# Cracked Engine Block

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 14, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367 "2005-04-14T22:52:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/1 "2005-04-14T22:52:02Z")

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So the mechanic called me and told me I cracked the engine block of my 1996 Chevy lumina sedan. He said it would be 3000 dollars.

Is this a reasonable price?

But wait! there’s more;

Rebuilt the transmission less than a year ago.

Kelley Blue Book for an “EXCELLENT” 96 lumina… 1,525.00

I’m looking for a new car aren’t I ?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/2 "2005-04-14T22:53:44Z")

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Please tell me that’s for a new engine.

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**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/3 "2005-04-14T22:55:16Z")

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Thats what the mechanic said… I think.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/4 "2005-04-14T23:02:08Z")

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If you aren’t really attached to the car, ditch it and move on. If that’s not an option, try to find a rebuilt engine.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/5 "2005-04-14T23:07:50Z")

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I was gonna ditch it in a year anyhow… and I have the money

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**Author:** ![chaparralv8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@chaparralv8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaparralv8)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/6 "2005-04-15T00:36:18Z")

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Don’t even THINK about replacing the engine. Break the car up for scrap and get something else. I suggest a Civic, Protege, or Accord.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cracked-engine-block/299367/7 "2005-04-15T01:51:06Z")

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> [@chaparralv8](#):
>
> Don’t even THINK about replacing the engine. Break the car up for scrap and get something else. I suggest a Civic, Protege, or Accord.

I had a 95 Corsica with a cracked head. For a new head I was quoted $1500. At the same time (I asked) a new block would have been about $2K and a whole new (rebuilt) engine would have been about $3K.

First the transmission, then the engine. The rule of auto repairs is. . . next the entire front end.