[Jetsetter]

I bought an 01 GT for 2000 dollars and after a little poking around found the motor has water in it and has awful compression. Now what I've kind of set out for is to get this car running with a total investment of 1000 dollars, so I'm trying to evaluate my options.

1. Rebuild the current motor. I could build the bottom end for maybe 500 dollars and use some of our techs expertise to stick the heads and accessories on. I'm worried that this has the potential to turn into a giant cluster**** as I find I need more parts or it's finished wrong or whatever.

2. Have someone else rebuild the motor. That's going to be over 1000 dollars.

3. Find a used one. I can get a guaranteed used motor with 100k for around 1000 dollars. There's also an 01 Bullitt motor on eBay in Albuquerque with a starting bid of 1500. Either pushes its way over my budget.

I've never taken an engine out before and I guess I'm being forced to learn, but I just want this car running for the minimum amount possible. I realize most of you have 20k tied up in your motors, but if you just wanted to get something that would drive, what would you do in my position?

 

[iSpeed505]

whats the goal of the car? is it going to be a race car that you can see your self potential putting a lot of time and money into or is it just going to be a bone stock daily driver?

id say if you want the car just to get you around town, go for it and buy a salvaged motor, of course that depends on the shape that the current one is in. take it out, pull it apart and have someone that knows what to look for go through it.

or.

buy another daily. take the motor out of this one and start building it one expensive part at a time. we built my buddies mustang motor for right around 2000 for everything, and it is a 13 second car... keep that in mind.

 

[Stretch]

It's about 3.5x more than you want to spend but my bros got a 35kish mile '04 Mach 1 drivetrain, wiring harnesses, ecu, etc everything that you'd need to get a sweet DOHC motor in there. Just throwing it out there.

 

[T-5 killer]

I would track down a salvaged motor.

 

[Jetsetter]

This will purely be a daily to replace the Hyundai, as the 97 GT is where I want to throw money at and I'm sick of balling in a Hyundai.

If my motor is dead at 118k, should I be concerned buying one with 100k and having it toasted in just a few thousand miles?

 

[gigglegas]

damn so u were the one that bought it while i was there,find a donor motor for sure,go to u pull it there are a couple of cop cars in there same motor

as for the 118k that was more than likely driver error,my last gt which was a 2000 had 158k on it when i got rid of it still running fine even on the bottle

 

[Fonz]

you pull it for the win!

 

[5.0 clunker]

I would find a used motor and slap it in, no point in building a motor for a daily.
my 2 cents.

 

[Jetsetter]

The problem I have with a Crown Vic motor is that it's rated less, and I don't know what makes up the difference in power.

 

[NITROUSNYQUIL]

Stay away from used Romeo engines... go with a used windsor. Yes.. the 4.6 was built at two different plants. If you're really motivated, find a take-out from a 96-98 and throw your heads on it. It will make a little more power than the one you have in there. also, cop car engines are usually windsors and they can take a beating. The intake and cams are a cunt hair different, but all in all it would make a GREAT daily motor.

 

[Jetsetter]

Assuming I got a cop motor, would swapping out the accesories (I.E. not heads or bottom end) bring me back up to the GT numbers?

 

[gigglegas]

what accesories u mean?

 

[Jetsetter]

I don't know, the intake, pulleys, throttle body, whatever makes the difference? It says an 04 CV has 250 HP while a Mustang has 260.

 

[Dan]

put a used motor in it or cconvert it to a 4v

 

[gigglegas]

10hp? not really a difference. put some gears in the rear if 10 horses matters. didn't you want it as a dd anyway? dont want lots of power

 

[NITROUSNYQUIL]

Yeah... you may gain a tad extra, but not enough to even tell. $500 PI 4.6 FTW.

 

[SSx2]

If it was me and spend as little as possible. First, Determine exactly what is wrong. Pull the heads. It might only be a head gasket. If so, replace gaskets, fluids, filters and drive it. If not, you'll know what is the problem is by further examining for any damage. Then make the call. Don't replace parts if you don't have to. ldman:

 

[svo90]

If it was me and spend as little as possible. First, Determine exactly what is wrong. Pull the heads. It might only be a head gasket. If so, replace gaskets, fluids, filters and drive it. If not, you'll know what is the problem is by further examining for any damage. Then make the call. Don't replace parts if you don't have to. ldman:

exactly and its only a 120 bucks for new gaskets and bolt for the motor if not i would just buy a used one from some where for cheap hell check the corral they go from 300 to whatever on there. Mine has 140 on it and i still spray the shit out of it ever weekend when needed :headbang: but i also have a spare stock 4.6 and 2 built 4.6's ready to go with forged internals so im tring to do damage at the moment

 

[Dan]

exactly and its only a 120 bucks for new gaskets and bolt for the motor if not i would just buy a used one from some where for cheap hell check the corral they go from 300 to whatever on there. Mine has 140 on it and i still spray the shit out of it ever weekend when needed :headbang: but i also have a spare stock 4.6 and 2 built 4.6's ready to go with forged internals so im tring to do damage at the moment

what? head gaskets are 130+ each for the ones that dont leak. this is a modular not a push rod

 

[SSx2]

Still cheaper!!!