Ford experts needed

[hyphenate]

My engine on my 1995 Windstar is shot. The mechanic says it'll be $2300 to replace it with a used one. Is this an average deal, or is that way too high? Or, better yet, is it a bargain? My mom insists it's way too much, but others I've asked say it's about right.

[fit4life]

1. I'd say it's about right.

I'd have to know the breakdown between the price of the motor and labor to tell you for sure. Sounds good to me. I paid $1500 for a rebuilt Marshall engine for my Explorer.

My sister has a Chrysler Concorde and the motor blew up in it last week. It's costing her $4500 to have a motor put in it.

[TrogL]

2. Windstars have a fatal flaw

They tend to blow head gaskets. You have to pull the engine to replace the gasket.

If you do throw in a used engine, replace the head gasket first.

[punpirate]

3. The question is what sort of guarantee...

... you'll get on the used engine. At typical shop rates, you'd probably pay 12-14 hours labor to replace the engine--$600-800, so that leaves perhaps $1500 or so for the engine.

The earlier Windstars had notoriously bad head gaskets and cylinder heads on the V-6s (the one I presume you have), and there have been instances of really excessive cylinder wear.

From what I've heard, the critical mileage when those problems start to show up is at 60-75K miles, so you definitely need to find out the mileage of the engine to be installed, and if those problems were previously repaired on the engine you're getting. If the mileage and/or existence of repairs can't be authenticated, then it might not be a good deal, no matter what the price. What's the point of paying $2300 for a 60K mile engine that's going to be a problem ten or fifteen thousand miles hence?

Cheers.