Rebuild, Replace, or Junk Out 93 Limited

[79wolf]

Three years ago I purchased my ’93 Limited with 90,000 miles on it. Unfortunately at 125,000 miles I either burnt a valve or a hole in a piston (did compression test good, pulled the valve cover good, not the head, yet! ). Here is my situation. Still have a year left on the loan, about $2,000 left, and borrowing vehicles. I’m looking for all opinions on what to do with my Explorer. I would love to fix it and keep it, but is it worth it? Do I rebuild the motor ($1,000 - $1,500) or should I just go get a short block ($1,800)? Might as well do the tranny while it’s there($400), right? And let’s not forget the body. No holes or dents yet, but rusty fender wells, sill plates, tailgate, and bumper. So what are we thinking here? Junk the whole vehicle or attempt to restore it? Rebuild the motor or buy a short block? Take it to a body shop or buy a whole new Explorer? If anyone can help, I know this has got to be the place. I had sooo many plans for my Limited

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

if you can i would fix the motor..if everything else on the truck was strong?..that's what i would do

 

[Opera House]

So how could you have burnt a valve or a hole in a piston and still have a good compression test?

 

[Purdue72]

How much do you love the truck?
What is your finacial situation? Short and Long term.

Those are the only two questions you have to ask yourself.

I love my explorer, I personally would rather dump money into it from time to time than assume another loan. Hell, at the rate I'm going mine will be re-built bumper to bumper by the time I'm done.

If you can stick it out to get it paid off, go for it.
For $1800, you should be getting a long block, not a short block.

If the tranny is strong, I'd leave it right now.

That's my two cents

 

[Ak LTD Xplorer]

that's the way i am..i love my truck and would rather throw money at it if anything ever went on it..i get so attached to truck's/car's that i can't think of getting rid of them..so do you have a simaler attchment to this truck?

 

[audiodude332001]

79wolf
Might as well do the tranny while it’s there($400), right?

Where do you get $400? a new tranny or a rebuild is like $1200-$1800

 

[wilkin250r]

Rebuilt tranny, $700 or so.

I'm staring at nearly the same dilema, my tranny is shot. I'm not looking at it like I will have $12,000 into my old 93 (that obviously includes purchase price) but rather I look at it like this: For $3500, I cannot find a better vehicle. My Explorer is in perfect shape, with the exception of the tranny, and a knock in the engine. There is no way that I will find a perfect 4WD, with zero miles on the engine and tranny, for less than $3500. So, I've decided to rebuild.

 

[stubborn1]

Sounds like a perfect candidate for a junk yard engine. Do some calling around and see what you can find. Make sure the junk yard does a compression test and will offer some type of material guarantee on the pulled engine.

 

[79wolf]

Thanks for all the speedy replies

I think I feel the same as all of you. My Explorer has been one of my favorites. Rebuilding the motor would actually be fun for me so I'll prob go that route. As for the tranny, old friend owns a shop and has done other trannies for me in the past, quoted me $400. Oh, and the compression test, well it was more like my finger ove the spark plug hole cranking the engine, but there was compression.

The only thing I can't decide on is the body, I don't know much about body work. With all the rust, and all the mechanical problems, would it be easier to buy another Explorer with a good body than have a body shop work on it on top of the rebuilds? If it wasn't for the body I'd know what to do. I think it will come down to whether I can find a good Explorer for under $3000.

Anyway, thanks for all the help, I know where I belong now