1992 4WD Ford Explorer XLT head gaskets replacement
- Thread starter jurko
- Start date
That's cheap 
Very reasonable!
Very reasonable!
Good to hear. Thanks.That's cheap
Very reasonable!
Is it worth putting that much into an old beater? What if the transmission blows next?
You get it repaired or another trans.
Would make more sense to spend the money on something nicer. After all, the definition of a beater is a vehicle you don't care much about that you keep driving until it breaks and then get something else.
It was common on that era pushrod 4.0 for the heads to crack for no reason
Since it's his exploring truck I will assume it's 4wd. Be pretty hard to find another 4x4 cheap.
I see nice looking ones run through the auctions around here for $500 or $600 all the time. Nobody seems to want them.
At that price, head gaskets and a rebuilt trans are a whole lot cheaper than a new SUV, and cheaper than just one of the two jobs on anything late model.
If one of my Explorers needed head gaskets, I would absolutely be fine with $1k if I trusted who was doing the work.
They can't be that nice, the one on Cars and Bids went for $8500.
Even my very wrecked, frame bent 4 door with 256k or so sold for $500 at Copart, before all the fees.
Value has everything to do with condition (and lesser mileage) when they get that old.
Anything that runs (and is safe) is worth a $1K repair in this market... unless it has severe frame rust but in Nevada, probably not.
Sure you can buy something with one foot in the grave for $500... then pour another $3000 into it if you aren't DIY the repairs. $300 price doesn't even make sense though, that someone would bother when you can get $300 out of it as scrap value, maybe more if you sell the cats separately. They had a lot more precious metal in them back then.
Anything that runs (and is safe) is worth a $1K repair in this market... unless it has severe frame rust but in Nevada, probably not.
Sure you can buy something with one foot in the grave for $500... then pour another $3000 into it if you aren't DIY the repairs. $300 price doesn't even make sense though, that someone would bother when you can get $300 out of it as scrap value, maybe more if you sell the cats separately. They had a lot more precious metal in them back then.
The "it's old, not worth the $$" problem is with paying a "mechanic". Go out there and start pulling stuff off the engine, watch some you tube, get a shop to measure and/or surface the heads, and put it back together.
You'll be richer, smarter and you won't have to worry about whether that "mechanic" was strung out on Copenhagen and Red Bull.
You'll be richer, smarter and you won't have to worry about whether that "mechanic" was strung out on Copenhagen and Red Bull.
I paid $200 for it less then 2 years ago with 178K miles on it from neighbor. Haven't seen him drive it for at least 3 years after he bought brand new Nissan Murano. Went over and asked him if he wanted to sell it and he agreed.
All it needed was new alternator, battery, new tires and brake pads. Got me to places where I can't go with my Golf which was nice.
Since new the car has always been in arid climate of Nevada high desert and is in remarkable good condition without much visible rust.
Hopefully it serves me well for another 2-3 years after this head gaskets job. If not then I am done with it and keep an eye on used Jeep Wrangler. Fingers crossed.
All it needed was new alternator, battery, new tires and brake pads. Got me to places where I can't go with my Golf which was nice.
Since new the car has always been in arid climate of Nevada high desert and is in remarkable good condition without much visible rust.
Hopefully it serves me well for another 2-3 years after this head gaskets job. If not then I am done with it and keep an eye on used Jeep Wrangler. Fingers crossed.
Who said anything about buying a NEW truck? Just get a newER truck. Sell the one with blown headgaskets for $500 and take the $1000 you would spend on the repair and put it towards this one, https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...89160542409\":111}}","ftmd_400706":"111112l"}
I would much rather put $1000 into a vehicle I knew the history on than go try to buy someone elses discarded lemon that "runs great" for a lot more.
I will never part with my 2008 Xterra. In places with no road salt the body / frame will outlive most of us.
I will never part with my 2008 Xterra. In places with no road salt the body / frame will outlive most of us.
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That second gen doesn't look bad, though I do wonder what's up with the significant price drop. An AWD V8 should be an easy sell in good run/drive condition.
That said, I think any rust free and relatively clean first gen is worth saving. Especially in the OP's case since it goes off road. The first gens have the Twin Traction Beam front suspension which is great off road and durable. When we had an ice storm here a few years ago my aunt was borrowing my cousin's '93 Eddie Bauer and got it sideways in her driveway, which is above a retaining wall that's about 2 feet tall. My cousin just drove it off the retaining wall and it was fine. The first gens are a very unique combination of real Ford truck suspension and Taurus comfort. Ford really didn't build anything else like it. The Bronco II had the suspension, but a Ranger body and level of refinement. The second gen had car-like handling and was nice enough to be sold in Japan, but had the watered down plain IFS front suspension. My 1997 is my daily driver, but I plan on owning my 1994 for the rest of my life.
JHZR2
Staff member
I would have guessed $2500 for the job at least.
I would just make sure the heads are checked. The early 4.0 OHV engine was extremely known for cracked heads when I worked at the ford dealer around 2004.
Thanks.
I'll relay that info to machine shop where the heads are being delivered in about an hour.
Got the chance to see the engine internals and was pleased. No sludge just a slight golden brown varnish in several spots.
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