Hi Guys,

So my best buddy bought a used 99GT from a guy we both know. The car drove great for 2 hours from Clemson 2 Atlanta, everything was perfect. He signs the papers and drives away. 30 mins later he is at the side of the road, white smoke and a siezed engine. The ford dealership says he needs a new one.

I feel HORRIBLE for him and want to know how to help. Is it viable to look for a used GT engine to swap in or will the car forever have little problems? The ford dealership was quoting 4 grand, surely it can be done for less?

I'd realllly appreciate some opinions/advice etc from you all. He bought the car with pretty much all the money he has saved.

Thanks
Neil

 

Contact the seller immediately. Ask for a partial refund and explain you dissatisfaction with the deal. Explain that you are willing to take a partial refund with which you can buy a replacement motor. 99-01 GT motors can be found pretty regularly for free to 4-500 bucks. Any ol' PI head 4.6 will do. Just plug it in and swap any parts you need to make the accessories and plumbing work. Then go back to the sellers house and empty out that can of whoopass.

 

thanks guys... still can't believe it happened. has anybody used that company MPS that do wrecked mustangs? I guess we should take a look at them for the engine?

 

Guess i'm going to pop my engine swap cherry! I'm almost as excited as I was that night when i was 16.....

Please keep em coming if anyone knows of solid engines anywhere for sale just now. in the Atlnata area....

Thanks a million!!!

 

MPS has been decent in my dealings with them. You pay top dollar for second hand parts but you always get what you need.

 

Damn...

Check the laws, he might be able to get all of his moolah back.

If not, press charges.

 

MTShambles is right, some states have buyers protection laws, most do not apply to two indv people making a sell without a contract or buyers agreement. Some states automaticaly protect you if the sell is over a cert amount of $. First try to find out why the motor blew, then check your local laws. Then call the guy and see if he's willing to help you out, you never know he may feel as bad as you do about it.

 

To make most of those laws work for you you'll need to prove some sort of previous knowledge on the part of the seller. Not always so you really should spend 90 bucks and consult a lawyer. You might just end up with him buying the car back, fixing the problem or giving you a partial refund.

As far as I'm concerned, you buy a used car, you buy what you see. If you take the time to check it out thoroughly you shouldn't usually have problems like this. Not always but mostly. When you do, hopefully you're in a position to fix the damage cuz you're on your own.

If the seller advertised it as having been recently serviced then you have the complicity approach still intact.

 

Damn, what a ****ty deal...I'd contact the seller right away and tell him to take his junk back...

 

Like Chris said, there is such a thing as a lemon Law. You might want to get a lawyer for buddy. That is BS..........

 

Unless you signed a paper saying "AS IS" lemon law is still intact....Check into it....

 

Thanks again for all your opinions guys... the seller is actually being "ok" about it. He was in the car getting a ride home when it happened. He has worked a lot on Mustangs before and built a couple of show winners. He has offered to help pay half of a used engine and help install it buy getting an engine hoist and his tools etc.. but all this has to be done in 2 weeks as he's moving away to Ohio - I just dont see it happening and think he'll **** off and dissappear.

Will start looking into the Lawyer stuff. Again, thanks a lot for all your replies its great to hear all the opinions

 

Greg,

you and I need to get a beer sometime - we're one and the same!

 

I feel his pain. I bought a blown 95GTS and drove it 4 hours and the motor went. I could never get the damn thing to run right in the 6 months I owned it. I also blew the supercharger up on the dyno. damn car was haunted.

 

If you go with a used engine, MPS would be a excellent place to go to. They stand behind every engine they sell. I bought a used engine from them over 2 years ago and it is still going strong. I also got a good deal from them. I believe I payed $850.00 for a 4.6, including shipping to Arkansas

 

I've got a motor and tranny for sale.