So inlaw's (not married but you get the idea) Buick with high miles, fragged most or all of the drivetrain when they were up visiting from the states. They have it at Shagganapi GM because they had some sort of tow coverage and that's where they do thier drops.
So, anyone recommend a place to have a used engine & trans installed? Parts, low mile used take out would be $1800 best case, probably more like $2100. If we allow $1150 which is bare minimum for anyone to do the swap, that's over $3k on on a 3-ish K car.
Can't trade it b/c it's a US car, can't take home a Cdn car (easily at least).

So, fly home & cash it out...? Anywhere give better $ than Bucks?

So he wants to fix it. There a 106,000 km motor and trans @ Lacombe (Powpow's) with 45 day guarantee for ~$1600.
Anyone recommend a shop or person who'd be into doing the swap? He's looking for something that could be completed within the next week. Anyone think $1200 is fair, or should I convince him a little more is required?
and again the big question, who/where??

So called a couple Autopros- one in the NW doesn't want to do R&R on customer supplied parts, period.

One by the airport seemed very sincere (young sounding) & asked lots of questions, said he'd phone back, and did so just as I was about to post this. He said $1634 plus fluids & shop supply.

The other one by the airport seemed in contrast, to be completely flying by the seat of his pants, & had an guestimate of $1125 plus fluids & shop supplies.

Hmm.

I called the AutoPro's btw, because we had a two day seminar (I went for the 2nd day) on Service department management, and they are the target right now because of their standing at the top according to JD Power standings. Besides I worked for 4 plus years @ Napa, and worked my butt off sending out signage and everything else, so might as well try to get something out of it...lol

I'm amazed that the entire drivetrain of a 2003 Buick needs to be replaced so soon. I thought the drivetrains on those things were pretty bulletproof, even if the rest of the car isn't.

I'll be interested in what you end up doing.

It is a US car used to "commute" (not fully retired, and doing contract work) from Portland OR to points all over the west including Arizona, California, etc.
So, it has high miles- 160Kmiles=260K km, with a lot of the driving being in the heat.
I'd like to think they changed the oil regularly, but the factory intervals are insanely lengthy, so if you start from those and stretch it, in the heat, well...
Also has stupid gearing (2.86 axle + a overdrive on that) that I believe lugs the mains right out of it.
All in all, it's not at that surprising.
The trans sometimes for no reason kicks in and out of lock up (I think) or might be OD. Subtle shifts but there's a real issue with it hunting gears. I thought changing it at the same time would eliminate diag on that. Could be a sensor or whatever, but the old "Gordian knot" solution is sometimes the best bet.