Help or I'm taking out the 4

[85.5svo2.3]

To anyone that wants to help,
I bought my first SVO last week for $300. It is gonna need a lot of TLC. My dad and I were trying to get the trusty 4 cylinder runnin again. When we put the water in the radiator the block was pouring out water above the starter. After taking off the starter (which was a real pain in the ***) the freeze plug fell off the starter and smacked me in the face. After going to the parts store i put the new plug and put the starter back in (even more of a pain of an ***) the water was still leaking. after removing the intercooler and the exhast manifold I look down and saw a 2 inch crack in the block.

This is where I need help:

I need to find a block or engine for and 85.5 (I dont know if all engines 84-86 are the same) preferabley with a warranty. But if i can't find this i have a really nice 302 that i will drop in my baby. I know many of you dont agree with this, but at least im trying to get another SVO back on the road regardless if its the original engine or not. THIS IS MY LAST HOPE BEFORE I DROP THE 302 IN HER. Any help will be gratefully appreciated.

THANKS

[pegasus.v.o]

Please dont bastardize an 85.5 with a v8. Go to a junk yard and find an 87 or 88 turbocoupe t-bird and buy the motor. Swap out motors and drive an svo the way they were meant to be driven.
If you want a v8 mustang buy one. I or a number of other people on this board would be happy to take that svo off your hands at a profit to you I would suppose.

[SVOPaul]

First off....you bought a car that needs work...and cars take an extreme amount of patience. If you are going to get frustrated at every obstacle/hurdle, sell the car now...buy a Honda and start collecting baseball cards! A car will try your patience and sanity at times and it makes no difference if it is a 2.3 turbo or a 5.0....fact is, you will have MORE trouble putting a 5.0 in the car and bastardizing it than you will properly fixing the 2.3.

It sounds as though someone had left water in the engine and it froze...popping the freeze plug and cracking the block. You can use a Turbo 2.3 block from any mid 80's turbo Ford(Merkur, SVO, GT Turbo, Thunderbird), they are plentiful and cheap for the most part.....or you can just buy a rebuilt short block...but you will want to check the head too to be sure all is OK.

I have been in your shoes....My first "project" was a 68 Mustang that spun a rod bearing and locked up...that car taught me many valuable lessons, the most important of which was Patience! Temper Tantrums and threats of throwing in a 5.0 will not fix anything and will only earn you later regrets. You are lucky that your father has an interest in helping you fix the car, that is something that is irreplaceable so don't miss the chance for the shared experience....sit down, relax, form a plan of attack and learn together....you and your SVO will be better from it.

[cobra0478]

Good words Paul.
A cracked engine block seems so minor.
To clean the car, the engine needs to be out anyway.
Think degreaser,soap& water, fresh paint,pride.
Don

[richsvo]

85.5svo2.3,

I couldn't agree more! That car needs to be the way it was meant to be.

All cars are trying, un-nerving, frustrating, annoying, a pain in the ***, etc. etc. That's what makes them a challenge.

I also agree with Paul whole-heartedly! You would have a much harder time putting the 8 in, anyway!

Buy a used block (or whole motor) from a turbo-coupe and put that thing in there!

Many years from now when you see the true uniqueness of the car that you now own, you will be glad you did!

Good luck!

Rich

[Ralphcobra]

junker

Let me ask you a question. What did you expect to get for 300.00 bucks? I can assure you that once you put your little v-8 in it you will realize that the rest of the car is also worn out and you will still probably have a piece of junk. Do the svo justice if you really want one and go buy a decent car to begin with, pay a couple[thousand dollars for it and then enjoy a real neat car.
I am sure that you did not expect much from a 300.00 dollar car did you? Ralph

[SVOeric]

if you have checked the votes, you havn't seen a single yes, or put a different engine in vote.

This site is dedicated to the preservation of SVO's, I can't imagine what you were thinking the answers would be. I am actually supprised they have been as calm as they are.

Droping a V8 into a SVO is turning it into something that there are already a million of out there. What is the point?
*noseheavy pig*

If you really have the itch to drop a v-8 into something, sell the SVO, and go buy a cheap beater mustang (there are plenty out there!) and drop it in that. but why bastardise something that is special, to make it something that is NOT *noseheavy pig*


Oh yea, BTW: any pre-92 (i believe that is the right year) 2.3 block will do, just need to cut the oil return line in the block, any machine shop should be able to do that.


you should be able to pick up entire turbocoupe engine for around $400, and that would be a straight drop in.

oh yea.. BTW: in case you didn't catch it, i think V-8 mustangs are nose heavy pigs!!!!!!

