Xmetalhead2003X

iTrader: (3)

My brother is picking up a 2002 Cavalier for parts and donor. Motor and transmission are toast at 275k on the clock. My question is: outside of a reluctor wheel and possibly a crank, if I pull this motor and build it, will I be able to drop it into my l61? I'm trying to get an answer on the failure of the motor but if I can't, I'll be able to see it tomorrow.

BankerBalt

Its a weak block. Dont waste your time. The head will definitely not work either

Xmetalhead2003X

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the advice. I have an lsj head sitting in the basement. Looking to keep the dispacement but build something that can be dropped in. The car is a 2008.

TexasTieaga

Question about this topic. I had the #1 piston fail and it really tore up some stuff. Even punched a hole in the side of the block. I cut my losses and found a complete 2.2 Eco from a 02 Grand Am. Swapped the intake with my own and everything else matched identical. Just finished the installation today after she sat for 3 months. She starts but immediately dies unless I give her gas. At idle RPM she runs really rough. It rained on me yesterday when I was dropping the engine in with no manifolds. I'm thinking maybe water in the cylinders. Also I'm having smoke pour from the exhaust manifold (my Cobalt manifold). I have no light or time to check my plugs or anything tonight. Any suggestions? It's my only car and I have to go to school and work. I'd hook a scan tool to it but my wiring harness fried on me a few yrs ago and a trusted mechanic rigged it so it started but he said it almost killed his machine supplied by GM. I'm good at fixing vehicles but my diagnostic level is still kind of low at this level. Currently enrolled in UTI but this stuff comes later on. The car drives fine for everything except idle when it wants to die or idle rough when I give it gas. Help please. Also I figured the gas might be old and bad so I added some premium to the tank that had less than an 8th of a tank left hoping it'll clear the problem.

Lame9910

iTrader: (1)

Probably should have used a newer 2.2. What ECU are you using?

BankerBalt

Cams are different. And depending on what year cobalt you have, there's also a cam sensor pressed onto the cam itself. Youcould swap your original head on it and it should run fine

Slowbalt2000

iTrader: (1)

If he has an 05 or 06 then that would be the same motor for his car.

Xmetalhead2003X

iTrader: (3)

Mine is an 08. Never got the car. Seller was too sketchy and we decided to back out. However, the LDK block has caught my eye and instead of starting a new thread, is that block able to be bored to a 2.2 dispacement without compromising strength as it has no sleeves?

TexasTieaga

Not sure what ecu... thought we used the PCM? Either way it's still the stock PCM I had when I bought the car brand new in 05. Solved the smoke problem. It was a leak in my coolant system (actually I rushed my reassembly and did bolt everything together completely. Oops). Think I'll swap the water pump because I believe the weep hole has released on the one that came with the engine. Not the same either so I'll just put mine in. Figured it would be a timing issue because she runs like she has an aggressive cam. Drove her to work and back today like a test drive and she started to backfire and ran really rough. So if I swap in my head she should run ok? Didn't use my old head because my blown piston bent my 2 exhaust valves on it. But I found a good deal on rockauto where I can get supplies with shipping for less than $20 I believe. Just need a valve spring compressor. Pretty sure I can rent that. Also found a head gasket there for about $50 or somewhere around there. Thanks for the help. Any more suggestions are welcome. Car sounds hella sick but would rather have her workin correctly without the knocks and rough ride.

Xmetalhead2003X

iTrader: (3)

Bump for post #8. Get this train back on track.

TexasTieaga

Bump for post #9 too. Swapped my cams out and she still runs the same. Bad run relay maybe? Or maybe the timing is off still because I used the grand am timing chain? Think the colored marks are off?

574

iTrader: (5)

I don't see why the L61 short block couldn't be built and dropped in a LAP because as long as you reuse your head and crank I don't see an issue.

Xmetalhead2003X

iTrader: (3)

Only thing I've found l61 and LAP have different emissions on exhaust side. Sai is on manifold whereas the LAP is in the manifold. Still looking on an answer for a gen 3 block bore possibly bored for 2.2 displacement. Bump.