Engine Removal Problem - Help!

[krs]

I did not have much trouble getting them off the engine - the y pipe bolts were hopeless and I had to cut them off. 3 of them were reasonable easy to get to with an air cut-off tool - the other I will get after I pull the engine and just replace them...

 

[krs]

i have pulled 3 locked up motors, i left the TC on the motor every time with no problems.

I have pretty much given up on getting the engine to turn for me - any suggetions/tricks as to pulling the TC off and minimizing any problems?

 

[krs]

After a bit of debate and head-scratching, I pulled the engine with the transmission. I then took off the oil pan and loosened the bolts on the crankshaft for the piston that looked pretty bad. The engine then turned easily (from earlier in this thread you can see the engine was locked-up tight).

I assume what this means is that the bearings related to this particular piston around the crankshaft were the culprit locking up the engine.

I have now separated the engine from the transmission (keeping the torque converter with the transmission). Now I just need a replacement engine.

In my area, 3.0 liter engines appear hard to come by. I found one on a 94 with 100,000 on it several hours away on Craigslist, but I would prefer something a bit newer (mine is a 98). Idealy, a 98-2000 with 100K or less would be great! Junkyards want $850-$1000 (if they can get me one), while craigslist is more around $300-$400...

I have seen several 2.5 liters - are they an option?

Suggestions welcome!

 

[JP02XLT]

Look for a Taurus 3.0 Vulcan, They were dirt cheap when I blew mine up, Local yards had Ranger engines that were $750 & up for 100K mile engines, (ridiculous). I bought an 07 Taurus 3.0 off a yard selling on ebay for $250, it had 20K miles and had a 6 month unlimited warranty on the engine, it was very clean, and they had not cut any of the harness, everything was intact on the new motor. When I went to pick it up they had it secured to a pallet and loaded it onto my trailer for me as well.

As long as you buy another 3.0 Vulcan, your intake, exhaust and accessory package will all interchange, You should swap the head gaskets to RWD model gaskets but I have heard of guys who did not and did not have any cooling problems on the FWD gaskets in a RWD vehicle. Like I said, I swapped gaskets, new head bolts, new water pump and I think I had about $375+ in an engine with 20K miles, ready to swap right in.

Good luck in your search

JP02XLT

 

[locovaca]

To add, no, you can't use a 2.5. You don't even need a 98-2000 engine, you can in theory use any year.

I'll echo the Taurus engine route. Around here a yard had a '07 Taurus with only 25k on it for like $400. I didn't need it but I almost thought about it anyway. Tauruses are everywhere.

 

[krs]

Thanks - will do some looking!

An ignorant question... - are all 3.0 liter engines by definition a vulcan engine?

 

[locovaca]

Thanks - will do some looking!

An ignorant question... - are all 3.0 liter engines by definition a vulcan engine?

Depends on the Vehicle. For a Ranger, yes. For a Taurus, no. There is a 3.0 Vulcan and a 3.0 Duratec (and also a 3.0 SHO but those are fairly rare). The Duratecs are a DOHC and normally have badges on the side of the car that say 24V. If you're at a yard looking the Duratec will simply look way bigger than a Vulcan.

 

[krs]

Found a 2002 Taurus engine with 118,000 for $375 and a 90 day warranty (best I can do in my area). Will pick it up this weekend.