Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

well then it is over 100,000 miles. then it depends on if you want to keep the car for long time.
if yes ,then rebuild away my friend.
if no, then i'm sorry to see it go.
 what kind of shape is it in, good or  ok?
do the car have lot of little things wrong with it?
i'm asking because you could spend a couple of grand$$$$$ into rebuilding the 3.8 and have a car only worth $500bucks.

 if it something that you only plan to have for couple of years. then use the money to buy something else and sell cougar.

California + emissions ?

you could spend a couple of grand$$$$$ into rebuilding the 3.8
.

how many miles is on the engine now?
if more than 100,000 then rebuild it or less then 100,000 pull it and fix all the leaks.

Well gents, my Mom's 83 Cougar failed California emissions miserably.  To further this issue, a new rule implemented last year states that any vehicles posessing a leak of any sort that causes fumes or vapors will be subject to immediate failing.  With that said, my Mom's 3.8 has all kinds of leaks ranging from the rear main all the way to the timing chain.  What would you do?  Obviously fix the problem, but here's what I mean.  Since fixing a rear main, timing chain cover, intake, and valve cover gaskets would be labor intensive; should I just get a rebuild?

thats retarded,
why pull a motor and fix only leaks.

pass some of that around man!:D

what are you smoking?

because  it lot easier to fix leaking rear main and oil pan gaskit on a engine stand, than it is laying on your fat rear under the fox body car!

 i'm not smoking nothing! it a 1983 engine  and has more than 100,000 miles on it right?

most machine shop you will have  around $400$ or more for machine  on pair of heads. if have to replace all the valve/valve springs/ any valve seats that are out of spec. my last set to replace every thing was $589.00 for the heads
 then in the short block you can have $300+ or more . you  have to bore the cylinders/ install cam bearings/ turn the crank. recon the rods . you might need to deck the block surface or line bore the mains. my last short block was machine  work bill was $411.89
then how about the engine kit  can go for $300+ or more

 so jcassity are you keepng tabs so far? 400+300+300=$1000.00 if your lucky! and that just  to rebuild your long block!
what if you have to pay some one to assemble your long block? my shop charge is $150.00
what if you have to pay some one to pull  the old engine and install your new engine? my shop charges $300.00 for only that.
 so thats $1000+150+300=$1450.00

jcassity your not going to REUSE all your old belts/hoses/plugs/plugs wires/ oil/oil filter/air filter/ anitfreeze/water pump /starter/bad motor mounts. well that cost money too???????  so last one my shop  did ,total for  that was $640.00
so that $1450.00+640.00=$2090.00+
what about all the sensors and plastic hose to run to and from sensors  that could be bad? that cost money too don't they???

yes !you could spend a couple of grand$$$$$ into rebuilding the 3.8

which is precisely why I didn't bother with the 3.8 in my '88.  Been rebuilt once already, and another head  (gasket?) issue, and I don't think it's worth it.  At the very least a 5.0 will net you the same and would be better overall.

which is precisely why I didn't bother with the 3.8 in my '88.  Been rebuilt once already, and another head  (gasket?) issue, and I don't think it's worth it.  At the very least a 5.0 will net you the same and would be better overall.