Jason in LA

96 GT, 160K miles on it, blown head gasket <img border="0" src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0"> It was running a little hot, but not overheating. It would go to about the "L" of "NORMAL". I would add water and coolant and it would be fine for a few days, then run hot again. So I flushed out the system. Everything seemed cool for about a week, then it started to run hot again. So I popped the top, and the coolant was muddy. I went to two different places to get prices on it. One place said $1800, the other $1500. The place for $1800 gave me a price list:</p>


Complete valve job, full head gasket, machine shop heads- $1400.</p>


New radiator, water pump, flush coolant, flush oil- $400.</p>


If the head is cracked it's going to me more.</p>


A guy at my job, who knows about cars, said that was way too much for the job. So I'm looking for opinions. What are my options here? My co worker said I could look for a used engine for about the same price. He also said it wouldn't be hard to try to fix it myself. That's kind of hard to believe, because I only know how to do a few basic things. This looks like a major job.</p><edited><editID>Jason in LA</editID><editDate>38024.5470949074</editDate></edited>

Warprunner

I odn't know of the price, but I would think you could save some bucks and do the cooling stuff yourself. Flushing is no problem.

Cracked heads..yup, thats bucks. Depends on how hot you got that engine. I had an old 400 many moons ago. Replaced the head gaskets many times on it. Warped the heads, cracked the heads and cracked the block. I was young and in the desert! HAHAHAAH

TheGmKiller331

Its not hard to change them out.Its just time consuming especially since its the 4.6.JUst get a manual if you can read you can do this.People let engines intimidate them and make them doubt theur capabilities.This really isnt a big deal its just going to take a little time but one word of advice take your time and do not rush!</P>


And definately do not pay that much for a head gasket!For that much you could rebuild the whole damn motor!</P>

hotrodman

that many miles you may want to get an new eng,,are get vavle job,heads resurfaced,,but your bottom end has some miles in it...just a thought..

DW-03GT

If your doing just a head swap get hte PI head packages, you'll pick up a l;ot of powr, but with that much miles you shuld get a rebuild, cost ya a fw more $$$ than what you were quoted.if you do the r and r yourself.

BCisme

i'd just drop a 99 or newer GT motor in it.

vfast

yes that's way high...I agree a new engine would make more since at this point..160k the engine has done well...there are many nice low mileage engine in junk yards or buy one built with some goodies..I would put a few cans of stop leak in it and drive it while getting the new engine and it would give you a month or 2 more to save..good luck

Eddie

May as wellswap it with a built 351W. <IMG src=smileys/smiley16.gif border="0">

n2o44

pi heads are not very expensive , i bet my money you prob cracked the head , ive seen them cracked when i was at ford , on a cop car , prob beat it to s**t . i would rebuild the bottom get pi heads , maybe cams too <IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">, but it did seem high , and if you had oil in the coolant hopefull its not the other way around and you dont have some coolant in the oil , bad stuff,

hotrodman

no ,,,emmissions ...<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0">