Engine swap or rebuild?

[stevesoasis]

Well the marauder is hurtin 😔 Last night something let go in the engine. I was on the highway when I heard some loud knocking from the engine. There is a constant loud ticking when running and a very loud knock when I touch the gas pedal. I limped home and parked it. No engine light is on, still have oil pressure and it still runs. No leaks either. Not sure yet what wrong but my question is should I get the engine rebuilt or just do an engine swap? Obviously cost is an issue and I will find out soon what is wrong and go from there but in the meantime some opinions would be appreciated 👍

[RF Overlord]

Unless you have Zack-level skills and can do it yourself, rebuilds of a mod motor are expensive.

[stevesoasis]

Well looks like she's blown, talked to a mechanic and he said to check the oil level. If it's dry the engine is cooked, it's dry ������ lol. Well, cobra motor swap I guess??

[fastblackmerc]

Well looks like she's blown, talked to a mechanic and he said to check the oil level. If it's dry the engine is cooked, it's dry ������ lol. Well, cobra motor swap I guess??
Remanufactured motor swap.

Long block if you can find one.

[Ourobos]

Cobra motor swap would drop your compression from 10.0:1 to 8.5:1.. It'd be a turd.. You could put forged internals in it with -4.5cc dish pistons, bringing you back to about 10.0:1.. That's my plan when mine goes..

[stevesoasis]

Remanufactured motor swap.

Long block if you can find one.

Any leads on where I could find something like that?

[fastblackmerc]

Any leads on where I could find something like that?

Google "ford 4.6l dohc longblock" over 26k hits.

[Ourobos]

www.svtperformance.com

[Mike M]

Well the marauder is hurtin 😔 Last night something let go in the engine. I was on the highway when I heard some loud knocking from the engine. There is a constant loud ticking when running and a very loud knock when I touch the gas pedal. I limped home and parked it. No engine light is on, still have oil pressure and it still runs. No leaks either. Not sure yet what wrong but my question is should I get the engine rebuilt or just do an engine swap? Obviously cost is an issue and I will find out soon what is wrong and go from there but in the meantime some opinions would be appreciated 👍

The oil pressure gauge is fake.

[lifespeed]

Keep in mind that cobra blocks are cast iron. The added weight up front will alter the car's handling.

[justbob]

I never noticed a single difference in height or handling.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[lifespeed]

I never noticed a single difference in height or handling.

That may be. But nobody (or their car) escapes the laws of physics. I will never forget the difference when I moved the battery in my 1970 GTO from under the hood to the trunk.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I never noticed a single difference in height or handling.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

Of course not since you added a million horsepower :cool:

[justbob]

Of course not since you added a million horsepower :cool:


Yeah, not. This car is around 150 HP south of where it will be.. Before the nitrous!


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[justbob]

That may be. But nobody (or their car) escapes the laws of physics. I will never forget the difference when I moved the battery in my 1970 GTO from under the hood to the trunk.


A battery??? That's like groceries..

If you felt a difference in that, your **** is broke.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[CWright]

I'm the same as Bob on the engine but with a Whipple instead. I haven't noticed any difference in the ride and yes, I'm not at 1000 either.











YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! :D

[WPG_Merc]

Hope things work out in the search.

I might be looking into this block in a year or so. :)

https://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField= 22907

[lifespeed]

A battery??? That's like groceries..

If you felt a difference in that, your **** is broke.

LOL, about 55 lbs of groceries up front ahead of the axle! On a 4000 lb car shifting 55 lbs from front to rear is nearly a 3% difference in weight balance. Just the facts.

Every old hotrodder knows about the battery-in-the-trunk trick. But you've probably already done it for the supercharger and are getting the benefits. But the car was down for awhile installing the blower and the before/after comparison had some time in between to let your driving muscle memory get a little hazy.

[lji372]

Keep in mind that cobra blocks are cast iron. The added weight up front will alter the car's handling.

Doubt it would be noticed unless your a road course racer.....

[lifespeed]

Doubt it would be noticed unless your a road course racer.....

I have no opinion on who would notice what and under what conditions. I have my own experiences with hot rods in general, as well as the Marauder.

One of the things Mercury did to make the Marauder better than the rest of the panther fleet is the engine. The Marauder's F/R weight balance is better (closer to 50/50) than a Grand Marquis. They could have specified an iron block engine like the Mustang and saved a few dollars to boot, but they didn't. They also put lightweight forged wheels on the car.

I am not criticizing people's choice to run an iron block, we all do what we think best. And iron is strong. Just pointing out one of the consequences.

