Building block??

[alfee]

So my engine (I-6) c280 is coming up the 200k mark and i'm thinking about spending some money to rebuild the engine before it really goes bad. I'm thinking about boring out the cyclinder, higher compression pistons and thicker rods, doing a polish and balance crank shaft and some porting in the head. This should cost about $2,500-$3,500. Hopefully it'll provide some good N/A power. Again this is a daily driver for work, just want it more reliable with more torque and power, nothing heavy.
However how much HP gain do you think this will get?
Or should I do a c36 swap for the same amount of money? I'm in CA and am curious about the smog issues this may pose.... any ideas gurus?

[c280nz]

unless you just get a lower k's 3.2ltr swap.
same straight six block with 20-30 extra hp and more torque, this wouldnt cost to much either.

[RemoLexi]

throw a 3.6 AMG motor in there. you can find one for around 2k and replace the headgasket on that and there ya go!

[dantedawg]

sounds like you're rebuilding the major engine parts...which is good. but how about the rest of it? you'll encounter more problems soon. keep in mind 200 k is pretty much the end of it. trade it in and spend the 3500 to another 202 :)

[omeyhomey]

if i'm not mistaken if you use the 3.5L D crank you can get more displacement out of it. While you are at it might as well upgrade the components, knife edge the crank and etc.

although there is a C43 drivetrain on ebay right now for $3k so you could just upgrade to that. hope that helps

[Nelson Lago]

well you could bore it out to 3.6L and just throw so new or use amg 3.6L heads and outher parts at it.

[alfee]

boring it out to 3.6l was what I was thinking too, but would that give me much of the same gain as a c36?? Given if I put in some amg cams shafts and do head work?
I think this would be better given the engine would be basically a brand new engine zero miles versus a 100k c36 used engine swap.

[omeyhomey]

it depends on what you do. If you get very light rods & pistons and knifeedge crank and do port and polish on your heads you could probably get more power than C36, if you are going to rebuild, might as well rebuild it right, once the engine is apart there not any extra labor cost to put the upgraded components in (other than the cost of the components themselves).