Full 60K and reliabilty

[OmMEGGA]

Need some serious opinions here guys.

I'm torn between selling my (Mint condition interior and exterior, zero rust) 178K mile 94 ATX and getting 2-3 year old car with 40K miles or less.

SHO needs full 60K, I can get it done by guys that know SHOs in and out. That would be full upper and front 60K with rod bearings. Putting aside the tranny, what can I expect from this engine , reliability wise? She doesn't burn oil at all. It would be a daily driver doing 220 miles a week (daily commute is about 35 miles one way) .

60K plus other important fixes would put me around $3K.

Worth it or should I just dump it?

 

[SHOdded]

Tough one!

My 2 cents worth ...

Why do you want to keep the SHO? You obviously need reliability, do you also like your SHO that much? Do you garage your car regularly? If your commute is a lot of city driving, you need reliability even more. Driving aggressively would lessen the chances of you seeing a return on investment. Does the replacement car have a good reliability track record? Insurance rates?

Also think about getting a transmission cooler upgrade if you want to keep the car.

I have stuck with mine through thick and thin, but I have had to fend off a lot of opinions and pressure :rainshit: For me there is no substitute driving experience for the kick-in-the-a** fun the SHO provides, and I have driven a lot of different, newer cars while I have had the SHO.

Besides, haven't you heard, it is now a classic car :laugh_ti:

 

[kevinspann]

Is it worth 3k to have to work done by someone who knows them inside and out? That's a chunk of change to spend on just maintenance on the motor...

Regarding reliability, there should be no real issues there, in my opinion.

 

[OmMEGGA]

I just love the car. Every time I sit behind that wheel gives me warm feeling.

Commute is 95% highway. The replacement car would be any of the Japanese eco boxes. Corolla, Fit, Civic... I don't drive aggressively, although I put the pedal to the metal every so often.

I just don't know... I'm gonna go outside fire her up and re think everything again. I drove her everyday for a month until few problems poped-out . She is still driveable and what not but needs 60K badly...

As of right now I drive 01' SE which I need to get rid of too . Really tough decision.

as far as the classic goes, anyone (that I know) that doesnt know what SHO stands for, thinks its a 20 year old Taurus that grannies drive. My step father and mother think its a complete waste of money and they call it junk. But I'll do what I think its best. I'm a grown adult...

Is it worth 3k to have to work done by someone who knows them inside and out? That's a chunk of change to spend on just maintenance on the motor...





Regarding reliability, there should be no real issues there, in my opinion.

1500 for a full 60K and another 1500 for suspension work/new radiator

 

[zblackbeast]

Motor reliability wise, with the repairs done you list, you should have NO problems. Keep the tranny flushed and keep up on maintainence. The reason people find these cars ****** is because the p.os just beat the snot out of them with out even doing so much as an oil change.

My white SHO I bought at 120, I had records from 96 showing every oil change etc, when 160k came I decided to do rod bearinggs and not a single bearing was showing copper.

With any car seals wear out, hoses get cracked etc, just do it rigt the first time and spend the money and fix it all.

Its all if you want it done or not!!

GL

 

[Bob Gervais]

It's an ATX. How's the trans?

 

[OmMEGGA]

It's an ATX. How's the trans?

Pretty solid. It had new tranny mounts put on 20K miles ago. Shift are very smooth... sometimes somewhat hard upshift from 1st gear. But it happens rarely and usually when I'm not consistent with a gas pedal. Very nice and clean fluid too.

 

[zblackbeast]

Id say keep it clean, do the 60k and keep drivin it.

 

[SHOdded]

Alrighty then!

Id say keep it clean, do the 60k and keep drivin it.

^ Seconded, and GL.

 

[OmMEGGA]

* deleted*

 

[kevinspann]

If you don't want to spend 3k on it, sell it to someone that can do the work...

 

[shotime1994]

Fix it. Mileage is just a number. My dd is a 04 p71 with 242k on it. You can't find a good car for 3k that won't need something.

