Replacing 3.8L...What to do?

Stus99GT

Member

Nov 14, 2003

75

0

6

VA

Oct 19, 2004

#1

• Oct 19, 2004

• #1

My sister bought and has been driving my old 1994 3.8L for over a year. Well the head gaskets blew, and other things went wrong, needless to say its going to be about 1500 dollars in work. I was wondering if it would be better just to replace the engine with another 3.8L, since the car has over 160k miles. Cost is definately a concern, as my sister is working on a VERY tight budget. Maybe someone with experience can help me out.

 

J

Jamez

Founding Member

Mar 2, 2000

2,609

0

0

Tulsa, Ok

Oct 19, 2004

#2

• Oct 19, 2004

• #2

It depends on who can do the work. If by that figure you mean thats what a shop is gonna charge to fix whats wrong with it then you may not have many options other than maybe selling it as is for what you can get and using the cash as a down payment or somethin. If you can do it yourself then you'd just have the parts to buy.

 

98_stang_guy

New Member

Apr 17, 2003

121

0

0

Wisconsin

Oct 19, 2004

#3

• Oct 19, 2004

• #3

get a haynes manual or something and read a lot and figure out how to do it yourself, you will save yourself A LOT of money...buying the parts is a lot cheaper than paying for parts AND labor

 

marvinmycat

Founding Member

Feb 13, 2002

1,179

0

0

Buffalo, NY

Oct 20, 2004

#4

• Oct 20, 2004

• #4

A half way decent 3.8L engine with less than 75K miles, complete from pan to intake should run you around $750. You just have to look around.

I also know that Autozone sells long 3.8L long blocks.

 

dastang2

Active Member

Dec 11, 2003

2,020

0

46

tx

Oct 20, 2004

#5

• Oct 20, 2004

• #5

i found a 2000 longblock that was implanted in a 98 and had the 98's heads and intakes plus all the sensors and harness for 500 bucks and they took it out of the rollover car and dropped it in the back of the truck. it cranked right up. that was at a wrecking yard in houston.

 

J

Jamez

Founding Member

Mar 2, 2000

2,609

0

0

Tulsa, Ok

Oct 20, 2004

#6

• Oct 20, 2004

• #6

If yer gonna have to pay someone to do the labor, its gonna be expensive any way you go. When we got the Jasper motor for mine, the install was about $700 which effectively doubles the cost of what you'd pay for a good, low mileage 3.8.

 

R

RdPonyCv

Founding Member

Jan 26, 2002

77

0

6

Illinois

Oct 20, 2004

#7

• Oct 20, 2004

• #7

Check out Mustang parts specialties at www.stangparts.com if your looking for mustang 3.8 engines. They part out mustangs and have all kinds of motors. If you problems are just with the motor it may be a good option. Otherwise as the other guy suggested get a haines and fix it yourself. I took my 95 to Ford one time and they came up with over $2000.00 of stuff to fix. I actually wonder how I drove it there with all the problems. Fixed everything myself for about $350.00, cost of labor you know.

Good Luck!

 

R

RdPonyCv

Founding Member

Jan 26, 2002

77

0

6

Illinois

Oct 20, 2004

#8

• Oct 20, 2004

• #8

Just check the site and motors are running $600 - $650 with everthything but front acc. meaning AC, Alternator, and not sure about Water pump.

 

98CobraClone

New Member

Feb 28, 2003

592

0

0

Ripley, Ohio

Oct 21, 2004

#9

• Oct 21, 2004

• #9

you can get a water pump for less than 40 bux from autozone.

Everybody else is right though, you're better off to get a used engine to drop in there if money is a concern. You never have let us know what kind of engine experience you have though. If you're experienced at all with them (even just a little bit), you could get a long block, and do some little tune ups (new timing chain, check rocker arms, push rods, etc.) I'd just make sure to get one that has already had the headgaskets changed if you're not familiar with that area. The head bolts are a pain to torque down right if you don't know what you're doing.