Some people buy older cars since it can be a great way to learn how to work on them, but unexpected problems can still arise. One Ford Mustang owner in Hawaii is facing a similar problem and is now looking for advice on what to do next.
The owner shared the situation and details on the r/MechanicAdvice subreddit. They explained that they bought a 1994 Ford Mustang with a 3.8-liter V6 engine a few months ago and thought it would be a good car to learn to work on. But they struggled to figure out its problems and took it to a shop.
According to the owner, the shop found a blown head gasket and said they needed to replace the entire engine. They told the owner it would cost around $10,000, with about $8,000 going to parts.
The owner is now exploring other options since the repair bill is so high. One idea they have is to replace the original V6 with a 5.3-liter LS V8 engine from an older Chevrolet.
Even More Problems
The owner admitted that they don’t have much experience working on cars and aren’t sure an engine swap would be worth it. Since they live in Hawaii, they explained finding affordable parts could be difficult because of shipping costs.
In a comment under the post, they also said the vehicle has even more problems. Apparently, coolant is leaking into the oil, leaving it looking muddy. They also noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust, frequent stalling, and a lack of power.
They also said they only drove the vehicle a handful of times over the past four to five months. After replacing a dead battery, they said the car started more easily and drove somewhat better.
Commenters Give Their Thoughts
Other Reddit users took to the comments to debate whether an LS swap would actually be worth it, especially for someone with limited experience.
One commenter suggested that repairing the head gasket would likely be easier than replacing the entire engine. They also recommended considering switching to another vehicle if the expense was too high.
Another commenter, who said they had 33 years of experience working on cars, warned that engine swaps can be difficult even for experienced mechanics. They described a previous project where they did an engine swap on a Toyota 4Runner, but it never ran right, and the owner of the car ran out of money.
The commenter also suggested repairing the head gasket, finding a used replacement engine, or considering a remanufactured engine instead.
The shop’s $10,000 estimate also leaves the owner with a difficult decision. The information shared online doesn’t confirm whether repairing the head gasket would solve all the Mustang’s problems or whether the engine has suffered additional damage.