 

[Bob Gervais]

In terms of cost of ownership, I'd say keep it and do the maintenance. A car, any normal car, is the absolute worst investment one could make. It's not about getting the money back out of the car that you've put into it, it's about how much the car has cost you over the years. Sinking $3k into it now, if the trans is good, will give you many more miles of trouble free ownership. Maybe an alternator or other wear item here and there, but that's the case with any car.

You seem like you don't want to work on the car yourself, which is fine, but you have to realize that it's an older car, and any older car will need repairs and maintenance.

If you can afford the newer car, then go for it.

 

[theman88b]

I would say if the trans is original then get rid of it cause it is going to go soon. That is the only problem with the drive train on these. I drive my SHO over 400 miles a week and have had no problems, although it is a 5 spd. Has over 200k and most everything is original. Very reliable car if it is maintained. Can I ask what is wrong with the suspension that makes it not reliable and costs $1500?

 

[rubydist]

having one of these cars is expensive to maintain, unless you can do the labor yourself.

the book time for full 60k work plus rod bearings is around 17 hours, so that should be around $1700 in labor at a real shop. All the parts you need should be available for around $600. so it doesn't take much else to get to $3k total.

I would not put any money into the front suspension - I would put a Gen3 subframe under it, which has much better suspension, easier to change parts if you require that, and as a bonus better ride and handling.

to answer your question, the engine will easily go 300,000 miles if properly cared for, and it sounds like you plan to do that.

if the body and interior are good like you say, I'd fix it and keep it. however, I'd find a friend who knows the SHO and pay him in beer to show you how to do the work yourself. you can buy a lot of beer for $1700 in shop labor.....

 

[RonPorter]

Point is that after the 3K, you are in pretty good shape. Virtually any used car you buy, if it is over 3-4years old & 75K+ miles, is also gonna need SOMETHING. Stay with what you know.....

 

[wjayg]

work

Here is spread sheet on my 1990 MTX that I sold recently w/ 108K miles
I paid 2k for her and sold her for 4K and did all the work myself

