What should I do with my 1998 GT mustang?

dmangus · 10-09-2008

I have a 1998 mustang GT and I am trying to figure out which direction to take it. Here is the issue. I went to a machanic to get a tune up, and he said I have a compression leak in cylinder 7. With that said some type of engine work is going to be needed. So what should I do? Should I rebuild the engine from the ground up? I hear thats buying a new small block and heads and all that stuff. (I am a beginer) Or a crate motor.

I looked at the stuff at www.fordracingparts.com but i get confused as to the diffrence between motors, such as smallblock, longblock, and modular. I assume i should be looking at modular since to my knowledge, my current engine is considered modular.

What should I do mustang community, what should I do?

RandyStinchcomb · 10-09-2008

how many miles on it?
and a compression leak in #7 doesn't sound right, was this a reputable shop

and "yes" your car has a Modular engine in it.....

dmangus · 10-09-2008

i have like 90k miles. I can't say the shop was reputable or not really. I don't want to sell the car because its fully paid for and has all my custome stuff in it. Custom sound, custom kit, rims etc. And I still love the SN95 bodystyle. Not to mention the idea of paying a note agian is like a nightmare.

RandyStinchcomb · 10-09-2008

90k is not that bad, I've seen alot more milaeage outta' these engines, is it running ok? any issues at all?

dmangus · 10-09-2008

well it takes me two - three cycles from cold start to get it cranked. Also the battary seems to die if i leave it undriven for more than 4 days. That issue is a odd one because i cant detect a drain when its off. I tested the altinator and it feeds good power. Its actually a more powerfull one than stock which i picked up just because I put my audio set in. I still have the stock altinator which works fine as well. I have replaced the battary twice just incase, and still same effect.

Those are the two major issues I have with the car, assided from the coolent leak from my intake manifold, but I will be trying to replace that this weekend.

Amscray88kr · 10-09-2008

uhh new plugs and wires? optima battery?
check your distributor? ignition box? just firing ideas faster than your car starts

dont know much about compression leaks other than the fact that it needs to be fixed so they are all even.

if worst comes to worse jsut give me your keys...thats what you can do with you 98gt =D

drewp · 10-09-2008

did he give you numbers on the compression ?
usually from a leak test they can tell you more than you have stated here. theres a couple kinds of leaks, air passing the piston rings, and air passing the valves. oh and i guess we could throw in a gasket leak where air might infiltrate the cooling system. theres also conditions with no leaks and maybe a cylinder down a bit in the compression test.
so with the right info you should know weather it needs a valve work, or lower end/ rings,pistions etc. or both. or maybe just a head gasket.
with compression tests theres wet and dry also. a engine can fail a dry test and be fine or at least better on the wet. showing a well lubed engine might get alot of miles on a slightly weak cylinder.

probubly safe to go with your mechanics recomendations but more info would be helpful for us to give better advice.

racin366 · 10-09-2008

You might want to get a second opinion before you do any work, try to find a shop with a good rep for mustangs. If you do go for a second opinion, don't tell them what the other guy said, just tell them you're having some issues and need a diagnosis and would like a compression check done.

BlueStreak03 · 10-11-2008

Definitely get a second test done by a different shop. Specifically ask for a cylinder leakdown test.

**tripleblack** · 10-12-2008

I find the report from the first shop suspicious also.

Get back to us with an update.

If you have trouble finding a local shop, you might contact the local Mustang Clubs. They know who's trustworthy.

MCA : GENERAL INFO