itsderekforreal
New member
...Sport Trac w/ 230,000miles? I have a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac pickup with 230,000 miles which was just diagnosed to have a cracked head gasket (or two.. probably two). While I have done plenty of basic automotive work in the past, I have never had to solve such an issue, and I'm not sure which repair procedure to pursue, and that is why I need your help:
--Should I take apart the engine and replace the head gaskets (as well as anything else that may be warped, cracked, or damaged), or should I just drop a new used engine with 105,000 miles into it?
Online quotes put me at $1,000-$1,500 for head gasket replacements, but my buddy's shop wants $2,000 because they anticipate more wrong once they get down in there. As for as swapping engines, I found one with 105,000 miles for $1,000 (w/ 1 yr parts warranty). But swapping the engine is not as simple as the straight drop I thought it would be, because they also have to swap all the electronics from the old engine to the new. Thanks to mech/elec labor fees, putting in another engine would easily surpass the cost of replacing the head gaskets...
--If I replace the head gaskets, who knows what else could go wrong on this engine with 230,000... But if I swap out engines, how long before the transmission or something else goes? And how much will that cost then?
--What are your thoughts? Any experience in this situation or with this particular vehicle? Any and all advice will gladly be appreciated, thanks so much! Have a great week and happy holidays!
--Should I take apart the engine and replace the head gaskets (as well as anything else that may be warped, cracked, or damaged), or should I just drop a new used engine with 105,000 miles into it?
Online quotes put me at $1,000-$1,500 for head gasket replacements, but my buddy's shop wants $2,000 because they anticipate more wrong once they get down in there. As for as swapping engines, I found one with 105,000 miles for $1,000 (w/ 1 yr parts warranty). But swapping the engine is not as simple as the straight drop I thought it would be, because they also have to swap all the electronics from the old engine to the new. Thanks to mech/elec labor fees, putting in another engine would easily surpass the cost of replacing the head gaskets...
--If I replace the head gaskets, who knows what else could go wrong on this engine with 230,000... But if I swap out engines, how long before the transmission or something else goes? And how much will that cost then?
--What are your thoughts? Any experience in this situation or with this particular vehicle? Any and all advice will gladly be appreciated, thanks so much! Have a great week and happy holidays!