engine compatability, chevy lumina, careful job

QUESTION: i have a 1998 Pontiac Grand am se with a 3100 V6. i was wondering what other engines that i can put in my car. can i put in any other GM make vehicle engine with a 3.1 V6? such as a 1994 chevy lumina, a 1994 sun bird, 95 lumina, and so on.
THANKS!
~Colin

ANSWER:      As long as it is the L82 version of the engine.  They were made from 94-99.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I just rebuilt the top half of my engine started it up and heard a ticking. I'm pretty sure I blew a bearing on a rod. One of the brass ones. Here's my question, are you able to get to the rods to repair this through the oil pan with the engine still in the car? The engine has overheated once and allmost once more, but was shut down before that. Is it worth repairing this engine or should I look for a donner car?
Thanks
~Colin

Answer
    I kind of doubt that you have a bad bearing.  They will usually make a louder pounding noise, kind of a "thwack, thwack" sound.  And they will go bad real quick.  No, it sounds more likely that you have either a bad lifter or an out-of-adjustment rocker arm.  Did you take the head out to get it repaired?  And, did you carefully organise the pushrods, rockers, and rocker pivots so that each one went back in the same place it came from?  If you didn't do that, then there is probably at least one pushrod-rocker-pivot set that is busy tearing itself apart.  If it was me, I would buy new lifters, pushrods, and rocker/pivot sets to replace the existing stuff.  And make sure you get some assembly lube and slop it all over the pushrods and rocker pivots.  Do a careful job of initial adjustment and you shouldn't have to readjust them.  Did you adjust them properly this last time?  That's all it would take to make a noise.
    As to servicing the rod from below: it has to come out the top.  There is no way to reinsert the piston from below, plus you don't want to remove the crank if you don't have to.
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