Tusc
04-27-2009, 08:47 AM
Hey guys - not a regular poster here, so Mods please feel free to move the post if necessary.
I have a 99 Crown Vic as a daily driver. The engine has a coolant leak which I cannot locate. It doesn't seep or leak at idle, it only sprays a bit under load. The location seems to be behind the alternator, which is mounted at 12 o'clock on the Vic - not sure if it's different for the Marauders.
It is NOT the thermostat / housing / gasket, any of the radiator hoses, or the water pump. In my head, this leaves a head gasket or a cracked manifold. This car has the plastic variety for the coolant crossover, so that may be it. But like I said, without a second set of eyes I haven't been able to spot the leak point. It does seem to spray "up" onto the alternator and covering the TB, then leak down from where it collects there and pool around the injector and plug locations to the side.
I'll dig in a bit more this week and locate the leak. With luck, it is only the manifold.
So my questions to you are:
A) if I need to replace the manifold and want to get an aftermarket unit, what year range of Mustang would be equivalent? Or would they NOT be equivalent? I presume bolt patterns are the same, but who knows about the TB or anything else. (A**hole at the local Ford dealer quoted me $700 for an intake manifold. I asked him how many people actually pay to be the 'bottom')
B) if it's the head gasket and I decide I don't feel like tearing down a 150k mile engine, where can I score the least expensive replacement longblock?
I'd dump the car, but I'm getting married in 5 weeks and have put my 'Viper Fund' into the ring, wedding and Vienna honeymoon. That, plus the car has brand new alternator, battery, water pump, starter, plugs, coils, rotors, pads, tires, front suspension and head unit. I'd feel dumb dumping it for another one where I'd just have to replace those parts again soon anyway. Thanks for the help!
I have a 99 Crown Vic as a daily driver. The engine has a coolant leak which I cannot locate. It doesn't seep or leak at idle, it only sprays a bit under load. The location seems to be behind the alternator, which is mounted at 12 o'clock on the Vic - not sure if it's different for the Marauders.
It is NOT the thermostat / housing / gasket, any of the radiator hoses, or the water pump. In my head, this leaves a head gasket or a cracked manifold. This car has the plastic variety for the coolant crossover, so that may be it. But like I said, without a second set of eyes I haven't been able to spot the leak point. It does seem to spray "up" onto the alternator and covering the TB, then leak down from where it collects there and pool around the injector and plug locations to the side.
I'll dig in a bit more this week and locate the leak. With luck, it is only the manifold.
So my questions to you are:
A) if I need to replace the manifold and want to get an aftermarket unit, what year range of Mustang would be equivalent? Or would they NOT be equivalent? I presume bolt patterns are the same, but who knows about the TB or anything else. (A**hole at the local Ford dealer quoted me $700 for an intake manifold. I asked him how many people actually pay to be the 'bottom')
B) if it's the head gasket and I decide I don't feel like tearing down a 150k mile engine, where can I score the least expensive replacement longblock?
I'd dump the car, but I'm getting married in 5 weeks and have put my 'Viper Fund' into the ring, wedding and Vienna honeymoon. That, plus the car has brand new alternator, battery, water pump, starter, plugs, coils, rotors, pads, tires, front suspension and head unit. I'd feel dumb dumping it for another one where I'd just have to replace those parts again soon anyway. Thanks for the help!