Windstar Motor swap

[mark_gober]

Hey everyone,

I've got a 1999 Windstar that my brother and I purchased from his Father in Law for $200. Was told that engine died while driving and he was done messing with it. I have a '95 and a '00 windstar and thought I'd certainly find $100 worth of parts off of it.

We started looking at it this weekend and it's a very nice looking van. My dad needs some cash so instead of parting/scrapping it out, we thought we'd make the beast work and flip it for some cash for dad. Turns out the motor's siezed. After the fact, we found out it'd been running low on fluid and my father in law had let his daughter drive it and she knew nothing about the low fluid. Engine overheated and siezed.

Here's my question. I've located a 1995 3.8l engine on Craigslist for a very reasonable $250. I'm considering whether or not it's worth the effort to swap it into it. I've swapped a tranny in a windstar before and it was a two week long ORDEAL, to say the least. Would you guys take on the challenge or turn it into a quick $200 at the junk yard. (van is in excellent shape otherwise)

One final question is, can anyone see any reason that the '95 model won't work in the '99. I know that they went to a plastic intake in '99 and the one I saw had the aluminum intake, but other than that, It should be relatively the same....shouldn't it. What about computer controls? Emissions?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Mark

[12Ounce]

I would not cosider swapping to the earlier engine ... could be a large can of worms matching the PCM etc ... plus you really don't know the condition of the replacement engine.

I would consider rebuilding the enginie, but only if you intend to put it on the road. It will be very difficult to make a buck on this car ... just no market value. But it does make a good ride if you need one.

[phil-l]

There are significant differences between the '95 and '99 engines - and most of those changes represent real improvements I wouldn't want to lose. Engine swaps are readily doable, if labor-intensive. If you really want to save this van, find a matching engine.

[wiswind]

1995 was a problem year for head gaskets......all the other years are MUCH better.
Also, the 1995 windstar is the only year without the Intake Manifold Runner Control (IMRC).....the extra port for each cylinder in the intake that opens above a certain RPM for more power.

As advised above.....you are FAR better to replace with the identical engine.....way too many variables when you switch years.