Idaho_Dave
Member
- Joined
- January 18, 2012
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Idaho
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 Mercury Mountianeer
I was watching one of the local sales sites this week and found a 1998 Mercury Mountaineer with a subtle knock in the engine. I already have 2000 Mercury Mountaineer with a good engine with 157000 miles on it. My first line of thinking was I would buy the 1998 and use all the parts to fix the damage that my 4 children have done to the 2000 (fender, Paint peeling, broken headlights, flat tires, etc ..) Once I got it home and cleaned up I realized that the 1998 is in much better shape and I am considering either getting a short block and moving the top end components over, or pulling the engine out of the 2000 and putting it in the 1998, or pulling the 2000 and rebuilding it and then putting it in the 1998. Both have the 5.0 engine. This is my sons' car and I intend to have him just drive the 1998 until the engine blows, or we have time to fix it. I want to start buying parts now so that I am ready to get it fixed in the next few months.
Now that we have covered the backstory, let us cover my hopes for this build. The 2000 has had nothing but issues over the last few years. One sensor after another has gone out and it has essentially run with the check engine light the last 5 years no matter what I tried. It has 157K on the engine so it is no spring chicken. I am hesitant to move into the 1998 because I have had such bad luck with it. (I know that is not logical, but I still am anxious about it), My overall goal would be making the engine as reliable as possible while keeping the budget in mind. I would like to fix any future know problems as I am rebuilding to increase reliability.
SO my options are
Switch the 2000 motor to the 1998 as is ...
Buy a short block and move the 1998 heads and intake over to to the new block ...
pull the 2000 motor and rebuild it .... then put it in the 1998.
I have never rebuilt a motor and I am a little intimidated to try, but I understand the engines enough that I am confident I could pull it off (especially the top end). The short block option sounds like the most reliable to me. I am open to all opinions and even options that I haven't thought of yet. I really want to hear anybody's opinion on this. Thanks
Now that we have covered the backstory, let us cover my hopes for this build. The 2000 has had nothing but issues over the last few years. One sensor after another has gone out and it has essentially run with the check engine light the last 5 years no matter what I tried. It has 157K on the engine so it is no spring chicken. I am hesitant to move into the 1998 because I have had such bad luck with it. (I know that is not logical, but I still am anxious about it), My overall goal would be making the engine as reliable as possible while keeping the budget in mind. I would like to fix any future know problems as I am rebuilding to increase reliability.
SO my options are
Switch the 2000 motor to the 1998 as is ...
Buy a short block and move the 1998 heads and intake over to to the new block ...
pull the 2000 motor and rebuild it .... then put it in the 1998.
I have never rebuilt a motor and I am a little intimidated to try, but I understand the engines enough that I am confident I could pull it off (especially the top end). The short block option sounds like the most reliable to me. I am open to all opinions and even options that I haven't thought of yet. I really want to hear anybody's opinion on this. Thanks