My daughter had both good and bad news Friday.

[John Schmidt]

The good news, one of her daughters gave birth to a 9lb.2oz baby girl. Good grief, I know how small the mama is....one of my grand daughters. This makes nine great grandchildren for me with another on the way about September.

The bad news; her car crapped out with 140k miles on it. The overall condition of the car is fantastic, mostly because she's the only driver and she's a stickler on maintenance. Hmmm, wonder where that came from?   The car is an '06 Lincoln Zephyr with the 3.0 DOHC engine. She has a shop she has used for years, small town, everyone knows everyone else. He told her it's only running on three cyl. and there's metal in the oil. She was wondering if she should get a reman engine or a low mileage used one. I found a used one for $1090, free shipping, ~33k miles with a three year parts and labor warranty. It's from SW Engines out of Tulsa, OK. Seems like that would be her best bet, still have to have all the accessories switched over; p/s pump, a/c comp., alternator, etc.  Also told her I didn't know what it used for timing; belts, gears, chain?  If belts, be sure to have them replaced before installing the engine, probably the water pump also.

Naturally, she's kinda bummed out about it, comes at a hard time for her. A couple months back she found out her husband of 26 yrs. had been having an affair for nearly 5 yrs. so she moved out and required the house be sold. That left him out in the cold and he doesn't like it, tough!  So I'm wondering if anyone on here has any other suggestions for an engine replacement, do you feel the used replacement I told her about is a decent choice? That should last her more than long enough to get back on her feet. If push comes to shove, I'll buy it for her but waiting to see what she works out with her mechanic. She lives in the Greenville, Illinois area so I can't do it for her. If she lived nearby, I'd do the swap for her.

[wiggydotcom]

Congrats, John on the newest Great Granddaughter. That happens to be my exact birth weight.

That price for the used engine sounds pretty reasonable to me.

And lastly, I hope the good Lord gives your daughter strength to deal with her situations. We never stop going through the trials and tribulations with them.

Good luck with the car and good luck to your daughter. 

[Gryphon Rider]

The engine on my '96 Saturn crapped out at 200,000 km. Had a 4000 km used engine put in it, and it's done 293,000 km since.

[Paxton]

Darn John!
You must be an ancient Dude... err... or you started like, real early! ???
Congratulations. A child is a gift of nature... ... repeat etc, like that Yada Yada...

YOUR DAUGHTER'S CAR
If the car compares to the ones in the links below, IMHO your daughter's is worth fixing
Were I in your predicament, I'd do some research on the reliability of that engine in her car.
If well serviced, I would have expected @ least 275K miles of reliability. ???

If you find poor reviews on that engine I'd be lookin' to sell.

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4502923629.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/4565147785.html

Now; Go back and clean up some more Baby Poop!

[Robert]

First congratulation great grandpa,
  As for the car that sounds about right for the engine but just out of curiosity would price a new one from the dealer. Probably about a thousand more and if you decided to keep it, it eliminates all the guessing on quality. They also usually come with a 3 year unlimited mileage guarantee some are just the block and switch everything over but some come pretty complete. These engines have a chain so its not a problem with the belt and with 33k it should not need anything. My concern is with 140 on the clock she still may have to go for a transmission at some point in the future and who wants to deal with a aging car, with the marriage situation and a busy life. I was glad that Paxton showed the price of a used one but prices will vary. The deals on some of the Hyundai and Volkswagens are pretty good and rather than putting in 2200 into a used 140k vehicle she might be able to get into a new cheaper car for a payment with a warranty rather than all upfront. Her car does have some minimal value in it as scrap but if she fixes it and sells it that could also be applied to the purchase or pocketed for a rainy day. Especially if she buys something used with less mileage. Either new or used there are some pretty good deals out there if you just look a bit.

[Patrick]

Congrats on the new addition to the family.

Sorry about the problems concerning your daughter, she has enough to deal with without the car problems.

