Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

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Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

January 12, 2008, 09:05:22 AM

Love my cougar but is it time to retire it?

Looking for some feedback as in real debate
whether to do head gaskets, long block, or say goodby.

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FACTS

Original owner 1984 Cougar, 3.8, C5 tranny.
Mileage: 157K
Owner repaired except for tranny.
Vehicle garaged during life.
No rust or body deterioration
Headgaskets never replaced
Oil and Filter changed every 3000 miles

Last year replaced:
1) High pressure pump on rail
2) Radiator rodded and new thermostat and hoses
3) New value cover gaskets
4) New power steering pump -- included flush of rack/pinon
High Pressure hose previously replaced
5) Tranny rebuilt
6) New distributor

Current problems
1) Headgasket Leaking oil passenger side
2) Headgasket Leaking coolant driver side -- Appears to be external only leak
as nothing in oil and nothing from tailpipe
3) Head liner sagging

Potential forthcoming repairs as I see it
1) New Long Block
2) Universal Joints (minor)
3) Front end (Appears OK but 23 years old)
4) New rotors and drums (original on vehicle)
5) Head liner
6) Reupholser seats (Look good but 23 years old)
7) Pump in Gas Tank

Gas tank itself (no rust in lines, but not sure of useful life)
9) Heater Core

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A New Long Block installed $4500 (to big job for me)
Universal Joints 50
Front End ???? (unknown)
New Rotors and drums 300
Head liner ???? (unknown)
Reupholser ???? (unknown) but expect big bucks
Heater Core

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #1 – January 12, 2008, 10:32:17 AM

$4500 for a long block swap? Seems a bit excessive.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #2 – January 12, 2008, 10:32:52 AM

what are your plans for the car show or driver? If you are planning on a driver I would say part with it. It needs to much now and will still need a lot more later, if you plan on a show car it is in prime shape for a resto. also not sure of your area but around here the fox's are hard to come by and anything older than 86 is getting very rare and worth repairing. Good luck with your decision I know how hard it is. I had to part with an 86 v8 model years ago because of repair bills and zoneing wouldn't alow me to keep it.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #3 – January 12, 2008, 11:17:38 AM

Thanks for responses.

$4500 seems to be going rate in Arizona

Car is for driving not show. I know parts are getting harder/harder to find especially any key plastic such as column steering indicator linkage. Just hate to pay the higher state taxes and insurance on a new one for the little mileage I put on.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #4 – January 12, 2008, 12:39:39 PM

I say make some friends who are good with Cars. And KEEP IT. I got rid of my 83 Cougar and I kick myself about it still.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #5 – January 12, 2008, 12:46:56 PM

Quote

Vehicle garaged during life.
No rust or body deterioration
Headgaskets never replaced
Oil and Filter changed every 3000 miles

And what would you pay to find another 25 year old car you could say those things about?

[SIZE="5"]Keep it.[/SIZE]

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #6 – January 12, 2008, 02:26:11 PM

If it wasn't a 3.8 I'd say just find yourself a low mile used engine and swap and go. However, with the 3.8's the HG's are only a matter of time before they have to be done.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #7 – January 13, 2008, 10:28:39 AM

Thanks for all the input.

Chuck W Re:

Quote

If it wasn't a 3.8 I'd say just find yourself a low mile used engine and swap and go. However, with the 3.8's the HG's are only a matter of time before they have to be done.

Are you saying even with the new MLS Head gaskets, the 3.8 is subject to blowing them?

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #8 – January 13, 2008, 12:35:16 PM

Just keep it. Find a cheap motor to replace yours or just do the head gaskets. $4500 is outrageous for your car. I got a whole long block from a junkyard for $450, and that was a 97 explorer 5.0 with 80k miles on it. Even included injectors, intake, and headers.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #9 – January 13, 2008, 04:09:54 PM

You should be able to pay to have new head, valve cover and intake gaskets for under $1200. If you've changed oil every 3k miles, there shouldn't be a need for a new long block.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #10 – January 13, 2008, 04:19:26 PM

Quote

You should be able to pay to have new head, valve cover and intake gaskets for under $1200. If you've changed oil every 3k miles, there shouldn't be a need for a new long block.

True enough, but with 157,000 miles on the block it needs refreshed or replaced. The 3.8 also suffers from timing chain stretch...that can also mean a new cam is in order. Either way the engine has gotta come out of the engine bay. Far as the gaskets/heads go, so long as new head bolts are used and quality head gaskets (Fel-Pro) are installed, the 3.8 lasts a good long time. Look how long the original one has lasted him...

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #11 – January 13, 2008, 04:44:39 PM

Just look at some of the threads elsewhere in this forum from people who have had one of these cars and sold it, and are now looking for another one, only to find that a decent one is near impossible to find.

3.8's are a dime a dozen. I say find one, toss it in, and keep the car. Keep your old engine, learn about engines, and rebuild it (a simple honing, re-ring, new bearings, new timing chain, an oil pump and a gasket set, and you'd have an essentially new engine), then swap it back into the car.

Either that or learn about engine swaps and swap a 5.0 in. The main thing is that you've got the rarest of fox Cougars - a rust free one. If you do love the car you WILL regret selling it.

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #12 – January 13, 2008, 05:25:50 PM

mabe you can find someone to do the work on the side for less money. or mabe someone retired. it doesn't hurt to ask around.
I come across retired mechanics all the time that will do work for a little extra money

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #13 – January 13, 2008, 09:30:10 PM

Again, thanks for all the responses.

Had hope there would be a consensus, but ...

Keep or Not to Keep That Is the Question

Reply #14 – January 13, 2008, 09:55:35 PM

Only you know which route to take.
As you already know, most of us here will keep our cars until totally un-drivable.
so I your looking for an answer, It depends on what you can afford.
Get everything fixed, and you will have a reliable car that you know everything about. --or --buy another and hope you don't have any big problems. You probably saw my car and I don't think Its bad enough to get rid of. so I would say keep it if you can get it fixed.