Okay, starting from scratch...

Okay, so I'm not getting a new car. I'm not sure if I told you guys I was, but, nevermind. Anyhow, I'm putting a remanufactured engine in my 93. Screw fixing the head gasket on my 165K mi, 3.8L - I'm just going to start over (hold down the applause, 97 and intrcptr! :P ).

So I've contacted Marshall, Jasper, and ATK. Here's what I've found:

Jasper - 2388.00 (crazy ass core policy, 3 year warranty)
Marshall - no idea - they haven't called me back as promised
ATK - 1900.00+tax (no core)

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks!

Did you get a price from a local machine shop on what it would cost to rebuild your motor?

No, I didn't - but I really don't have any interest in doing that at all. I have a place that's going to install the engine for $1144. That, plus about $2,000 for the engine, is better than rebuilding a 165K engine with a blown head gasket. Rebuilding it probably wouldnt be that much cheaper anyways. Thanks for the suggestion, tho. :smokin:

Congrats on the good decision! lol! You might try contact other garages in your area cause a lot of them have hole-in-the-wall engine shops they get their motors from. If you call around a bit I think you would be suprised how much cheaper it is to rebuild your engine. Esp. with the 3.8L. I went through this same process about 2 years ago when I lost my connecting rod bearing. If I didnt end up finding such a killer deal on a junkyard engine I would've done the same thing you are planning just cause everybody wanted to charge HUGE amounts to rebuild a "cammer" engine (I got a killer deal cause I have connections lol). So basiclly Im saying be a good shopper and look and call around. And if you are comfortable enough I see a lot of cheaper new 3.8L engines on ebay. And I mean cheap. Less than $1,000.

Check Autozone or Pep Boys. Since you are buying a rebuilt anyway, why not ask a local shop about doing over your motor? Any rebuilt you buy HAD to be rebuilt for some reason (high miles, blown gaskets).You could also try your local Ford dealer and ask about a rebuilt engine or a new short block and use the heads you have. Take into account the warranty offered by the different places you get prices from. A cheap price may mean little or no warranty. Good luck!

Mike75 -
My suggestion was having the machine shop rebuild your motor not you. The condition of your motor is probably no different than the motors that rebuilders buy to rebuild. I have found that I could save five to six hundred dollars going this route. The only disadvantage by having the motor rebuilt locally is it would take a week or two to get the car back on the road. Whereas buying a rebuilt motor, the job would only take two days.

OK, I'll ask.
Instead of spending $3000.00 to $4000.00 on a '93 3.8L V6,
why not get a used '96/'97 4.6L?

A quick AutoTrader search (http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/searchresults.jsp?advanced=y&bkms=1146938251356&certified=&isp=y&search=y&lang=en&search_type=used&make=FORD&sponsorModel=&model=TBIRD&make2=sel_one&start_year=1996&end_year=1997&min_price=1&max_price=5000&max_mileage=&distance=100&address=91016&engine=8+Cylinder&fuel=&drive=&transmission=&doors=&color=&x=127&y=6) came up with 12,
'96/'97, 8 cylinder Thunderbirds,
$5000.00 or less
within 100 miles of you.

That's a good question, J.R. - I was waiting for someone to ask. The main reason is - when I got this car for $600 two years ago, we (the car and I) were both in pretty bad shape. This car was smashed up on the outside, and tore up on the inside. I spent the next year and a half going to the local pick-a-parts literally rebuilding this car and it's pretty much done. All of the mechanical parts that I've added are new, so the car will be in good shape after I do this.

I did look at those cars you found (thanks for that), but the milage is what got me.

I think I've confused some ppl in this thread. I'm not looking to rebuild my engine, or get a rebuilt engine - I'm getting a remanufactured one. If I am mistaken in my understanding of the difference between the two, please let me know. Or if you guys think that regardless of my sentimental ties to this car, it's a mistake, then please tell me.

I totally respect and appreciate everyone's advice and opinions here, so please keep the feedback coming. Thanks again, everyone!

Oh yeah. I was quoted $1144.00 for the installation.

I'm also replacing the power steering pump, plugs, wires, water pump, radiator, exhaust (inc. cats), o2 sensors, hoses, and some other stuff. Alternator is new. Gtg to work now, tho.

A remanufactured engine IS a rebuilt engine. You could save some more money by taking things out of the engine bay that need to be removed prior to the engine swap and reinstalling them after the "new" engine is set in place. See my thread in the Tech Help thread about where to buy a factory repair manual which will tell you how to remove the engine including what to remove prior to its removal.

Well, I don't really have the time or the location to work on my car right now. I figured a remanufactured engine was the way to go. I know that a remanufactured engine IS a rebuilt engine, but as far as I know, a rebuilt engine IS NOT a remanufactured engine. As far as part removal goes - the new alternator is about the only thing on the engine that's worth a damn. Everything that's a part of the cooling system is probably all sludged up due to numerous K&W Block Seal treatments. I know that I can get my radiator "flushed" - but for not much more, I can get a new one, leaving less to chance. The water pump is only about 2 years old, but I imagine that's another thing that might be sludged up. Might as well add a new clutch fan while I'm at it - the current one is from Pick-A-Part, from a 91 Cougar. My power steering pump is loud as hell, so I want to try another one of those, as well. The price estimate for putting the remanufactured engine in includes taking accessories off the old engine and putting them on the new. They said it wouldn't be easier if I had some new parts to put on, instead. Oh, and the distributor and rotor are new so I guess I'll keep those (I know they're cheap, but oh well - lifetime warranty). Plugs and wires, hoses, belt, pulleys (I guess) will have to be replaced as well.

Remanufacture: to make a new or different product by taking components and materials from a product which has already been used
Rebuild: to build again, to make extensive structural repairs
If someone can tell me what the difference is between a rebuilt and a remanufactured engine, I'd like to know! As far as I know you're just getting hung up on semantics. You're putting a lot of money into that car so I hope it lasts a long time for you. Enjoy the ride!

Well, I hope somebody else here knows what I'm talking about. Im talking about Remanufacturing as in restoring as much as possible to OEM specs, as opposed to Rebuilding - breaking it down, fixing the bad or worn part, then cleaning it up while you put it back together. I understand that it's a grey area, especially when you take someone's word that all of this work is being done. But the 3 companies that I looked at are highly reputable, and I doubt that they could last as long as they have when boasting about their remanufactured engines vs. rebuilt ones. Besides, with the labor rates between $80-$95/hr here in California, I don't see how any quality rebuild could cost me significanty less than a $3500 Jasper w/3yr warranty - installed. But just because I have the cash for that doesn't mean that I want to blow it. I just want to pay the extra to avoid the headache of having to go through this mess again.