1997 350Vortec need motor(Ithink)

**97silverado4X4** · 07-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Hello, I'm new to the forum but I will definitely be around because my truck is getting old and I'll be looking for parts and advice in the future. My problem right now is I lost the motor I think. I was going down the interstate when the motor cut off. I was luckily right at an exit and made it to the top of the ramp. Then it wouldn't start, so I held the gas to the floor and after a long time it started. I made a bonzai run for the house but it cut off again and would not start and was making a lot of funny screeching, grinding noises. I towed it to the house and when I started looking at things I immediately found that the radiator was empty, but it hadn't leaked out. I pulled the oil dipstick and it was full all the way to the seal with what looked like chocolate milk. After further checking, I discovered that I had blown an intake gasket and leaked all the coolant into the oil. My question for you guys is two-fold, first-should I bother trying to rebuild my motor(it has 262,000 miles), or second, if I should look for a new motor, where can I find one cheap? I lost my job and am living on savings, limited credit, and unemployment from the state. I had someone tell me that since I ran it after it cut itself off automatically, that the coolant in the crankcase while running probably damaged some or all of the lower end bearings. Is this true? Please help.

**canislupis69** · 07-11-2009, 05:07 PM

Welcome to the site, Im sure someone on here will be able to help you. You might get more responses if you post this in the Tech section. Good luck.

**97silverado4X4** · 07-11-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't know how to copy the post somewhere else. The only thing I know to do is go there and retype it. I'd prefer not have to do that.

**97silverado4X4** · 07-11-2009, 05:33 PM

I figured out how to copy and paste it the old way. Thanks for the tip.

**Z71_guy** · 07-11-2009, 06:47 PM

welcome to the site, i would look for a used motor out of a junk yard, sounds like it overheated, dont risk rebuilding and finding the block cracked or a head,

**2COR517** · 07-11-2009, 07:18 PM

Used motor is probably your best option considering the age and miles on the truck. It may take a while to find a low mileage motor, GM stopped putting them in trucks in 2000.

**bry2500** · 07-13-2009, 08:52 AM

Welcome to the site!!!!!

Best bet is hit the scrapyard for used motor. alot of scrapyards will give a limited warranty on the engine for like 30-60 days on the motor.