In reply to Apexcarver :
When I turn the crank bolt (clockwise) the large timing gear is rotating the exhaust cam, but the smaller gear on the intake side is completely frozen. The shorter chain that connects the 2 together is not turning.
Once the weather clears up I'm going to peel back the next layer on this onion. No idea what I'll find at this point, but I'm not stressing. All I really have invested at this point is time and knuckle skin.
In reply to peanutpckrupper :
I love the idea of chucking a new engine in there. Specifically the "chucking" part because that indicates it'll be quick and easy, right? /sarcasm
Full disclosure: I have never swapped an engine or had any machining done for a project, but I'm excited to explore either.
Here's what I have at my disposal: Time, tools, optimism, and a limited but not bare bones budget.
Here's what a don't have at the moment: an engine lift
There are a plethora of videos on YT of removing and tearing down the heads so I'm headed in that direction first.
Question: Once the heads are off should I use a surface coat on the now exposed metal? I'm doing this in my uncovered driveway for now. Any other tips for someone diving in head first are welcome!
Apexcarver said:In reply to ZombieSurf :
Thankfully most of the exterior plastic is the same as a V6 model. But also, you can get a new one for just $120 here https://lmr.com/products/94-04-Mustang-Cowl-Vent-Covers-Components
I ordered one last week off Rock Auto for around the same price, but I'm picking up that hardware kit for sure!
*edit to add that the glue on my "new" cowl from Rock Auto is dried out and the rubber strips need to be re-stuck down if anyone has a favorite flavor of double sided tape.
In reply to peanutpckrupper :
Yeah, but the cams and stuff are steel.
WD40 and wrap it in plastic.
In reply to peanutpckrupper :
But the rings/etc...
After reaching into the depths of the internet to try and devise a plan for the Estate Sale Cobra, I had to ask myself, "why am I going to attempt to fix this car in the most painful way possible?".
The emotion of finally getting my mitts on my neighbors poor neglected car is also starting to wear off. I'm starting to think rationally again.
Everything I have read says pull the engine, even if I'm "only" doing the heads. You guys confirmed that as well. Apparently just to do it in the car I would need to unbolt the motor mounts and lift/tilt the engine to remove the heads.
So while I methodically disassemble the engine bay of this car I am also shopping for a replacement motor (and trans?). Ebay is looking pretty picked over but I'm in no hurry. I'm in Southeast NC by the way. I'm focused on Ford, 4 valve motors.
With my "will it run" dreams behind me, I'm shifting to a more holistic approach with the Cobra and this thread.
The very first thing I did upon pulling the car into my driveway was remove who knows how many years of leaves that had basically turned to sludge from the cowl and below the rear glass, under the deck lid. There was about an inch of water in the drivers footwell and a half inch in the spare tire area from leaks.
We just got a ton of rain and I'm glad to report that both leaks are fixed for now, even with the old crumbling plastic cowl still on the car.
The windows operate and the radio works. The MACH 460 sound system sounds great but I'm no audiophile. Overall the inside of this car is remarkably clean considering the condition of the outside and engine.
I'm giving myself a year to get this car back on the road. If I can't do it in a year, it will take longer 
Where you at in NC? I'm over in Coats, if not too far, I can bring my engine lift and some floor jacks
has a few of them. Its kind of a clearing house for junkyards to list stuff.
I havent gone down the rabbit hole of what all it would take, but... you might be prime for Coyote swapping it... Newer engine, much more power and parts availability...
In reply to MonstersHouse81 :
Thank you for the very generous offer! I'm in the Wilmington area.
I think I sourced a lift that I can borrow locally, but thanks again!
Apexcarver said:has a few of them. Its kind of a clearing house for junkyards to list stuff.
I havent gone down the rabbit hole of what all it would take, but... you might be prime for Coyote swapping it... Newer engine, much more power and parts availability...
Oh wow that website is an incredible resource. Just found a 2003 Aviator engine in town for $1200!
For my first swap I'm trying to stick with the same engine going back in, but yea, Coyotes are awesome.
In reply to ZombieSurf :
Yeah, that site is great. Back more than 10 years ago, I got an engine for my NA miata for less than $1k that had <60k on it. More recently, I backed into my sister in laws car with my expedition and stove in the back door of it, broken glass, etc. Damage was limited to the door, thankfully. Got another door, in the same color, within 24 hours, within a less than hour drive, and installed it myself the next day. Even throwing in a brand new car battery to make her better than she started I know I saved a crap ton of money over a Body $hop, not to mention time...
Question for you Ford guys and this cars engine.
