Two sons with messed up cars, can we make one good one? Honda w/rusted frame engine in Chevy S 10?

mommabear6

So, after working and saving and attending college for 6 months, my son bought a 2002 Honda Passport which turns out to have a rusted chassis. Too rusted to safely drive. The rest is good, good engine w/ 120,000 miles and smoothly shifting transmission.

Son #2 has a Chevy S 10 that is having lots of engine trouble. Would it be cost effective and even possible to put the working engine in the Chevy S 10?

Mr_Shiftright

No way. Not sure what year your S-10 is but after 1994 they use the Chevy Vortec V-6. In any event, fabricating engine mounts, modifying cooling systems, figuring out the electronics---what a nightmare,and especially for vehicles not worth a whole lot!

You'd be much better off just trying to source a used engine for the S10 and junking the Passport. OR....buying the same year Passport with a good chassis and bad engine and do that engine swap. Even then, used 2002 Passports are selling in the $3000, so starting over with another one (and this time with a pre-purchase inspection) might end up being the cheapest, easiest way to go.

mommabear6

Sigh. It's sad. Son #1 took the Passport to our mechanic to have it checked before he bought it, mechanic said it checked out fine, with a few minor repairs necessary. When my son had bought it and took it in for repairs, the mechanic found the frame is mush. It's a small operation, and we're not inclined to sue them or blame them, they feel terrible. But my hard working son is out $4500. Thanks for the advice.

Mr_Shiftright

Well they were extremely careless and unprofessional. Maybe your son could go to an expert welder and see what can be done--if it's a body-on-frame construction (body bolts to frame) perhaps it can be fixed. If it is a uni-body (the body IS the frame), then it's pretty much toast.

At least you know where never to take your car again. Somebody could have been injured or killed.

mommabear6

That's tricky, too, as we've been going to that garage for years. Wish it had been a corporation instead of just two guys who usually do good work at a reasonable price.

He'll look into taking it to a welder, thanks again.

kyfdx

Yeah, the Honda Passport is an Isuzu Rodeo, underneath. I'm pretty sure that is body-on-frame.

Mr_Shiftright

If that's the case, the body can be lifted off the frame--not a small job, but cheaper than a new truck.

isellhondas

I wouldn't mess with that engine. Those Isuzu/Passport engines weren't very good and 120,000 miles is pushing it. I remember the mechanics in our shop just hated them. Maybe a good welder can beef it up!