2000 grand am gt rod knock

[KiefLips]

I just bought this car less than a week ago and unfortunately it now has rod knock. I'm guessing the previous owner drove it around for quite some time with hardly any oil. The engine had 170k miles on it. From what I've read the only thing I can really do is swap the engine out. I'm debating this though. I paid $1500 for it, and I've put about $350 in it for a new battery, registration, etc.
I don't know much about these cars so I was wondering what you guys would advise me to do. I don't think I could sell it for what I got it for now that it's knocking. The body has some damage already and it seems pretty wasteful to pour money into because I probably won't get it back. This is my first car. I have a relative who could probably put the engine in for me, for free. What kind of engines would you recommend me putting in it?
Maybe something with a little more power than the 3.4l v6.

 

[brandont96]

dont drive it, u might not need to do a engine swap, u can take it to a mechanic and ask them how much they would charge for rod replacements

much cheaper then replacing the whole engine

its not recommended u put a more powerful engine in anyway because the transmission cannot handle a more powerful engine u would need to swap transmissions as well.

u will get about 1000 miles out of it if ur lucky before the original transmission blows from to much power from a bigger engine.

not only is it risky to run a bigger engine on a original transmission but u say its running at 170,000 miles on the engine so im assuming thats the same with the transmission

a 170,000 mile transmission cannot take a new engine that is under 90,000 miles because the new engine will still be way to strong because it will not be fully worn in, eventually u will just blow the transmission.

anyways 170,000 miles is not worth it with a engine swap, take the car to a junk yard and get whatever money u can get from it and search for a new car with less miles.

but also are u positive its a rod knocking or is it ticking from the left side of the engine?

if its ticking it could just be ur lifters so i would have it checked out 100% before u go burning money u dont really have to spare.

 

[KiefLips]

Alright.

Well I agree. I'll take it to a mechanic. Really ****ed up with buying this.