To scrap, or to rebuild.....(advice please)

[mutahj]

Hello, I recently picked up a 93 SHO with 130k miles. I intended to use it just for a little while until a more permanent second car could be found. I started looking for a replacement for it, with about a 5 thousand dollar price range and I wasn't happy with what that would get me (the last thing I want right now is a second car payment).

So I started thinking, since my SHO is actually a pretty nice car, although it has a few "quirks"... climate control problems ... mysterious whining noise I think is related to power steering.. plenty of others not worth mentioning... Anyway, I was wondering if it might not be a better idea to spend 5k rebuilding the SHO, doing what I can myself, and having a shop rebuild whatever I do not have the tools or talent for.

So I started reading message boards and faq's and there seems to be a lot of problems finding parts and other issues. I have to admit I am drooling a little bit at the thought of rebuilding and perhaps modifying the SHO, but I am worried that I may be opening a big can of worms in doing so.

So I am asking the readers of this board, who have a lot more experience with the SHO than myself, what advice you would recommend for someone in my position. Is it worth it to start rebuilding my SHO, or do you think it will end up being an endless moneypit.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[nc89sho]

i would say go for it, these cars are great high mileage cars. there are a few on here with over 200K miles and still running strong, even being raced. they are fun as **** also and very comfortable. just be warned, you may catch the SHO-bug and end up falling in love with the thing and waisting huge amounts of money on it. and eventually you may even forget who's in controll here, you, or the car....... shrug maybe that's just me...

anyway, enjoy..

 

[SHO--ripper]

First off welcome to the forum. thumb If you have a good job don't be afraid to invest in your SHO. The car is 10 years old so you will have to do a good amount of work to it. If you are mechanically inclined then it will be no problem. All the info needed to do anything to your SHO will be found on the forum. Modifying your SHO is very fun . is your car a ATX(automatic) or MTX(Manual),mileage, and do you live close to CT? Good luck with whatever you do with the car.

 

[JoeHoe_SHO]

I also would say sink the 5 grand into the SHO. With 5 grand you can, do the 120K maintenance(waterpump, CPS, Gaskets, Plugs/Wires, valve adjustment etc...) and with that kind of money, you could even afford to have someone else work on it for you(do it yourself if you can/want to) The parts for a 60K/120K can be anywhere from 600-900 bucks depending on what parts you replace/where you get them from. The labor will be about a thrid of what you pay for the parts. Also, if you have a ATX, you will have enough money left over to upgrade the 93 computer to a 94(improves shifts) or you can get a LMP(lifetime performace module) It would also be a good idea to save some cash for a re-built tranny.

If you have a MTX...you can get a Quaife LSD which will give you more power to both wheels, and has a life time warrenty and it won't blow your tranny like the stock open diff. will.

Again, this is all IMO. If I had 5 grand to blow on my SHO, I would do the 120K, refresh my tranny and install a Quaife, get some heavy duty motor mounts, bigger brakes, hi-flow exhaust, and then see how much cash I got left. Nitrous is always a cheap(er) performance mod(MTX only, unless you beef up your ATX)...just do your homework. Gotta get a dry kit, keeping the shots under 100 is a good idea aswell. Lots 'O Research is required if you want to do this. Good luck and welcome to the forum! thumb

<small>[ July 01, 2003, 04:37 PM: Message edited by: JoeHoe_SHO ]</small>

 

[HopefulSHO]

Drop the keys and run. Run like ****!!
*grabs keys and takes off with parts car*

If you enjoy working on your own cars, and aren't afraid to spend a bit of money (or a lot of money if you take it to a mechanic..) - and if you like the SHO - why not keep it? It's going to cost a bit to maintain, but the enjoyment I get out of mine is priceless.

Even with the $$$ I've had to dump into mine, I'm not sure I could find a better car (with 4 doors, a 5speed, cheap insurance and lots of balls).

 

[AutoSHO]

No way.

Not a chance I'd drop 5 grand into a 10 year old Ford Taurus. The car wasn't meant to last as long as it already has, much less longer. Get something japanese (and I dont just mean the engine). American cars are junk.

 

[TYSHO]

This is crap, you guys are probaly scaring him/her.

Advice...do the maintnence first. Parts can be had cheap for no more then like $650 if you go by SDPATT's list of 60k parts. Check CV boots, tie rods, brake pads, and rotors then replace what needs the attention there. If your car is out of shape maintnence wise and especially the timing belt, you'll feel a big difference in performance. You don't have to go buying performance parts right away, get it in shape and see how the SHO fits your standards and if it does, it's your choice to mod it up and if it does't please you, go look into another car.(I'm sure you'll be pleased ) You also need to check into your power steering you mentioned. Maintnence before mods. (some people forget jpshakeh )Don't drop it all into the SHO unless you plan on keeping it as the SHO doesn't hold it's value much and you wont get back what you put in, but over all the SHO is 'very' reliable 'if' maintneced correctly. Just ask SDPATT as he has around 275k miles now and still puts the power down and has a very reliable SHO, becuase maintnence is his first priority. wink

 

[mutahj]

Thanks for the advice so far, it helps a lot hearing from SHO owners. As far as the "american cars are junk" goes.... my primary car ... err truck is a 98 dodge ram 1500 4x4 and it has given me 50k trouble free miles and I LOVE that "american made" truck. thumb

 

[AutoSHO]

I said car for a reason

I've got a '96 Dodge 2500 4x4 Club Cab w/ the Cummins in it, 110k and all we've done is changed the oil. Great truck.

The taurus just isnt put together that well, and with 130k the more expensive nickel and dime things start to break. The brake system (frozen calipers, slider pins, e-brake cables, collapsed lines), suspension (bushings wear out, wheel bearings go bad, struts, broken springs, etc), and interior all seem to be pretty poorly made by comparison to the foreign vehicles I've owned.

 

[Spin]

put the 5 gz into it, mine was running strong until the day it died at 234,199, a **** of a place to die, was hoping to make it to 235. You'll be happy with the investment