Engine Blown.... First Post!!

[hostutca]

Hey Everyone! This is my first post and unfortunately it is a sad one. I have always loved mustangs since I was young and two years ago I finally bought my first one. I am in graduate school so I do not have time or more importantly money to do any mods.

Car info: It was three things I swore I would never want in a mustang as a kid I said I would never want... teal, v6, automatic. It is a 95 and I bought it with 68K on it for 3,400 and it was remarkably clean so I could not pass it up, especially since I needed to buy a car in one week.

So, As I mentioned the head gasket went and so did the rod bearings and cam shaft is probably shot too and I am stuck with deciding between putting another 3.8 in it or putting a v8 in it. How much would it cost and what would it entail? Also, what would be the best route? What sucks is that this needs to be done sweet and funds are somewhat limited.

I changed the oil every 3,000 and full tune up every year... I have no idea what happened unless the guy before me beat the hell out of it. I let a friend borrow it and he might have been a little hard on her too... not sure...

 

[03 Mustang gT]

from what ive heard the 3.8 were prone to blowing head gaskets..not positive on that one though.. as for swapping a v8 in..it will require ALOT of things to be changed out. there are some people who have done it before on this forum and they say ud be better off just buying a GT from the start. your whole suspension would need to be changed..youd need to put in an 8.8 rear end.. computer and wiring harness and other various driveline components... possibly a new transmission (not sure wat the v6 has for a tranny)

if you want to still look into the engine swap ask a few people on here who have already done it. what ever u decide good luck and sorry about the motor

 

[hostutca]

Hey! thanks for the quick response... that is pretty much what I figured from skimming the boards... money is tight and time is tighter.. I am just going to throw another 3.8 in it.

What would you guys recommend... a few people have recommended Oriellys or Autozone motors due to their 3 year warranty. Remember, this wont be the car of my dreams as my meager stipend wont allow for any modding for the next 3 years and I plan on getting a GT or (Cobra if I can talk the boss (Fiance) into letting me spend that kind of money!) when I graduate. So I just need something to get me around. I know I know... I hate autozone too! But is there another reliable (in the sense of a 3 year warranty) option around the same cost ($1500).

 

[MustangLX-5.0]

I don't know about new engines, but if you are just going to use it as a daily driver and not put any mods into it, you'd be best to just find a good one from a salvage yard. You can probably pick one up for around $300-$500 or so. Make sure they test it first. You need to listen to it run. If you do go this way, stay clear of 3.8's from 94-95's. 96's were better but still has a flaw in the cooling system and cylinder heads. Try to get a 97 or newer V6. If you get a 99 and up, you will most likely need the PCM as the programming for these engines changed.

New engines from places like Autozone or Advanced Auto probably aren't worth the buy. I have no idea on the quality of the build.

Sorry about the engine. Are you 100% sure the rod bearings went, and that you wernt just hearing the engine ping like crazy from the gasket blowing out? Did tons of coolant spill into the oil?

 

[hostutca]

Yeah, I took it to a local shop to confirm it. What luck... the top and bottom end messing up at the same time. I know that seems surprising, but it just happens to be my luck!

Thanks again for the response!

 

[AlxsPony]

If thats the case, follow LX-5.0's advice and get a junkyard engine. low mile sixxers area pretty cheap, so might as well! 97-98 would be the years to go with, sicne 3.8's had headgasket problems up until mid-96. if you find a 99+ engine, it will work with a few differences- youll need to modify the fuel system, and get a chip burned. the advantages to this would be that the splitport engines are plentiful in junkyards, moreso then singleports these days. the extra 50hp is a bonus as well.

 

[hostutca]

What is all entailed with modifying the fuel system? Also, where could I get a chip burned?

Also, would the 98 bolt straight in? Basically a plug and go or would there be other mods needed?

 

[Big Show 96]

What is all entailed with modifying the fuel system? Also, where could I get a chip burned?

Also, would the 98 bolt straight in? Basically a plug and go or would there be other mods needed?

The 98 should be a plug & go. If any mods they would be very minor.