My Economy car problem

What kind of shape is your 2002 Escort in, body-wise? If the body and suspension are good, the engine may be worth putting in. If the body is getting soft, scrap it and start over.

I would not spend $4k on a Ford Escort with 111k miles.

The real question now is what other car to buy.

i

I wouldn't spend $4K on any Ford product.... new or otherwise.

Erik

Why not go to a wrecking yard and buy a decent pulled engine and have it installed? Might cost you $1500 total if the mechanic is greedy.

Gunner

"The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination." --Voltaire

All depends on the condition of the rest of the vehicle. I pulled up a reman for that and get 1500.00 for a one year and 2200.00 for a 3/100K Also see a few "used remans" for around 1100.00 (wrecked after engine installed)

IF the body/chassis is in good shape and the rest is OK then you have to decide if you want to drive it that long.

"RogerN" wrote in news:EbydnZ9uXqL9mOPNnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@earthlink.com:

Some reason you're not heading to a local junkyard to get a used engine for a few hundred bucks, instead of spending a few thousand on a new engine?

You can either repair the engine you have, or replace it with a used one with about the same mileage, for a LOT less than four grand.

The other alternative is to find a good low mileage escort of the same vintage with a collision or rust damaged body and transplant the engine. Should be able to get a good engine for about $750, or significantly less.

My brother has done it several times keeping his kids in escorts over the years.

No boneyards nearby??

Your opinion - and you are entitled to it. I've owned a LOT of vehicles over the years. 5 of the last 7 have been Fords. 2 Aerostars, a Mystique, and currently a Ranger and a Taurus. The 6th of the last 6 was a Pontiac TransSport and the 7th a Chrysler The Pontiac was more trouble and expense than the 5 Fords combined. Previous cars included Chryslers, Toyotas, VW, Peugot, Ford, Mitsubishi, Renault, among others.

The Chryslers treated me very well, over-all as did the Toyotas - all earlier, lower tech vehicles than the last 6 (1990 and newer) - but I have had NO complaints with the fords other than some of the bodies (aerostar and Mystique) not lasting over 12 years. Current 12 year old Taurus and 16 year old Ranger bodies are, so far, excellent. (rustproofed from new) The last (2002) Chrysler was also excellent, except for some body rust that turned up at about 10 years (never rustproofed and only oil-sprayed in year 10)

As for spending $4000 on them - I generally BUY them for $6000 or less and then drive them

The book time for swapping the engine in this vehicle was ~14 hours or so IIRC. If I got a used engine it would probably be wise to install a remanufactured head to avoid this problem in the near future. The info I read on this engine is that they usually drop a valve seat around 100K to

120K miles, mine had 111k. If I had a good place to do it I wouldn't mind getting a remanufactured engine and replacing myself, I have my Ford Ranger to drive for now (4wd 4.0 V6) but the escort saves me more than $150/month in gas.

The Jasper engine $2590 Install Kit $~260

• taxes, anti-freeze, oil, etc.

• labor Totaled out close to k

I've known the mechanic for about 40 years, he was a neighbor kid that I grew up with. I think he's honest, I've taken vehicles to him for repair before stating something like not to exceed $500 and would get it back with a bill less than $200, never had to return anything for a "fix it right this time".

RogerN

The body/chassis is OK, not cosmetically pretty but makes a good work car. I have to drive some 20K miles per year to/from work so I basically buy a car to wear it out. Reliability is important as the company wants me there on time consistently. My other choice cars would be something like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic or something with good gas mileage and high reliability. All I want of my work car is for it to go when I push the pedal, stop when I push the brakes plus heat and A/C, other than that I know it's going to be scrap when I'm done with it.

RogerN

What would you recommend?

RogerN

If I got a used engine I would still need to put in a remanufactured head unless it already had one. So I'd buy a used engine, pay to have the head replaced, pay for engine swap, I think I'd have a good chunk of money in it and it may leak or burn oil and no warranty.

I think if I don't go with at least a remanufactured head there is a good chance I'll have this same problem within a year. I got this car around 14 months ago and already put 27K miles on it, the 3 year 100K parts and labor warranty sounds good.

RogerN

If it's an auto you might want to toss a lower mileage unit in or just have that one looked at while it's easy. May save you later. Stick I would put in a new clutch and swap the gear oil for synthetic. Have the under-hood cleaned while there is access, and check brake/fuel lines for rot since they will be out in the open. Again it will save you later.

I'd probably buy a wrecking yard motor or off of craigslist and install a brand new head...at that point of dissasembly, it's pretty easily to also inspect for wear in the cylinders, crank and rod journals and then rebuild these only if needed...

--the cost of a new pan gasket and some plasti-gage buying you considerable piece of mind.

Ford trucks Rule!

Cars..not so much.

Gunner

"The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination." --Voltaire

Ayup.

Gunner

"The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination." --Voltaire

If the car is that poorly designed that the valve seats take a shit at

120k...Id put it on Craigslist for $500 and buy something that was actually designed by people who werent smoking crack.

The Ranger 3.0 goes for 250-300k before needing another engine if you take care of it. The only thing that wears out is the motor..water pump and tires.

There are obviously far far better vehicles out there than that s**nk bit of trash.

Hell..the old ladies 97 Saturn has 235K on it..and the water pump I put in ot 6 months ago probably spun the impeller. A Autozone waterpump. And I only paid $1900 for it when i bought it with 105k on it. Someone had stolen it for the airbags. Insurance company totaled it for the airbags. Guy I bought it from was buying them, replacing the steering wheel and dash airbag covers and selling them like icees on a hot day.

And it passed California smog 2 months ago.

Gunner

"The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination." --Voltaire

That sounds like a good idea.

I don't mind spending that kind of money on an engine if I can get a few more years out of it but the money may be better spent on a car that gets

300k miles per engine. After the escort engine has the head rebuilt I'm not sure if the valve seat dropping problem has been eliminated or not. The old engine didn't use oil and worked ok, but was a little rough on the idle, typical for that engine.

I think I'll look around for a deal on a better car, maybe a Civic, Corolla, or other high reliability, long lasting vehicle. I could keep the escort for a while and watch for an engine to become available, or remove this engine and start rebuilding.

RogerN