I've had pretty good luck with good used engines. In the olden days before remans that was about the only option. If the shop she uses is good and trustworthy [as they to be] then ask their recommendation. They may have used stuff from this yard before.

Have you checked the prices from other suppliers ? [Jasper, etc]

[Hooter]

Great stuff isn't it, the grand baby tht is....Don't buy a used engine unless someone see's and hears it run. Big mistake if they don't. Either a trusted mechanic or friend of  her's that knows vehicles / motors. Cars are in the bone yard or setting for a reason and  a motor may be a reason. Might still run but have issues. Make sure the computer in the daughters car is compatable with the motor to be put in if that is the route you are thinking of going. If it isn't it may run like crap if at all. Have it installed by someone that knows what they are doing as well.
Or, if you decide another vehicle, hear and see it run as well. Somone needs to drive it to ck the brakes, and go around it. Look at the motor (oily) and ck the tires's (tread and not weather ck'd). Clean inside, got a little one to put in there. Sorry bout the list, just my experience form having 4 kids of my own and 5 grandkids. Congrats again! 

[musclehead]

Darn John!
You must be an ancient Dude... err... or you started like, real early! ???
Congratulations. A child is a gift of nature... ... repeat etc, like that Yada Yada...

YOUR DAUGHTER'S CAR
If the car compares to the ones in the links below, IMHO your daughter's is worth fixing
Were I in your predicament, I'd do some research on the reliability of that engine in her car.
If well serviced, I would have expected @ least 275K miles of reliability. ???

If you find poor reviews on that engine I'd be lookin' to sell.

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4502923629.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/4565147785.html

Now; Go back and clean up some more Baby Poop!

John is a sprightly young man, still wet behind the ears.....

[John Schmidt]

Darn John!
You must be an ancient Dude... err... or you started like, real early! ???
Congratulations. A child is a gift of nature... ... repeat etc, like that Yada Yada...

YOUR DAUGHTER'S CAR
If the car compares to the ones in the links below, IMHO your daughter's is worth fixing
Were I in your predicament, I'd do some research on the reliability of that engine in her car.
If well serviced, I would have expected @ least 275K miles of reliability. ???

If you find poor reviews on that engine I'd be lookin' to sell.

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/4502923629.html
http://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/4565147785.html

Now; Go back and clean up some more Baby Poop!

John is a sprightly young man, still wet behind the ears.....

Thanks Tom, I agree, I'm still learning.....from my daughters.   The youngest of my four will be 46 in five weeks, the eldest would have been 56 last month. My former wife and I have created quite a legacy it would seem; 4 daughter+4husbands=17 grand kids, which have given us 9 great grand kids(so far) with another due in September. So, by Sept. a complete family gathering would have totaled 35....and growing. I suddenly feel very tired!  

[John Schmidt]

Here's the deal on the used engine I was checking on:
A 3 yr. parts and labor warranty. Labor is covered at any shop of your choice.

This engine has been compression tested, cylinder leak down tested, checked for oil pressure and steam cleaned.

This engine will arrive COMPLETE, minus Power Steering Pump, alternator, Starter, and AC Compressor. All the other parts that remain on the engines are only for convenience purposes. This engine has no sludge build-up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The company comes with a pretty high satisfaction rating and I've looked at some of the customer comments, which I understand will usually be just the good ones posted. As for the car itself, she had the brakes completely o-hauled last year and had the suspension checked and repaired as needed prior to installing four new tires. Earlier this year she had a new a/c compressor installed along with hoses and recharged. According to her mechanic, the transmission is in good shape and has been flushed and new ATF put in. All the work on the car has been done by the same shop that will do the engine swap. She has put a good share of the 140k on the car, told me during the winters in Illinois the butt warmers are a godsend...I agree. And, the opposite in summer....butt coolers.    She doesn't want a car payment at this time which is understandable. As stated before, she lives in a small town and works in an adjacent small town and has been there for many years. The shop....likewise, so he has built a good rep and also knows my Tari is well known in both communities. For him to screw her over would be a death knell to his business.