Can ZombieSurf pull the timing cover and chains, the cam towers and camshafts and then do a compression test to check for bent valves? In theory, with the chains and cams removed all the valves should be closed. And a compression test would determine if any are bent before going further. Or is this a waste of time because valves are bent.
Wait, if the cam, chains and towers were removed, a straight edge across the valve stems would show if valve(s) were held open by being bent also.
In reply to Noddaz :
Like I said, I haven't gotten that deep in one to take it apart, but it's an interference engine and he's heard it tapping loud and seen the cam not moving...
In reply to Apexcarver :
Understood. And I am curious why the intake cam is not turning.
In reply to Noddaz :
A compression test requires a functional valve train. Might be able to do a leak down test.
Following
Good Luck
Cobra Update: The car is put back together and tools are put away.
I have been offered a trade for a running and driving example of new edge mustang, and I intend to accept the offer if I can get over one final hurdle: taking legal ownership of the Cobra.
PO is responsive to my messages but still has not applied for the duplicate title as far as I know (original physical title is lost)
I'm gently nudging PO to get down to the tag and title place and apply for a duplicate title. Edit: Apparently he needs to fill out a MVR-4 form and get it notarized then drop it at the tag and title place in person. His day off is tomorrow. I'm about to send him a message now. Fingers crossed for some movement this week.
The car itself is buttoned up awaiting the next step. I gave it good scrub and power wash last week. Interior is bone dry.
Big day today for the Cobra. Turns out, the busted motor is the least of this car's issues, the main problem being that PO doesn't actually own the car, his bank does.
PO is coming over today, and we are going to call his bank to pay off his 10-years defaulted loan, together, so they will release the title.
The story went from "yes I have the title", to "I lost the physical title and need to get a duplicate", to "I need to contact the bank because there's an issue", to me contacting a friend at the DMV to find out that he never paid off the loan and had been hiding from the repo man for a decade.
Before I got to the last step I offered to meet him with my notary friend and help him with the duplicate title paperwork. Unsurprisingly he didn't want to do that.
That really closes the loop in my mind on how this car ended up at his parent's estate sale. He was hiding it there.
I have not given this dude a penny yet, thank goodness, as the deal has always been that he get's paid when I get the title (which tells me he knew exactly what was going on since the beginning, but didn't want to tell me).
Hoping we get one step closer to wrapping this up today!!! Still a great deal even with all the extra effort when I get my mitts on that title.
jeez, happy you didn't waste money on the Parts Cannon for a car that you effectively couldn't own. Sounds like a bullet dodged for sure!
Dang. I try not to judge folks I haven't met, but this guy seems like he's both shiny and happy. Glad it didn't cost you anything but time.
In reply to golfduke :
The parts cannon was armed and ready, but the part of my brain that keeps me from being divorced and homeless kicked in just in time ha
In reply to barefootcyborg5000 :
Yea this one was tricky. I mean, he was very dis-honest at the beginning, but he always answered when I called and actually showed up at my house today to talk to the bank with me on speakerphone!!!
I'm officially monetarily invested in the car at this point as I paid off the loan (~$900), and the bank confirmed to me that they are sending the clear title directly to me after a 14 day hold. We agreed that when we meet with the notary to put the title in my name he'll get the rest of our agreed upon price, so he's still got a reason to keep in touch.
It's been over 2 months so how about an update?!
Still no title - but we're close.
Called my friend at the DMV yesterday and he says he's still showing a lein on the title... mind you I paid off this car 2 whole months ago.
So I called the PO and he called his bank. Turns out they mailed him a lien release twice, but not to the address we told them to send it to. They sent both to his old address. I tell him to ask the bank for an emailed lien release and do not hang up until you have received it.
I get a text 5 minutes later. It's the lien release.
I print out the release with a blank Duplicate Title Request Form and send PO to his bank to have it notarized. He does so and then heads to the title office. Just when I think we're home free the damn title office turns him away because the name of the bank of the title does not match the lien release.
Today I get on the phone with the DMV main office today and confirm that you need to show proof that the bank's name changed. In this case the bank changed names twice in the last 21 years since he financed the car, so the kind DMV worker on the phone emailed me some press releases from sec.gov to show the companies officially changing names.
So now I have a freaking pile of documents to take to the title office. PO and I are going up there together on Monday to hopefully obtain the title and sign it over to me!
I'm in Newport NC. Bout 1.5 HRS away. If you need help I'd be happy to lend a hand and tools if you need anything.
Im a few hours from Wilmington, know jack all about mod motor fords, and have very little time.
But by god, im down for a grm get together to help hotswap a motor on this thing in your driveway when the weather cools off!
Serious kudos to you for not killing the po by now, and showing restraint with the parts cannon.
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