New to Cougars, needs help on an engine rebuild

[funkdrspot]

So a new girl I'm talking to ran her cougar without oil in it. I think she cracked the block because she says that it makes noises like one of the bearings is in the oil pan AND the oil just goes from the head to the ground almost instantly. She was quoted something like $4k for a used engine and a swap labor. I figured at the very worst I could swap but more importantly that I could rebuild the engine so there was effectively 0 miles on the block ( IF the block itself wasn't cracked ).

I'm familiar with honda and acuras and specifically the integra engines so excuse my ignorance on these engines. So anyways, onto the questions:

- How much is the average price for a shortblock? What about just a bare block?

- Is there a "How-To" or some type of detailed writeup for rebuilding a cougar engine?

- Is there a good website to go to for purchasing parts, gaskets, pumps, etc where I can save some money instead of walking into a stealership and getting raped?

- Assuming I'm going to be replacing pistons, oil & water pumps, gaskets and clutch...are there any good brands or good tips you guys could give me?


Thanks for your help peoples!

[Bigtime2112]

3L Duratec

if you can swap an engine - go this route more power, newer, and cheaper than 4k

[funkdrspot]

Originally Posted by Bigtime2112

3L Duratec

if you can swap an engine - go this route more power, newer, and cheaper than 4k

I'm pretty sure this girl would just rather have the same engine in there so I really don't care for swapping a different engine in unless there's a significant advantage for the same exact price.

So Am i better off posting in the individual forums or on here? I would search but i can't seem to find the search button.....

[FatMatt]

Originally Posted by funkdrspot

I'm pretty sure this girl would just rather have the same engine in there so I really don't care for swapping a different engine in unless there's a significant advantage for the same exact price.

So Am i better off posting in the individual forums or on here? I would search but i can't seem to find the search button.....

Tell her to go with the 3l, It's a bigger motor with more power and can be found for less than 4k.
and the search button is up top near where you logged in

[skater]

The search button is really just a link near the top, in the second blue bar.

Used engines are cheap enough that rebuilding them isn't usually done unless you're going for a lot more power - and then it's usually a 3L being built, not a 2.5L. You can probably find a good 2.5L if that's what you really want fairly cheap. The 3L engines aren't that much more, but you did say "exact same price", and there are a few extra things you'd have to do to swap them.

If you take a look at the stickies in the 2.5L Duratec forum, you'll probably find some helpful information. But really, I'd look for just replacing the engine before looking into rebuilding it. (I can't remember ANYONE that has blown a 2.5L and stuck with it. I'm sure it has happened, but it's uncommon.)

Note one thing: whatever you do, verify she has the latest oil pan. The early oil pans were not baffled and allowed for oil starvation on long right turns (a highway on-ramp at high speed, something like that; one guy in the UK had it happen on a roundabout), causing a spun bearing. There've been several revisions to the oil pan, each better than the previous one, so you want to find the latest one you can. Is that what happened to her engine?

[funkdrspot]

Originally Posted by FatMatt

Tell her to go with the 3l, It's a bigger motor with more power and can be found for less than 4k.
and the search button is up top near where you logged in

I'm sure she doesn't need it and doesn't need to waste the money on a bigger engine instead of spending money on wear parts for the replacement one. Plus I'm new to Cougars and I'm doing this essentially for free, so I'm not inclined to take on anymore work than i need to. I already have a long list of stuff to do with my integra.

[funkdrspot]

Originally Posted by skater

The search button is really just a link near the top, in the second blue bar.

Used engines are cheap enough that rebuilding them isn't usually done unless you're going for a lot more power - and then it's usually a 3L being built, not a 2.5L. You can probably find a good 2.5L if that's what you really want fairly cheap. The 3L engines aren't that much more, but you did say "exact same price", and there are a few extra things you'd have to do to swap them.

If you take a look at the stickies in the 2.5L Duratec forum, you'll probably find some helpful information. But really, I'd look for just replacing the engine before looking into rebuilding it. (I can't remember ANYONE that has blown a 2.5L and stuck with it. I'm sure it has happened, but it's uncommon.)

Note one thing: whatever you do, verify she has the latest oil pan. The early oil pans were not baffled and allowed for oil starvation on long right turns (a highway on-ramp at high speed, something like that; one guy in the UK had it happen on a roundabout), causing a spun bearing. There've been several revisions to the oil pan, each better than the previous one, so you want to find the latest one you can. Is that what happened to her engine?

NO, she just ran it when it had an oil leak and it had leaked all the oil out. I was thinking that depending on what 'blew' in the engine that it could just simply be a spun bearing and the shop she went to just decided to tell her she needed a new engine.

I'm not rebuilding for more power, I'd just be looking to rebuild it because either way I'd like to throw new pistons and other stuff in it before i stick it back in the car.

Oh, btw, what year oil pan should i be looking for?

[skater]

Originally Posted by funkdrspot

Oh, btw, what year oil pan should i be looking for?

I'm not sure - it's either 2001 or 2002. Best thing to do is go by part number, which you can find buried in this post.

[Newcat016]

Originally Posted by funkdrspot

NO, she just ran it when it had an oil leak and it had leaked all the oil out. I was thinking that depending on what 'blew' in the engine that it could just simply be a spun bearing and the shop she went to just decided to tell her she needed a new engine. I'm not rebuilding for more power, I'd just be looking to rebuild it because either way I'd like to throw new pistons and other stuff in it before i stick it back in the car. Oh, btw, what year oil pan should i be looking for?

Well, car-parts.com would be easiest to find a used 2.5 engine of any year from 99-02. Just make sure that if she has a 99 return style to swap over the lim or if not then stick with her returnless setup. As for rebuilding, finding a short block for cheap will take some serious searching as many people don't really keep a good, used short block of a 2.5(try aircougar1). Chances are just swapping in a used engine will be ur cheapest and best bet. Pull the old one, crack her open and see how bad it is. Bearing=not so bad, Piston/block/etc=just buy a used engine. The time and new parts you would need would be WAY more then getting a used 2.5. But if you want to undertake this en devour then get ready to spend time on the rebuild, time hunting parts, and time installing it. As opposed to finding an engine and dropping it in.

[nadthomas]

Yes, people have killed there 2.5L and replaced them with another 2.5L. I have done it personally, of course I wanted to go 3L, but time and money was tight at the time so cheap and easy was the way I went. Well, not really cheap because I still ended up spending about 2k by the time it was all said and done. Rebuilding the block is probably going to be more expensive and time consuming then what its worth. You should be able to find a low mileage 2.5L for about $800 give or take $200 depending upon your area and if you find a deal. Cougar, Contour, and Mystics all used the same engine, since your not looking for more performance don't waste your money on the 2.5L SVT Contour engine. They pull a premium price since its an SVT engine, and you can get more power out of a 3L for about the same price in the end. If she has an early 99 like mine you will need to swap over the fuel rail, injectors and the wiring harness, but everything else on the newer 2.5L engines is the same. Use car-parts.com to help you source a new engine, and for any dealer parts contact Bill Jenkins at Team Ford in Las Vegas( do a search I'm sure there is a post with his number on here). Let him know you are from NECO and he will give you a great deal for Ford OEM parts, we all buy from him. As for the clutch do go with the SVT clutch in the case, its a better clutch then the stock cougar clutch and Bill sells the full clutch kit for about $300.