I figured it dumped a chain and coasted to a stop.
I put the battery charger on it Thursday night. Friday night I tried the lights and most of them work!
Today I turned on the key and it came to life! The sunroof works, all the windows work, the hvac blows, the dash lights up. So what the heck, let's see if it turns over. It started on the first revolution, scared the crap out of me. It only has three rods attached and bangs loudly. Up on the rack I can see the crack in the block lined up with #1 rod.
Good thing I have a short block on the stand out of a Cavalier. I also have a couple heads in various state of assembly. I have to clean out the shop from taking an Explorer completely apart for my Ranger project.
Happy Father's Day to all!

 

Shop is cleaned up, I even have an empty bench. Dig out the Ecotec parts in stock, the engine on the stand looks good. Disassembly has begun, almost ready to lift out. All that's left is the exhaust, both axles and the two main mounts. Today I will go to my buddy's tranny shop and retrieve my cherry picker and another of my engine stands. I am building a list of parts, looks like Rock Auto is the place to get OEM parts. Cloyes is the OEM timing chain manufacturer and Rock Auto is $20 cheaper than Napa. And I get Napa at a huge deal through work.
Off to Camping World for some last minute details for the motorhome. My wife has a list, I am the driver.LOL

 

I am looking at 2 more L series cars right now. I have left messages and texts. One add is a little old but the second is only 7 days old. I am looking at a 2000 lw300 with a broken timing belt for $500 and a 2002 l200 automatic with a bad timing chain for $350. Either one will work as I have a plan. I could fix the l200 with the parts I have or put my engine in the other Lw and convert my wagon to a l61/5. I will let you guys and gals know which way I go.

 

Looking forward to hearing about your projects, Andy. Have fun with them.

 

I bought another 2002 l200 today, it was in southern Oregon. We left at 1330 and just got home and unhitched at 2300. It is a beautiful base model with 130k miles. Steel wheels with hubcaps, cloth manual seats, base stereo w/ single cd. Only flaw on the body is a very minor scuff on the rear bumper. Untouched under the hood, new front tires and a good quality 2 year old battery. Engine spins like no compression, dirty oil but on the stick, full of the correct coolant. I gave the asking price of $350+ $65 fuel and another $100 for meals for the four of us, happy early birthday to me.

 

Another score. Are you going to start a used Saturn car lot?

 

I will fix the gold car and drive it while I build a new L61 for my wagon. It looks like a lengthy conversion on the wagon. I don't know how deep into the wiring it will take to make the Lw300 into a Lw200/5 speed. I have a complete donor car both high line cars with the same options. The only real difference is that the silver sedan has a sunroof, that could be a stand alone option. The engine cradle is different due to shift linkage mounting to it and possibly other mounts. Now I can stay off Craigslist and plan my projects.

 

Finally caught up some enough to get the L61/5 out and partially apart. I was hoping to only need a clutch disc but the pressure plate main spring is broken. Still has a GM clutch though pretty good for 200k. The drain plug on the tranny did not look too bad, it is worth a try with new oil. If it is noisy I will buy a low mile 3.62 ratio trans out of a Cobalt XFI. I think these are 3.8 something. I pulled the head and the #1 valves have hit the piston, that is the "loose" rod. Looks sad to see three pistons up and one down, not pretty. I will strip the short block and save anything usable. The gold L 200 will go to a grandson in a couple years. His older sister received a 2002 Olds Alero with a L61 from me last year. So parts may be needed in the future. Going to dedicate a whole shelf to spare L61 parts in the shed.

 

I took apart the short block to keep any usable parts. I saved all the chains and guides, they show no wear. Then I flipped the block on the stand, and there were big pieces free in the bottom. Not a good sound when big pieces move around on their own. I knew the block was junk but I wanted to keep the pan. Here are a few pics of the carnage and a savable head.

 

You could always use that block as a boat anchor, Andy. That is, if you have a boat! Man, that is messed up!