I just got a 91 ford tempo for free. The interior is in great shape, the body is straight, never been wrecked, paint is pretty good. The only problem is the car needs a new motor. This car has been sitting for about 2 years. The original problem was that the engine overheated and cracked the head, so the owner removed the head, but never fixed it, so the block sat and got rust in the cylinder bores. The transmission worked fine when it was last driven, but that was almost 2 years ago now. BTW, its a 3 speed automatic.

How hard is it to replace the engine in this car? Also, should I get the transmission rebuilt since it has sat so long? Or could I just remove it and re-gasket it? How hard would it be to swap in a manual transmission?

I would really like to fix this car up as a daily driver so i can do some much needed maintenance on my bird.

 

i've r&r engines in them before, not that bad for a FWD. i'd leave the trans alone.

 

Like Ede said it isnt too bad. Just make sure the ballancer isnt toast on the new engine. Its very common for the harmonic ballaners to break loose from the rubber ring and make a sound similar to a rod knock. Its just somthing that should be checked before you install a tempo engine.

 

i did one in my dayghters car, when she first started driving, had a cracked flex plate, it didn't sounds like anything else. if you have cracked flex plate you'll know it.

 

If its a 2.3, dont attempt to reuse the head bolts if you take the head off the engine you get. They will break.

 

I was thinking of going to the local junk yard and pulling a complete engine for it. They charge $200.00 for a complete engine - long block, intake, oil pan, valve cover, everything. The local engine shop wants around $800 for a premium long block, which is just block, head, valvetrain, and oil pump. Either way, its a free car, what would you guys do?

P.S. It is the 2.3L HSC Engine.