[cobra0478]

Just curious,
What condition is the car in other than the engine, is the body sound,is everything there that should be?
Don

[Gator]

I'll tell ya what....you drop me some pictures of the car if its an original shadow blue 85.5 .....And Maybee i'll get that pesky car out of your driveway for you for $ 400.00 !!!

What color is it anyways..?

-- gator

[85.5svo2.3]

Ok Guys,
I have great news and then not so good news. We did a lot more checking and we found out that the block IS NOT CRACKED!!! The head and the gasket are good. It was a hose tha was split. I am so Happy!!!

Now Not for the not so good news

The Intake maifold is cracked. I need help finding an intake Manifold for this baby.

Good News Is:

I AM NOT PUTTING A 302 IN MY BABY. I AM ALSO NOT SELLING IT. HONESTLY THE CAR IS IN SOUND CONDITION AND IT IS MED. CHARCOAL METALLIC. I DID GET A GOOD DEAL CONSIDERING THE WOMAN WANTED $600 FOR IT AND I GOT IT FOR $300. SHE SAID THE FUEL PUMP WAS MESSED UP BUT ITS NOT.

ANYWAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOU OPINIONS AND IF ANYONE CAN GET BACK TO ME ABOUT A INTAKE MANIFOLD AND HOW MUCH IT IS I WOULD VERY THANKFUL

THANKS 85.5svo2.3

[SVOeric]

ok, I'm not sure I've ever seen a intake cracked.. but I guess you have one! (LOTS OF EXHAUST MANAFOLD CRACKS!!)

Do you need the upper, or lower intake? These can be found plentiully at junkyards.

The lower is pretty much the same on all 2.3's after 86 until they went DIS. these things are usually dirt cheap, like 15-30 bucks

I assume it is the lower you need, because the upper dont have coolant running through it, so I dont see how it could be cracked (from freezing, anyway)

I'm VERY glad to hear you dont want to make a nose heavy pig !!

BTW: if you do decide you dont want to fool with it, I'd love to have a med Charcoal car to go with my silver metalic
I'd give you your money back for sure, and I'd be there with the trailer in a few hours

[85.5svo2.3]

Eric,
Sorry buddy but my non-nose heavy pig is NFS! but i am thinking about taking the engine completley out and rebuiling like my dad says i should. I am also thinking about boring it out just a little bit. I alsoo dont know that much about intakes, because ive had all carbed cars, but the intake i need is where the carb. should be on the car. the one that has the fire starting in numbers. anyway thanks for yoour help, and do you know where i could possibly get a window for my baby (drivers side) here in Ky? I really need on this one

[SVOeric]

the good news on a window is they are standard mustang .. you can pull a window from any mustang, 79-86 for sure, and possibly up to 93 -- You should be able to find plenty of them in any yard.

The intake is seperated to a upper and lower, the lower attaches straight to the head, the injectors go into this part of the intake. The upper attches to the lower, and throtle body, it has a curve in it that points towards the valve cover.

On your intake, you might want to post a thread in the wanted section...


How many miles does that engine have on it?

Many people run these engines LOTS of miles before needing a rebuild. I rebuilt my 120k mile engine, and it really didn't need it. Bearings were all still tight, and cylinders were Tight & Square

[85.5svo2.3]

eric,
I am sorry about the mix up. it was not the intake manifold. It was the exhast manifold. I feel so stupid. I thought that was what my dad said. BTW: the engine has 61000 original miles on it. Im still not interested in selling

[SVOeric]

ahhhh.... exhaust manafold crack, not uncommon at all.

You will have a hard time finding a good one in a yard. I searched for like 2 weeks, and never found one.

There are a couple of places that keep the replacement manafolds. I think Jim@ motion dynamics does, and SVPU might have them too. This piece is quite a bit more expensive than the intake, you're looking at about $220 or so for a new one, ad if you can find a used one (again, post on the classifieds wanted section) from $75 - $150.

There are a couple of different castings for these manafolds, The one you want has a E6 in the casting number. These flow a bit better, and aren't as prone to cracking.

those prices are just rough guesses.

With 61k miles, I wouldn't think it would need a reubild.
With that kind of milage, I would expect it to need valve seals, but you can change them pretty simpley without removing the head.