Worth picking up an extra engine?

[c good]

Love my 2002 Envoy. I plan on keeping it for many more years. Since the platform was discontinued I foresee a day when they become scarce in the Salvage yards. Would it be worth picking up an extra engine? Do a general rebuild on it. Rings, Valve Job, new timing chain, tensioners, oil pump, o-rings, etc? Or just find a low mileage one and take a chance on it?

My engine has 197K miles. Runs great. Uses a little oil. One quart every 2000 miles. Mild piston slap the improves when warmed up. Tiny lifter noise from one lifter.

So....find one in a yard? What would one expect to pay for one? There's an online engine company that has one with 97K miles. It's about $1000 shipped.

 

[Mooseman]

Since you're looking beyond the actual market value of the truck, it could be worth it however, between now and the time you may need that engine, a lot of things can happen. I don't think that engines will become so scarce that you won't be able to find one. You can fit one from 02 to 07. I see a fair number still on the road even here in rust land. Some small parts are OK for spares (I have a new water pump on standby) however an engine is expensive and takes a lot of room.

 

[Realism]

Love my 2002 Envoy. I plan on keeping it for many more years. Since the platform was discontinued I foresee a day when they become scarce in the Salvage yards. Would it be worth picking up an extra engine? Do a general rebuild on it. Rings, Valve Job, new timing chain, tensioners, oil pump, o-rings, etc? Or just find a low mileage one and take a chance on it?

My engine has 197K miles. Runs great. Uses a little oil. One quart every 2000 miles. Mild piston slap the improves when warmed up. Tiny lifter noise from one lifter.

So....find one in a yard? What would one expect to pay for one? There's an online engine company that has one with 97K miles. It's about $1000 shipped.

If you can get one, then do it. This platform is widely considered to have the best Engine Gm has every built. Especially if it happens to be the 4.2 I6. I know there are many of us here who are topping 250k+ and havent had a single problem, or any oil burn. I know the early models had some engines where the cast was pourous and oil would leach out, just be mindful about those, get as late an engine as you can for your model.

 

[northcreek]

Love my 2002 Envoy. I plan on keeping it for many more years.

You don't mention where you live, is rust an issue? if so the Tin Worm might get you before the Gremlins...

 

[c good]

I'm in S. California.

 

[northcreek]

I'm in S. California.

Oh, okay I guess road salt would not be a concern....but, flooding ...

 

[c good]

Oh, okay I guess road salt would not be a concern....but, flooding ...

True about flooding with all the rain lately, and maybe frame cracks from earthquakes!

 

[GreenBravada]

True about flooding with all the rain lately, and maybe frame cracks from earthquakes!

The kind of flooding you need to worry about might be the tsunami type when Cascadia goes or half of the big island of Hawaii slides off to the bottom. ;-)

 

[mrrsm]

You folks living in the Northwest... Close to the Pacific Juan De Fuca Tectonic Plate ...have much to worry about. Prof, Nick Zentner has to be the most interesting, engaging Geology Story-Teller on the History of The Cascade Mountains on this subject. Probably the BEST ASMR College Course Videos on-line:

Nick Zentner

I teach geology at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, USA.

www.youtube.com

 

[movietvet]

You folks living in the Northwest... Close to the Pacific Juan De Fuca Tectonic Plate ...have much to worry about. Prof, Nick Zentner has to be the most interesting, engaging Geology Story-Teller on the History of The Cascade Mountains on this subject. Probably the BEST ASMR College Course Videos on-line:

Nick Zentner

I teach geology at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, USA.

www.youtube.com

I felt one earthquake, here in Eugene, OR on July 4th, 2015. I was in the shower and going to a buds place that was closer to the epicenter, in the Springfield, OR area and he had a large crack in one of his inside walls with the deck on the other side.

 

[GreenBravada]

We had a small earthquake in the Cleveland, Ohio region recently. A lot of people felt it depending on what sort of soil and bedrock were in your region.

When we talk about long-term issues, I always joke with my wife that the asteroid might hit and we'd all be dead by then. So, about a month ago a meteor hit the atmosphere heading south right above the town I live in and landed in pieces about twenty miles south of us. Lit up the sky, and we felt the sonic boom. I actually saw another one of these when I was a kid.

You just never know when your number is going to come up.

And that reminds me that I was in the last draft lottery for the Vietnam War. I had a high number, but I don't think they actually took anyone from that lottery.

 

[Mooseman]

Talk about going off-topic!

 

[GreenBravada]

Talk about going off-topic!

Fer shur.