Is it Worth Fixing the Head Gasket On This Car?? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Extreme_2020 · 05-24-2003, 22:55

Hey Guys,

Well i now know that my head gasket and/or head have been causing my coolant loss, weird smell and missing at idle problems in my XF.

Ive taken a few shots of the car to show what condition its in (body and interior wise) at the moment.

Car Photos http://users.bigpond.net.au/extreme_010/car/car.html

what i want to know is that do you guys think its worth fixing up?? or should i get a newer car??.

Ive had it for about a year now. Its a 87 Model, 250 Carby Auto with 294,000kms on the clock.
It has a few small rust spots (see photos) in the botton of both front quarters, and the rear left quarter panel.

Thanks for any opinions!

addo · 05-25-2003, 01:29

Have you got the funds to replace it with a car you know is much better? If so, go back to the index. If not, read on.

I take it from your comments that the car is reasonably "original" at close on 3 times around the clock. It also looks half-decent in the pics.

I'll play doctor and write a prescription:

�New timing set ($116)
�New cam and lifters ($400)
�Recondition the head ($500)

Add labour costs to these.

Besides that lot, check your distributor function (mech advance especially), radiator/thermostat (yes, you do need a thermo), do something about the EGR (it's not legal to block it off, but it helps

), maybe clean the inlet manifold by media blasting (duff EGR fills it with thick crud in places), and reco the carby. But it will almost certainly run with the basic list.

Now you know why some of us love our tool kits so much...

Regards, Adam.

EFJase · 05-25-2003, 02:24

If your happy with ya car keep it.
Just buy another motor and take what u need or do a complete swap. Might need to find someone who knows whats what, or do some research.
Will be cheaper than getting a reco. My mate done it in his Patrol the other day, goes great now.

Jase

BOON250 · 05-25-2003, 03:05

You should keep it mate! what would you replace it with? besides it not a fantastically hard job I have done it on mine. And if you do all the things Addo suggested it will make a heap of difference!!!!!!

xacoupe · 05-25-2003, 03:42

nah, it's a piece of crap.. I will give you $50 bucks for it !!!

seriously, it looks fine and as someone said it's not that hard to do yourself.

Dellboy999 · 05-25-2003, 16:14

It looks like a good car from the pics, I would fix it, as they say ....

Better the devil you know ! then the one you don't !

Dellboy999

Phat XLS-ute · 05-26-2003, 02:26

it cost me 1400 dollars exactly to have my carby's fixed,
they were both cracked,
took like 4 weeks for it to be done!!
but the finished car is awesome, cause u have heaps more power