Quote Originally Posted by FordMan77 View Post
Also, if you're not visibly loosing oil from a leak (check the front and rear manifolds for sings of oil dripping, which would be a valve cover gasket), then don't forget to change the PCV valve. Could be gunked up causing excess pressure in the crankcase.

When I replaced the engine in mine, I got a motor with around 140K on it for $300. Add in gaskets, coolant and small parts I was right around $500. It pays to shop around places like RockAuto, Ebay, Amazon, etc. I swapped the motor in my garage with no lift and basic hand tools (with some air ones thrown in for speed). Just removed the hood and pulled it out the top.
how much time did you invest in that process?

Did you ever doubt your decision of not spending the $700-1000 for labor at a trusted shop while you make more money doing what you do?

I guess if I make $15/hour doing what I do, then that's $120/day or $600/week, and a week is what I will need to do it myself, then having someone do it for me makes more sense, especially since they do it in half the time and that'll mean half the time of rental for the replacement car that I will get in the meantime