I am looking into this 1995 Buick LeSabre with 165K miles... the engine was advertized as "rebuilt"

well come to find out, this is what has been done to it:

Head Gasket
Rod Bearings
Pistons
Piston Rings
TIming Belt
Camshaft
Oil Pump


Now it's a well known fact that Generation II 3.8L engine suffered from upper intake manifold problems. It was made of plastic and melted and caused all kinds of problems. (Click on the link for more info)

My question is to the gurus here is, is this what happened to this engine? Has coolant leaked into the engine and destroyed it, make the rebuilt necessary? Is it still OK?

Secondly, if I do go look at the car, how do I verify that the plastic upper intake plenum has been replaced from plastic to metal?


http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.pontiac/browse_thread/thread/d1995eae9bcf3969/c7e71766e7f36e6e?lnk=st&q=GM+3800+intake+manifold+ plastic+1995+buick&rnum=2&hl=en#c7e71766e7f 36e6e

 

I would suspect that you are correct, coolant caused a hydrolock situation making the rebuild necessary.

 

As to your second question that's pretty easy. The platic is black will look like plastic. The "metal" as you call it will be aluminum and as such not finished. So it will be a dull grey color.

 

Most of the bad intakes were replaced with plastic so you won't really know. A friend of mine has had 2 replaced in 80K. Neither failure caused him any engine problems. I suspect the prior drivers may have continued to drive after a problem or they failed to properly maintain the enginel. This engine normally lasts forever and the car is junked due to transmission failure and the rest of the car wearing out. My old Park Avenue hs 175,000+ miles on it and besides running perfectly, the oil doesn't even drop off the full mark between 5,000 oil changes. I gave it to my daughter because it was a far better car than the money I could get for it. She has had it for 9 months and it has only needed oil changes.

 

You can't tell the difference between the new and old plenums except while the new ones are still shiney. I should know, I've done enough of 'em. If they've had it serviced at a dealer or place that keeps the service records see if you could check them out or ask the place of service why this was done and hope that they're honest. With all that work it should keep going forever, you can't kill the 3800. We've got a Lesabre or P/Ave, I don't remember which, that comes in for oil changes all the time at my dealer and I believe his next LOF is due at 409,000 miles or somewhere close to that. We've got the records to prove it, too. So, take care of it and it will last. We've got a few other ppl with over 200,000 on theirs, too. Just make sure, with all that internal work, depending on when it was done that there's a warranty on it or some kind of guarantee, you don't want to get stuck with some pathetic attempt at a rebuild.