9/8/2009 1990 FORD SHO 95537
1FACP54Y3LA196977

9/9/2009 6.13 Trans Fluid Type F 2-qt NAPA
9/10/2009 29.98 kool blue air filter ebay
9/11/2009 6.97 Trans Fluid Valvoline Schucks
9/11/2009 10.59 oil & fuel filter NEW
9/12/2009 150 windshield robert miller
9/14/2009 40 (4) 1995 Taurus Wheels THE CAR GUYS
9/15/2009 7.06 (2) oil filters 51516 Napa
9/15/2009 14.99 lug nut key McGard
9/16/2009 27.56 Full size spare mnt & bal Cheaper Tire
9/24/2009 465.17 LH CV Axle (2) in tie rod Les Schwab 95739
9/27/2009 429.27 Monroe quick struts Rock Auto
9/29/2009 26.5 (4) pinch bolts (3) emblems Scott Zambotti
10/3/2009 7.41 (6) autolite 3924 (-3.00) Schucks
10/12/2009 75.81 OXYGEN SENSOR (2) Rock Auto bosch 13942
10/13/2009 94.8 CRANK POS SEN (213-2399) R.A ACDELCO
" 92.9 SPARK PLUG WIRES (16-826Q) R.A. ACDELCO
" 35.14 INTAKE MAN GSKT SET (MS94831) R.A. FEL-PRO
" 80.55 VALVE COVER GASKET (VS50378R) R.A. FEL-PRO
10/17/2009 11.37 LOWER RAD HOSE (22735) R.A. GATES
FREIGHT 10.31 HOSE RAD UPPER (21976) R.A. GATES
10/22/2008 6.8 HOSE T.B. TO PIPE (14001S) R.A. ACDELCO
"
FREIGHT 2 FOG LIGHT JALOPY JUNGLE
10/22/2009 2 COIL PACK COVER "
" 87 (6 AGSP 32PP)/ FORD SERVICE MANUAL Don Donelson
10/14/2009 31.73 HEATER CORE HOSES (2) NAPA
10/24/2009 6 TRUNK COMPARTMENTS JALOPY JUNGLE
10/25/2009 2.4 2' VACUUM TUBING H-461 NAPA
10/29/2009 4.8 4' VACUUM TUBING H-461 NAPA
10/31/2009 175 TINT BENSON 468-1010
11/6/2009 23.29 THERMO/SEAL/WATER WET 15878/35278 AUTOZONE
11/6/2009 22.24 LICENSE PLATE/LENS SCHUCKS
12/2/2009 24 ALTERNATOR 90AMP USED JALOPY JUNGLE
12/28/2009 38.6 STARTER DELCO REMAN 3361136 ROCK AUTO
1/10/2010 62.61 ALTERNATOR REBUILD HUSKY AUTO ELEC
1/18/2010 58.79 FUEL PUMP DELCO EP361 90/93 ROCK AUTO
3/15/2010 5.82 FUEL PUMP STRAINER TS50 ROCK AUTO
4/6/2010 6.31 FEL-PRO EXHAUST BOLT/SPRING ES72142 ROCK AUTO
" 3.7 WALKER EXH PIP ****** GSKT 31532 ROCK AUTO
95 R12 FREON 3 LB BOISE TRUCK SERVICE
5/24/2010 20 16" WHITE SLICER WHEEL JALOPY JUNGLE
5/25/2010 200 (4) 16" WHITE SLICERS W/ TIRES DAYTONA HR 95H
5/26/2010 20 (1) USED 215/60R16 TOYO TIRE Les Schwab
6/2/2010 13.62 MOUNT & BALANCE USED TOYO-SPARE WALMART
6/3/2010 140 FUEL PUMP/FOG LAMP TREASURE JAG
6/10/2010 169.99 KENWOOD KDC-HD545U CRUTCHFIELDS
6/16/2010 8.36 18 GAUGE BULLET CONNECTOR SHRINK WALMART
6/16/2010 15.56 5060445 ALT & AC BELT GATES ROCK AUTO
6/17/2010 14.98 4040500 WP PS IDLER BELT GATES ROCK AUTO
" GTO BLACK HEADLIGHT COVERS SHOFORUM
6/22/2010 104.64 EATC RCM
7/1/2010 25.06 WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP ROCK AUTO
1/14/2011 66 SILICONE RAD HOSES/DIS/INTAKE CLAMPS STEPHEN PORTER
4/19/2011 CAM SENSOR MOTORCRAFT DU-47 ROCKAUTO
6/30/2011 206 MAGNA FLOW "Y" PIPE 23355 SHOSON ED SHOFORUM
8/11/2011 642.5 MAGNA FLOW MUFFLERS & EXHAUST BOISE MUFFLER

TOTAL is: 3927.31

 

[itwonder]

It makes no sense to keep it unless 1)you can do the work yourself 2) you love it. The transmission is cause for concern because of the cost of a rebuild if it craps out; do a detailed assessment of the color and clarity of the fluid.

 

[zblackbeast]

It makes no sense to keep it unless 1)you can do the work yourself 2) you love it. The transmission is cause for concern because of the cost of a rebuild if it craps out; do a detailed assessment of the color and clarity of the fluid.

This is total bull crap. If you can afford a new car, you can afford to repair an old one. If every SHO owner did their own work ONLY, places like NE SHO, Tony in Texas, James in St. Louis etc would be out of business and broke..

Like Bob, Porter and Kevin (all experienced SHO owners) are telling you the same thing I am too, maybe that holds some kind of water..

The trannys die mainly do to neglect and getting the shit kicked out of them. If you keep up on proper maintainence intervals you'll have no problem. From what it sounds, you want a car that you just get in and drive with out even so much as washing the car. In that case, its going to break... You do not need to do a detailed assesment of the fluid on a dd. Keep the shit clean and add a cooler. Heat is the death of auto trannys, dirty fluid doesn't hold and extract heat so keeping the fluid neish and clean, and adding a cooler will help reduce heat. I also work at advance auto, and a guy came in and told me every 5k when he changes his oil, he changes his tranny fluid.

These are older cars, they will need work, but, if you aren't completely handy, find someone who is a SHO specialist and will sell you only what you need and give you a better rate.

If you want the car, do the work, and trust me.. the pay off is worth it..

 

[rubydist]

not to mention that a SHO is way more fun than a $8000 Cobalt or Corolla or whatever, and you will need to spend some money to maintain them too.