[hubcapsc]

My wife had to change out the motor in her honda civic with a low mileage
one from a crashed car. It has been numerous years (probably before I
got the Valkyrie) and has been a good thing.

$1,000 for a good motor, plus however much it costs for someone competent to change out the
motor seems good to me...

-Mike

[czuch]

I'd hug the daughter and the baby. Congratulations.
I'd jump on the motor. I'd figure another grandish it get it in her car. Thats 10 hrs labor.
I'd jump on the ex too. but thats just me.

[Karen]

You and the family have already gone through so much, John, celebrate the positive as you always do. The engine sounds like a good deal to me, especially after the good reports about the testing, plus the reputation of her local mechanic. Also, please let me know if her ex ever comes to Boston. I have a select group of friends that would very much like to meet him... 

[Big Mike]

Assuming the rest of the car is good the motor is a steal when you include the warranty. I do not know any other place giving labor warranties. Wold be curious to know what her trusted mechanic says. the one i Fl for just less than $6k looks fair though with 106K miles too.

[ugelstad]

A good site to find used parts in your area is http://car-part.com/.  Also good for finding if the price you have is good.

[Robert]

I would do the motor from what you say, its sounds like a reputable outfit and the price is pretty good. Not to mention the reg tech will check and make sure its ok. Just to let you know I can pick one up with 50k for 800.00.

[John Schmidt]

Thanks for the input, I'll let you know what happens. I live in central Florida, she lives in central Illinois....that makes it difficult for me to help out much more than to advise. She hopes to have some kind of decision today or tomorrow. Her first question to the mech. is "will he add a markup if he orders it" and if so she'll order it and have it delivered to his shop. Either way she said she will get a written quote, told me he always has done that for her in the past. We shall see.

[Robert]

If the written quote is the way that business has been done in the past then ok. But it really will not help that much if he is dishonest. Not to mention most shops do not like to have someone else order parts for them especially when they don't make the money on the part. The other side is if they install the engine and there is something wrong, its not their responsibility to do the job over, if you got the part then you will be responsible for another complete install and removal. Also there will be no warranty with them so you will have to rely on the engines warranty from who sold it to you. If they get the engine started and there is a problem its not their responsibility either. Most will do whats necessary to try to make it work right but if something is wrong it can become a problem. Just wanted to make you aware. Was curious about the price from the dealer 3902 for a complete engine 2702 for just the short block. So the used is a good deal.

[MNBill]

Is the transmission sound in her car? Another $1000 in a short time for a transmission could be a deal breaker for fixing the car.

[John Schmidt]

Is the transmission sound in her car? Another $1000 in a short time for a transmission could be a deal breaker for fixing the car.

She had it checked and the ATF replaced(2nd time since she owned it) late last year. According to her mechanic, all was well, no burned smell or debris. She's used him for quite a few years on this and other cars they've owned so I kinda have to go with her thoughts. This is the same gal that did her own brake job about 30 yrs. ago after her first husband was killed in a car accident. That car ran OK but the brakes were shot. She borrowed some tools and a Polaroid camera, took pictures of the brakes before dismantling and marked them at to which wheel it was. Removing the wheel was no problem, she used to work with me as a young girl so I guess some of it rubbed off. All my girls did, paid off many times. 

Needless to say, she's cautious and quite savvy in many areas.

[Rams]

Here's the deal on the used engine I was checking on:
A 3 yr. parts and labor warranty. Labor is covered at any shop of your choice.

This engine has been compression tested, cylinder leak down tested, checked for oil pressure and steam cleaned.

This engine will arrive COMPLETE, minus Power Steering Pump, alternator, Starter, and AC Compressor. All the other parts that remain on the engines are only for convenience purposes. This engine has no sludge build-up.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

John,
I deal with this kind of thing quite often.   This is a pretty good deal.   I'd go for it.

Ron