'97 Windstar new engine?

[takieda]

My fiancee and I have a '97 Windstar that, as best as we can tell (before we take it to the shop, etc..) has a blown head gasket (radiator fluid in the oil, runs out of radiator fluid in one day - though that was the latest development. Also stutters in lower speeds, but runs well at higher, etc.) We don't believe it to be a cracked engine, but can't be sure.

From every mechanic we've talked to, most won't even touch the head gasket, and the few who will tell us that 9 times out of 10 when a head gasket is replaced it blows again within a couple of weeks. Most have said that it's better to replace the entire engine.

We've had the Windstar since January 2006, and it's exhibited some slight symptoms of the problem since we had it (though at the time, we just thought it needed a new sparkplug - part of a tune up that never did fix the problem). We bought it for $4000, and a new engine (brand new, and installed by someone who several friends of ours recommend highly) will cost $3000. We've engine the good things about the van so far, but is it really worth $3000 to fix a van only costing us $4000 to begin with? Will it give us enough extra service to make it worthwhile?

Any help/suggestions, would be appreciated. We're dealing with other monetary problems, and $3000 is already a major pinch (have to finish saving for that first), so if we had to switch to a new vehicle, $3000 wouldn't cover something that our current van *should* have given us in service.

Thanks,
-Tak.

[Milan]

In short...not worth it.

First off you have to ask yourself if putting a new engine in the van will guarantee that you you get your money's worth out of it. Is the tranny in good condition, are the control arms in need of a replacement, are the brakes in need of a mayor overhaul, etc, etc...

I guess what would help is if you told us how many miles the van has. Will putting a new motor in it be smart when it seems like the tranny (or something else) might need a rebuild in a year?

Looking at e-bay, you can get a 1996 with less than 160K miles for under $1,600
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AME WA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110106936724&rd=1&rd=1

I'd check e-bay, your local classifieds or autotrader.com before you drop $3K into your van.

[takieda]

Sorry I haven't responded to you sooner. There are about 130,000 miles on the van. Most things are in good working order, that I can tell. The A/C doesn't work (though it may only need a good recharge, OR a leak repaired. I attempted a recharge and found the cap that was on it was broken so I got a new cap to replace it, that may be why it leaked empty). The heater doesn't work in idle, but that only started happening recently, and may have something to do with the head gasket problem. Aside from that and a sticking issue with the sliding side door, it's been very good to us for the past year (bought January 06)

[mark v]

First what did you originally pay for the Van?

If you got a good deal on the van get a junkyard engine installed, probably about $1500 to $2000 installed and drive it till it dies.

[Milan]

OP said they paid $4000 for it

[mark v]

Well they wasted $4000 already so $3000 more will be almost like a whole new drive train minus the tranny.

Either way you are in a hole, you have a $4000 piece of shit now that isnt worth more than $1000. You dump another $3000 into it and you will still have a $4000 van.