1998 Crown Victoria P71

[JBeezy]

Is it worth rebuilding the engine and saving the car or parting out. Car is a ex detective car with 160k miles

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[fastblackmerc]

Is it worth rebuilding the engine and saving the car or parting out. Car is a ex detective car with 160k miles

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What's wrong with the engine?

[crownvic97]

Depends on overall condition. You could get a 4.6 out of a JY for around $300 probably.

[JBeezy]

Nothing at the moment. It's a buddy of mine car and he's trying to decide what to do with it. Sale it, keep it and put some money in it, or cut ties with it.

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[crownvic05]

Ive seen crown vics for so cheap no a days. He can get a very nice crown vic 2006 and up for less then 3K. Ive seen them. Its all up to the owner of the car and the sentimental value if any.

[Catfish]

If there's nothing wrong with it I'd keep it as a DD. With regular maintenance he might get another 100k out of it.

[71cyclone]

Many municipalities unload their Vic's and 93c Impalas at 140,000 mile. Lot of life left in them if they were maintained.

[EMAS]

Rebuilding an engine in a car that isn't a collectable or high performance project makes zero sense, even less for a P71 where the cost to rebuild the engine would exceed the value of the vehicle.

If and when it actually has an engine problem the smart thing to do is put in a good used engine, particularly on a 4.6 powered vehicle where the going price is so low. Even then it doesn't make a lot of sense because there is still a steady stream of p71s coming out of service in many areas. The going rate at my local auction is less than $2000 though prices have consistently been rising for them at the last couple of auctions that I have been to despite the fact that the number of cars was as high or higher than at previous auctions. I had to pony up $1500 for the 05 that came with 106K last fall while the 05 with 105K I had bought in the spring only set me back $1250.

[BAD MERC]

Mileage means NOTHING on fleet Panther cars. Spending 12 hours idling all day on a crime scene in 100 degree heat and then being started cold and immediately flat-footed to 120MPH... it amazes me they achieve 100K miles. I have trouble seeing the allure of these beaters when you can get a loaded-to-the-hilt 10 year old Taurus for under $3,000 that sat in a condo garage it's entire life.

[lifespeed]

Rebuilding an engine in a car that isn't a collectable or high performance project makes zero sense, even less for a P71 where the cost to rebuild the engine would exceed the value of the vehicle.

^^correct, it makes even less sense than putting a $15K engine in an $8K Marauder. But we're not rational here.

[71cyclone]

Mileage means NOTHING on fleet Panther cars. Spending 12 hours idling all day on a crime scene in 100 degree heat and then being started cold and immediately flat-footed to 120MPH... it amazes me they achieve 100K miles. I have trouble seeing the allure of these beaters when you can get a loaded-to-the-hilt 10 year old Taurus for under $3,000 that sat in a condo garage it's entire life.
3.0 litre v-6 tarus can go 300,000 miles if not kicked --- and driven normally.

[Ambitious1]

^^correct, it makes even less sense than putting a $15K engine in an $8K Marauder. But we're not rational here.

Hey, hey now... Putting a $15K engine in a $8K Marauder is perfectly sensible... ;) Because then the Marauder is worth $23K, right? :D

[L.Mark]

To each their own, but if he's trying to decide to repair or replace, then it's replace. If he wanted to keep it there was enough there to keep it, there would have been no other options brought up...IMO...

[lifespeed]

Hey, hey now... Putting a $15K engine in a $8K Marauder is perfectly sensible... ;) Because then the Marauder is worth $23K, right? :D

It's like an investment!

[EMAS]

^^correct, it makes even less sense than putting a $15K engine in an $8K Marauder. But we're not rational here.

Well I'd say the Marauder qualifies as a collectable and a 15K engine as a performance project.

The P71 on the other hand is quite common and a dime a dozen. So it doesn't make sense to spend more fixing one instead of just picking up another.

Now if someone wants to build a hot rod P71 then I say go for it it is their money.

[justbob]

Hey, hey now... Putting a $15K engine in a $8K Marauder is perfectly sensible... ;) Because then the Marauder is worth $23K, right? :D


No. Now it's worth $8,008.00..


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