OT Chevy Celebrity Engine Swap

DRL · Nov 1, 2008

My niece has a early model (1980 I think) Celebrity. It is very straight and overall a very good car. It has the 2.5 four cylinder engine. Long story short, she drove it with a small knock in it until it became a very big knock. Sounds like a rod is out, but won't know until we get it torn down. Was wondering if there was a later model engine that would bolt in without much trouble. The car has an automatic transmission if that makes a difference. Am thinking that would be cheaper for her if we could find an engine out of a salvage yard, but finding one that old might be as much trouble as what she already has. If the car wasn't so straight and rust free, I would say just junk it. Also, she has poured a lot of money into it already, so kind of needs to keep it.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 1, 2008

an older 2.8 v6 ,before fuel injection, isnt a bad swap, if you have a doner car.

Jim B. in OH · Nov 1, 2008

Looks like a reman isn't too awful expensive, much better piece of mind than what you could get at the scrap yard. Jim

http://paceperformance.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=150

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Nov 1, 2008

Are you sure it's a rod knock? The 2.5 engine is notorious for cam gears wearing and knocking. The cam gear is phenolic and the crank gear is steel. The cam gear will wear and it makes a knocking noise until the teeth totally fail and it dies and won't re start. The cam gear is not too tough to replace in the car. Might be a little cheaper and easier than swapping engines.

Dozer Guy · Nov 1, 2008

Hi DRL, I have worked in many salvage yards over the years, If that is the way that you need to keep your Celebrity on the road, then heres a few pointers ... (1) try to find a car that has been totaled, at least you know that it was running when it was wrecked.. (2) dont be afraid of a car that has fire damage... (3) Make sure you get a warranty with it"some yards offer a 90 day warranty" .... There are some used car dealers that will take you to a auto salvage auction and let you find a car and buy it for you (for a fee of course) on top of buying it , at least you can see & hear it run before you buy it and you will have spair parts ... If I am not mistaking, a pont. J-6000 , a olds. calais , a cadi. cimeron , and a few others will interchange with yours up to 1988 " if I am not mistaking" as long as it has a 2.5 in it.. some of those cars had dist. ignition and some had coil pack ignition as well, make sure that yours will match the used engine you purchase !! good luck!!! D.G.

Duner Wi · Nov 1, 2008

I think 82 was first year for Celebrity which means it has computer. I would look for a good 2.5 thru 86.
87 had different ign. No dist. but coil packs.
Those engine make noise but will run 400,000 miles if you take a little care of them. Check the harmonic balancer bolt for tight. Sounds like rod is falling out but it isn't.

Tim in OR · Nov 1, 2008

I had a chevy citation that developed a "knock".
I stressed and frettedand finally decided it was at the drive end of the engine. after hearing about the possability of a cracked flex plate, I took the cover off and found a loose bolt that holds the torque converter to the flex plate. It had backed out till it was hitting the block.
I tightened it and checked the others. after that the noise was gone.
I hope your knock is as easy to fix.
Tim in OR

bradk · Nov 1, 2008

A 2.5(R)engine from an "A" body(Celebrity,Century,Ciera,6000) up to 85 will bolt in.The 2.5(U)"s in other bodies are a little different.

Brian Jasper co. Ia
is correct on the camshaft gear making LOTS of noise when worn.Not too often a 2.5 Iron Duke spins a bearing or develops a knock,so make sure.

Allan in NE · Nov 2, 2008

That is a VERY, VERY simple fix.

Like others have said, they had problems with the timing gears setting up a racket. However, that was a totally different sound; kind of like a "diesel engine" sound.

The "Sounds like a rod is out" noise is a different animal entirely, but the noise is not a rod bearing; it's at the other end of the stroke.

If the noise is of a "singular/one cylinder" nature, your niece's car has a bad wrist pin, you'll find it either on cylinder 2 or 3 and you can almost bet the farm that it is on cylinder #3.

You can repair the knock without even yanking the engine. Pull the head and the pan; the piston assembly will come right out of there.

I can hear that knock from half way across the county and I don't even know you. Done a lot of 'em.

Allan

Gun guru · Nov 2, 2008

I had a 1984 celb. I had the 2.8liter V6 though. I think that the celbrity was made in 1983 up to 1988, I could be wrong.
That 2.5 Iron duke motor was a nice motor I had that in a Citation that I had.
Sorry I cant help with the engine problem.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 2, 2008

I had a 83 with a 2.8 V6. Then had a 83 6000LE with the iron Duke. I parted out the celebrity, but still have the whole front undercarrage and whats left of the V6 and tranny. Id look around for another 4 cyl, possibly buy a reamufactured short block, with a warranty and enjoy the fas milage and durability those old engines were famous for.

I want a 85-88 Grand AM 2 door. I have a 3.1 V6 out of a 91 Lumina,, I wanna drop into a grand AM and have some fun with. I think it would be a fun car to build and drive! Or, a 6000 LE 2 door with the same setup. Chad

OT Chevy Celebrity Engine Swap

DRL

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Anonymous-0

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Jim B. in OH

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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Dozer Guy

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Duner Wi

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Tim in OR

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bradk

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Allan in NE

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Gun guru

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Anonymous-0

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