Engine problems

[LTDMike]

my engine is going to shits it has an oil leak I have to put a quart like every week and the block isn't holding compression.

I found this guy selling an 89 mustang engine my concern is can I buy it and throw it into my 88 crown victoria? And everything will fully function, I know I'm goin to need to flip around the intake so that they connect to the linkage arms

Thanks 4 any help

[LTDMike]

Sorry it was an 84 302 mustang engine

[torquelover]

Where's the leak?

[LTDMike]

The gasket is bad

[torquelover]

The gasket is bad

Ah, yes, the gasket. Any idea which one (or ones)?

[Pesty351]

That damn gasket is always such a pain.

[1987cp]

I know. I just hate changing the gasket on my engines. Because, as you know, they have only one gasket on the whole engine.


An '84 Rustang engine, whether carbed or CFI, is probably not be the most desirable if you want to run it unmodified in an SEFI car.

[gadget73]

84 Mustang engine is flat tappet 4bbl, complete with crap heads and absolutely nothing impressive. I wouldn't swap one of those in. Find an 87+ Mustang or Mark VII engine if you want an upgrade, it will be less hassle.

Blocks don't hold compression, the cylinders do. Also there are a whole lot of various gaskets, and it would be a really dumb move to replace an engine just for an oil leak. Lots of unnecessary work. If you actually do have a compression issue (check it with a compression gauge), then it may be worth it. Also, not to sound like a dick, but if you're not able to diagnose and repair an oil leak from a failed gasket, I sort of doubt you're going to be able to pull off an HO swap. No offense, but thats just the long and short of it as I see it.

[LTDMike]

Well I know it's the cylinder that not holding the compression. A mechanic looked at it and said that it's bad already, (the head was bad) the oil problem I don't have the right tools or the engine lifter to remove it nor the experience to do it.

If I can find a better 302 ford engine block with lower miles on it why not then?of course for a reasonable price as well

[1987cp]

You're being as clear as mud once again. What is "bad" about the cylinder and/or head? You don't need an engine hoist to yank and rebuild a cylinder head.

If you're intent on swapping engines, you'd best be prepared to make the new engine work harmoniously with its new home. That means that if your car is a lowpo SEFI and you don't intend to change that with either a carb or HO swap, you'll want to give the ECM what it's expecting or risk lots of weirdness.

[LTDMike]

I really don't know what's wrong with the head a mechanic looked at it and said that's it's not holding compression that it's bad.

I don't have the money to get the gasket changed and get another head shops around where I live said that it will cost $500 just to change the gasket!!! Cause all the labor so I figure why not throw in a mustang engine and will everything properly work?

[1987cp]

Everything will work properly if you set it up properly, which a lot of run-of-the-mill "mechanics" will be unwilling to assist you with while at the same time charging you zillions of dollars.

If you insist on paying someone else to do your work for you, you might try contacting user 1987LTDmasta if you haven't already. I don't know the name or location of the shop he works at, but he lives in Chicago and has one of the nicest HO-swapped box Panthers on this site. No idea what he'd charge to help, but at least he knows a thing or two, which is oodles more than you can say for most places.

[LTDMike]

Yea Ill take a look around and ask him 4 any help

[gadget73]

Experience is invaluable, no doubt about it. A lot of places seem barely competent enough to change oil properly, let alone perform a somewhat involved engine and management system swap and make it all work correctly.

[LTDMike]

Yea it's pretty hard to come by a decent mechanic. I need to get into contact with ltdmasta and see what he can do.

Some guy offered me an 89 vic engine with 35k miles for $250 sounds great!!!