[lji372]

Good thing they did all this weight saving in a big car so fat guys like me could make up the difference :D

[lifespeed]

Good thing they did all this weight saving in a big car so fat guys like me could make up the difference :D

You may have to compensate with some aluminum rear control arms and hollow Addco sway bars.

[lji372]

I typically only run 1/8-3/8 of a tank of fuel, run 1 quart low on oil and trans fluid and leave the coolant reservoir low. Shouldn't that be good enough :confused:

[lifespeed]

I typically only run 1/8-3/8 of a tank of fuel, run 1 quart low on oil and trans fluid and leave the coolant reservoir low. Shouldn't that be good enough :confused:

Take the spare tire out too. The one in the trunk. :D

[Mike M]

When I blew a rod out the side of my block I just ordered a new aluminum bare block from the dealer....and of course I filled it with nothing but the best forged goodies.

[stevesoasis]

Thanks for all the advice guys, been looking around and I can get a used cobra motor for around $6500 with 80,000 miles on it. Not sure about that considering I can buy a brand new long block ready to be supercharged for the same price. With the 4.6 DOHC Longblock will that bolt right in and I can use all my existing parts to get the car running again?? Sorry for my lack of knowledge I'm not mechanically inclined lol.

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks for all the advice guys, been looking around and I can get a used cobra motor for around $6500 with 80,000 miles on it. Not sure about that considering I can buy a brand new long block ready to be supercharged for the same price. With the 4.6 DOHC Longblock will that bolt right in and I can use all my existing parts to get the car running again?? Sorry for my lack of knowledge I'm not mechanically inclined lol.

Found this description....


"A short block engine and a long block engine are two different engine states. While they are both the same in external dimensions, they differ in the amount of parts they contain. Both short block and long block engines are potential components to the best car engines.

Short Block Engine
Short block engines are not complete but they do come with a cam pistons, connecting rods and a crank.. They do require the installation of additional internal parts which include but are not limited to: an oil pump, cylinder heads and gaskets. Some short blocks are made available with camshafts and timing parts.

Long Block Engine
This type of engine is almost complete and comes with the head which is bolted to the short block. The long block engine will need to have some additional external parts installed. These parts include but are not limited to: valve covers, manifolds for the exhaust and intake, a timing covers and an oil pan.

Short Block and Long Block Comparison
The car engine performance provided by a long block engine is potentially better than that of a short block due to the state in which it is installed into a vehicle. Having more parts, there are fewer situations where problems could arise in the installation process. At the same time, the short block engine allows for more choice and potentially quality performance, in the additional parts that are necessary to the installation.The need for a short block replacement indicates that the engine block and some major internal parts have been damaged beyond repair.

However, the existing and working systems such as the intake, exhaust manifold and heads can be connected to the new short block. The need for a long block replacement indicates that the short block and the head have been damaged beyond repair. The cost of the additional internal parts for a short block are more expensive than the cost of the additional external parts for the long block. The short block parts also require more time for installation than the long block parts. When considering the costs of parts and labor, the short block will be more costly than the long block which comes almost complete."

[sflrainmaker01]

Found this description....


"A short block engine and a long block engine are two different engine states. While they are both the same in external dimensions, they differ in the amount of parts they contain. Both short block and long block engines are potential components to the best car engines.

Short Block Engine
Short block engines are not complete but they do come with a cam pistons, connecting rods and a crank.. They do require the installation of additional internal parts which include but are not limited to: an oil pump, cylinder heads and gaskets. Some short blocks are made available with camshafts and timing parts.

Long Block Engine
This type of engine is almost complete and comes with the head which is bolted to the short block. The long block engine will need to have some additional external parts installed. These parts include but are not limited to: valve covers, manifolds for the exhaust and intake, a timing covers and an oil pan.

Short Block and Long Block Comparison
The car engine performance provided by a long block engine is potentially better than that of a short block due to the state in which it is installed into a vehicle. Having more parts, there are fewer situations where problems could arise in the installation process. At the same time, the short block engine allows for more choice and potentially quality performance, in the additional parts that are necessary to the installation.The need for a short block replacement indicates that the engine block and some major internal parts have been damaged beyond repair.

However, the existing and working systems such as the intake, exhaust manifold and heads can be connected to the new short block. The need for a long block replacement indicates that the short block and the head have been damaged beyond repair. The cost of the additional internal parts for a short block are more expensive than the cost of the additional external parts for the long block. The short block parts also require more time for installation than the long block parts. When considering the costs of parts and labor, the short block will be more costly than the long block which comes almost complete."

That is perfect! Good find FBM! :)

[sflrainmaker01]

This just popped up. Might be an option. I know you don't need trans etc, but sell that stuff off and that could pay for the install.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94854

[stevesoasis]

Anyone have any experience or opinions on engineguy.com