Hey guys I appreciate your oppinion on this. My 98 SSEi has 185k on it and runs pretty good but I've never replace any gaskets on it so its leaking oil from the valve covers and a little bit on the oil pan. Not really leaving oil stains but it just stinks when I drive cause of the oil burning on the exhausts. So I was thinking of just doing a basic overhaul and replace all the gaskets on it from top to bottom. Not going to do it myslef but will pay someone to do it. Since they're probably going to pull the engine should I just order a long block which is probably easier and quicker to do.

Just afraid to start having problems with a new engine when I don't have any now. If I do get a long block does it make a difference since mine is supercharged. Not sure if the heads are different than a non supercharged one.

Is there a performance block and heads I can just order like from a different model car or newer SSEi?

Thanks in advance for your input. Oh, is there anyone in TX that you recommend.

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1998 Black SSEi, All original with no mods (214k miles) Daily driver {purchased in 2003 with 39k miles}
2010 Black Camaro SS, muffler delete, CAI, Diablo tune, carbon fiber hood (60k miles) Weekend driver {purchased new 2009}
2014 Metallic Green Explorer, no mods, (45k miles), vacation/road trip driver {purchased new 2013}

Replacing the motor due to some leaky valve cover gaskets seems like massive overkill to me... Spend $30 and a few hours of time, change the valve cover gaskets and call it a day

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-Aaron-

1986 Monte Carlo SS- The Toy
2002 Nissan Maxima - The Daily Beater
2010 VW CC - The Wife's

Depending Where You Live, There Are Many Members That ArE Willing To Help out

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-Juan

No bonnie!
93 s10 ex cab: 2.8: t5: exhaust: tbi mods. 5.3, 76mm, and a D.r cam on a stand

ZZP and Intense have performance heads, I think, if you really do go that deep.

But if you're just looking to freshen it up for durability, replace the LIM gaskets with the aluminum framed ones from GM or Felpro, and replace the valve cover gaskets. 5-6 hour job I think.

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WHITE WHINE - 1992 SSE Supercharged 236.26 ci (.040 Over) 15.090 at 90.2 MPH on old engine w/ slipping trans & melted O2 sensor - Gen 3 M62 and matching TB, Gen 2 Pully, Zillamotorsports Ported LIM, YT 1.72 Roller Rockers, SII FPR & Injectors, Hypertech Thermomaster chip w/ 160 Thermo, TransGo Shift Kit, Infinity/Pioneer Speakers & a 10" Alpine Type R Sub, all the watts, 140 amp Alternator, Ricepipe CAI w/ heatshield, Pilot Angel Eye Foglights, Clear Corners, '02 17" Chrome Bent 5's, Magnaflow F-Body Muffler and Hi-flo Cat, Ceramic Coated Ported Exhaust Manifolds, Fan Override, Monroe Reflex struts, red calipers
2009 G8 GT - Sport Red Metallic, loaded, SOLO Axlebacks, Rotofab Intake, Tuned, autodim mirror, removed intake manifold cover, HSV GTS triple gauge pod, two tone red-hot shifter and HSV SuperSport steering wheel, GXP rear sway bar and diffuser, 3.45 diff and various Camaro suspension bits, LED Taillights

I live in San Antonio. I'd be open to that if anyone would like to come out and spend the day working on it. Do a BBQ or something.

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1998 Black SSEi, All original with no mods (214k miles) Daily driver {purchased in 2003 with 39k miles}
2010 Black Camaro SS, muffler delete, CAI, Diablo tune, carbon fiber hood (60k miles) Weekend driver {purchased new 2009}
2014 Metallic Green Explorer, no mods, (45k miles), vacation/road trip driver {purchased new 2013}

Sounds very wasteful. Have the gaskets fixed. Your engine has plenty of life left in it. No real reason to have the engine removed, it's all accessible with the engine in the car. We usually recommend a used engine for these cars, they're so cheap yet have a very good chance of being in good shape. Better than some rebuilds we've seen. Not recommending that for you at all, though.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Yeah, it is a waste to spend hundreds of dollars for a 'new' engine plus installation only cause you have worn gaskets. Just spend the amount to get the gaskets and do it yourself. The beautiful thing about the Bonneville is that there is enough engine room to work on them pretty easily.

I did it myself on my regular 3800 engine for the first time last summer. It wasn't that bad . . just time consuming since it was all new to me.

Ill probably do my S/C 3800 this summer.

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1996 Bonneville SSEI "MeanGreen BonneB" - 121k Miles

Where Are You from Bonne ^ I See Illinois Plates

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-Juan

No bonnie!
93 s10 ex cab: 2.8: t5: exhaust: tbi mods. 5.3, 76mm, and a D.r cam on a stand

The City of Chicago

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1996 Bonneville SSEI "MeanGreen BonneB" - 121k Miles

Cool Well Meet Up This summer

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-Juan

No bonnie!
93 s10 ex cab: 2.8: t5: exhaust: tbi mods. 5.3, 76mm, and a D.r cam on a stand

Most definitely . . Sounds like a plan

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1996 Bonneville SSEI "MeanGreen BonneB" - 121k Miles

VC gaskets are pretty easy. But while you're in there I'd just give the whole motor a gasket refresh.

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-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 247k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 98k miles

I have to agree with others. I don't believe that the engine will need to come out for any gasket to be replaced, even head gaskets (not needed BTW). I think the oil pan drops straight down, and the fun one is the LIM gaskets admittedly, but everything can be accessed easy enough.

The only argument I have for another engine is to do a performance build, and then take the car in for a motor swap, to keep the down time to a minimum.

To be honest, your motor very well could be halfway through it's life span.

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~Randall~


1993 Buick Park Avenue - 197k - Some odds and ends done - Simply won't die
1994 Buick Regal - 78k - Bone stock - Always ready for a good kicking
1990 Oldsmobile 88 - Gone to a better place

185K? Has it even been broken in yet? I agree, new valve cover gaskets and you're all set.

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Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

You're probably right cause it runs like a champ. I drive aggressively and she still has plenty of power. Just yesterday I was hitting around 85 mph on IH35 with no problem. Car has been good to me. I guess I'll just do the valve covers for now and spend the rest on getting the A/C going. Runs a little warmer than it should in the summer so I'll probably get an alluminum radiator from ZZP.

Thanks for all your comments and support. BTW this is my daily driver. My 2010 Camaro SS is my weekender. Still enjoy driving my bonnie and don't think i'll ever part with her.

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1998 Black SSEi, All original with no mods (214k miles) Daily driver {purchased in 2003 with 39k miles}
2010 Black Camaro SS, muffler delete, CAI, Diablo tune, carbon fiber hood (60k miles) Weekend driver {purchased new 2009}
2014 Metallic Green Explorer, no mods, (45k miles), vacation/road trip driver {purchased new 2013}

If it's running warmer as well, try swapping in a 180 degree thermostat and getting it tuned so the fans turn on at that temp. That should definitely help a bit, it dropped my temps on the Buick a pretty good bit, and it gets really hot down here in the summer.

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Joseph

Current: 2013 Infiniti G37 Journey
1999 Infiniti G20T - Sold
1999 Buick Lesabre - Race Couch - gone but not forgotten

^^This^^
These engines last a long time, just replace the valve cover gaskets, - easy.....

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90 SSE Bonneville Sold but not forgotten.