Replaced engine: What can we assume?

[rob-the-oil-nut]

If you have followed some of my postings, you may know that 8,000 km ago I bought a '96 Bonneville that had a slightly used 3800 Series II from an '01 or '02 LeSabre.
The matter of the oil pan aside for a few minutes, what can I / we assume they did and did not do??
Change plugs? All fluids? Trans, too? It has a bit of a dry power steering sound, but engine swaps mean new PS fluid, don't they?
Ensure all sensors work on the new engine (bit of a thread about the knock sensor in particular)
Now, I HAVE had the car for a Canadian winter, 8-9 months, 8000 km (5000 miles)
What is normally done (and should not need service for another year, 2 years, etc) and what should I look for?
I am not posting to put down the dealership or make negative assumptions. But there is the oil pan issue and another thing that should not have made it past Optimum Certification (300 or so point inspection). I DID have it checked at an independant place that does NO repairs, just 3 hour, 2 mechanic, $150 inspections. I also have some access to a GM-certified mechanic that does not work for a GM dealership. I trust him to know what to look for, but do any of YOU have suggestions as to what he should look for?
Relevant: Someone I know has essentially the same car, but not badged Pontiac. It has 50,000 KM's more on the odometer than mine, and had the hydraulic lock I referred to in the 'Horror story: Didn't happen to ME' thread. He just got advised he needs new shocks & struts (all 4) and some climate control stuff, and a wheel bearing sort of part, the name or nature he could not recall. Call me paranoid but I like to fix things when they are small, before they break. Hence my oil-related extremes

THANKS
Rob

 

[Oldswagon]

Rob:

in my experience, I would say it is safe to assume that your car did not get new power steering fluid, it did not get a transmission service, and it probably did not get new plugs. About the only fluids you can be sure that were changed would be the coolant and oil. I doubt any of the sensors were tested on the used engine either. They likely would have just connected everything up and taking it for a road test to make sure everything was working fine. If anything turned up bad from the road test, then it would have been replaced.

GM shops are flat rate, so most techs try to get the job done as fast as possible to make the most money. It's very rare to see a tech go the extra mile and do all the "extras" in a used engine swap. If the engine swap was done at the dealership that sold it, I am sure the bare minimum was done to keep costs low.

 

[T-Keith]

I guess you don't have to change anything. So you can't assume what they did. I would play it safe and change any fluids you feel comfortable with. I would give any car I bought with a swapped engine a couple goings over. I'm still concerned about engine compatability. Besides the oil pan there is lots different between a 96 and 01 engine. I'm not sure if you saw my other post on that, but you really need to check the sensors and TB.

-T

 

[rob-the-oil-nut]

Thanks very much. I will be taking this up with the mechanic (The one that is GM-certified but works at a non-GM dealership). He has seen this car a few times. I told him it passed GM Optimum Used Vehicle inspection...He smiled.
Before I signed for it I took it to a place called Auto Check Inpection Services. They do pre-purchase inspections, NO repairs or referrals. The inspection included a scoping, which included the electronic version of a compression test. If you know what I mean and if that helps.
They gave me a written report, and the dealership gave me a history of all repairs. Sadly, I have not come across wherever I hid them since

BTW I had the trans flushed and changed to RedLine right after I bought it...I expect to do the same with the PS fluid.
Thanks!
Rob