Hi all I am looking at buying a mustang six banger. Is there anything I should know? I do know about the head gaskets. I need to kinow what years to buy and problems with these cars. Thanks Dave.
-- Once you feel the punch of a Ford big block. You will never look back.
-- _______________________________________ "The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: The chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."
On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 18:38:14 -0800, Dana Myers wrote something wonderfully witty:
Guess that is a "depends" type issue. I bought my daughter a V6 drop-top. Couldn't afford the insurance on a GT for a 16yo. We haven't had any mechanical problems with it. 24K miles and counting. It drives fairly nice, has average get up and go and cruises the highway Ok. All in all I think it is a fairly decent compromise if there are other considerations such as insurance.
-- "Y'know I remember when things were a lot more fun around here When good was good and evil was evil Before things got so fuzzy"
I got a 2003 V6, mainly cause I didnt want the insurance of a 23 year old single male, at the time, anyways, I love it. The newer 6's have close to
200 HP, I think its actually 193 or something like that...A few mods, and it's 200. I have it in a stick and it gets up and goes. I test drove the auto and I was really unimpressed. If I would have had to get the auto, I would have looked else where, but the stick really surprised me. The handling is ok and the braking is decent. I would do it again if I had to, but I really would like to get a cobra next time. :)
As you can see in my sig, I have the '01 Vert V6. Like others that went this route, I didn't want the insurance of a V8. You can check out my website and follow the Mustang link to see what all I have planned for my pony. As some have mentioned, the V6 is rated at 190-193 HP and torque to go with it. Before I start any 'serious' add-on's (just the K&N filter right now) I'll take it to a dyno and get the starting numbers. After each add-on, I'll dyno it and will post the numbers to my website.
Only problems I've encountered with my car is leaks around the weather stripping when it rained. Still under factory warranty and go that fixed with new stripping.
Thanks for all your help. I have another question for a 1995 - 2001 what would you say is a good price range. I'm in Canada and would prob look in Canuck bucks. I was going to get a vert 5speed low miles hopefully. Thanks Dave.
Dear God--why would you want a 6 banger?! (unless you mean a more modern one)
If you've never had an older Ford 6, note they always feel like they're unning rough and there ain't nothing you can do get rid of that uncomfortable "feeling". They also have no guts, of course, but their mileage is a little better compared to a real engine of the time
They ARE easy to work on, tho.
So--if you don't care about power or a smooth feeling ride, there's nothing too bad about them otherwise.
Oh--and you can probably forget about PS and air w/an old 6 banger.
he might mean a V-6, i had a 83 must. with a 3.8 that would not stop.. it had p/s and a/c and there was pleanty of power with this engine.. and it was the V-6's that did not blow head gaskets.. it was before ford subbed out the parts to people who could not produce the quality that was needed....
Heh, My old 83 cougar (in my sig) still has the 3.8 in it, and it feels pretty strong for what it is. I think it is rated at 90ish HP. I also have an 85 marquis (little one, not grand) with a 3.8 and it is very reliable. I had another 85 marquis before that one with 220k miles on it, but the body fell apart before the motor did! Granted these are not fast motors, they are great for drivers that just want a car that starts every day and doesn't give them much greif (or power :)). These all came with the C5 transmission, which I have never had any of the typical ford tranny problems (like the million AOD's I have been through) but that could be the weak HP of the motors that make them last.
Anyway, If you want a v6, get an old one or a new one, but avoid ones from late
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