junk yard 5.0 complete $500... Deal??

[mysticfire5OH]

Local yard has an 89 GT motor still in the car. Odo reads 21,000.(hopefully not 221,000) Look good, just a little dirty, it even has the intake silencer on it. The power steering bracket is broke but i was thinking of doing manual steering anyway. So they said $500 for the engine, all wiring, and the A9P computer. Does this sound fair? I attached some pics if they mean anything.

I am planning on using an engine such as this one for my new project, the 86 capri GS 4cyl i just bought. It will be a 5 speed cruiser maybe a trip to the track once.

Couple questions....
1) How do you convert the fuel system.. can i just put some kind of inline pump or will i have to switch tanks and wiring from the same JY car.
2) will i have to switch any wiring from inside the vehicle, like from the dash?
3) How long do you think the 4cyl rear will last if don't beat it too hard? Plus i have another 4 cyl rear from an 89 i can throw in if it goes.
4)will a double hump tranny crossmember work in teh capri, because i really want to have true duals.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Nick

 

[frmus3]

its got to have a least 121k miles

 

[Mustang5L5]

That's definitely a 121,000 mile motor.

$500 is WAY too much.

Search the yard for a Lincoln Mark 7 LSC. The 88+ models have the same 5.0 HO in them. You can prob get one with lower miles and for a cheaper price.

 

[Daggar]

No matter what you pay or where a get used motor. Dropping it in without tearing down for inspection and replacement of ware items is the stuff nightmares are made of. At a minimum, I'd get an off the shelf rebuild kit that includes bearings, seals, rings, gaskets, freeze plugs, etc. You will find anything else that might be amiss through the tear down.

Edit: BTW... This is probably a no brainer but don't even think about trying to use that old water pump. That car's been in a front end collision. There are probably others in this forum that can tell you more about what to look for engine wise when a front impact is involved.

 

[skitzofrantic]

Im with DAGGAR on this one....I just got an 89 GT that only had 89,000 on it and during tear down found the block to be warped and both heads were warped...Pistons had major scuffing from where the motor had gotten real hot, and al the bearings wore worn into the brass.I'v got $1300 in the rebuild $500 of which was machine work. So can't really go by the miles on the motor if you don't know how it was driven or maintained.

 

[super302]

500 isn't toooo bad, its def. got 121k miles on it.
A 4cyl rear end will only last through one burnout

 

[IndyBlk5.0]

get a 351.

 

[bazzman]

im in the middle of a 4cyl to 5.0 swap and TRUST ME make a deal with the guy that owns the salvage yard where you can scarf all the little parts you need..clips, brackets, special bolts, fuel components, etc..etc....you WILL thank me later...like take this for example..you know the plastic EFI fuel lines on these cars??...well the parts you will need to make up a factory style fuel system will run you $150(not including fuel pump)!...also another example: if you want to run true dual exhaust like an LX 5.0 you will need the 5.0 rear brake line assembly(different from a 4cyl car)...also if you are planning on front brake upgrades i would consider the SN95 upgrade...i wish i had ..but i went with the 5.0 4 lug front brake upgrade....im learning the hard way so learn from my mistakes!...and your going with a capri so im not sure what all would be different with those....but i cant imagine those being so much different than a mustang mechanically wise!?

 

[tmoss]

Why not look for a low mileage Explorer engine for just a little more or the same money?

 

[Daggar]

im in the middle of a 4cyl to 5.0 swap and TRUST ME make a deal with the guy that owns the salvage yard where you can scarf all the little parts you need..clips, brackets, special bolts, fuel components, etc..etc....you WILL thank me later...like take this for example..you know the plastic EFI fuel lines on these cars??...well the parts you will need to make up a factory style fuel system will run you $150(not including fuel pump)!...also another example: if you want to run true dual exhaust like an LX 5.0 you will need the 5.0 rear brake line assembly(different from a 4cyl car)...also if you are planning on front brake upgrades i would consider the SN95 upgrade...i wish i had ..but i went with the 5.0 4 lug front brake upgrade....im learning the hard way so learn from my mistakes!...and your going with a capri so im not sure what all would be different with those....but i cant imagine those being so much different than a mustang mechanically wise!?

This is the best suggestion I've seen yet!!! If he wants to sell you that motor for $500 then great if he'll settle on sort of arrangement where you can come back for the odds and ends you'll need for the conversion.

 

[RsStanG1987]

I bought an 89 mass air motor has 90,000 miles diddnt use it and its sitting in my garage for like 2 months i cant even get 250 dollars for it and it has everything you need on it. 500 is a lot for an abused motor that your gonna have to put new gaskets on power steering pump, fuel lines and wiring. Buy a cheaper one and rebuild it.

 

[mysticfire5OH]

Thanks for the suggestions, i know what you mean about all the little things you'll need as i have done the 4cy-V8 swap in my coupe, but i got lucky and found a donor car of the same year with several bolt ons for 1600. I have been doin a lot of thinkin on this and i have basically decided to go carbed. I have a 302 block, rebuilt heads, a summit rebuild kit, and a t-5 in my freinds garage so that looks like the cheaper route. I was just curios as to what the yard would have. I needed a blue ashtray cover anyways (picked one up for 5 bucks!) Thanks for the help and i'm sure i'll be postin more questions up here in the coming weeks

Nick

 

[dastang2]

tbirds have HO's in them too