Welp my engine is dead.... - 2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

Rusty67 · 09-13-2020, 09:51 PM

So it comes down to this, I've got 160,000+ miles on my 4.6L and I don't drive the car very often anymore because I daily ride a motorcycle 99% of the time. From what I can tell, I might have broken a connecting rod or main bearing. I'm guessing bad main bearing. There is metal glitter in the oil I drained this morning with some slightly larger chunks so I know for sure the motor is done.

The real question here is do I try to salvage my 03 Mach 1 or do I just walk away from the car. I've had it about 10 years and it has given me overall GREAT service/reliability. The only issue I ever had with the car leaving me out in the cold was the fuel pump went out on me at 120,000 miles. Other than that, it has just been minor issues here and there.

My plans for the car were to yank the 4.6L and do a coyote swap if the motor ever went out on me but I was hoping to do that in another 1-3 years after I moved back to SoCal. I don't have the space/work area to do it where I live now and I certainly don't want to pay a shop 10K to RnR the motor and have it rebuilt. Even if I RnR the motor myself I feel like I'm going to end up somewhere in the 6-8K range.

What do you guys think? Is it worth fixing the old girl? She isn't in perfect shape by any stretch and does need a small amount of body work. At the same time, I would essentially be calling up a scrapper to come take it after I pull my T56 Magnum and a few other choice parts out of her. I'd end up with nothing for it. I'm a bit torn on this one because it is just at the tipping point where fixing it could make sense but at the same time I don't want to end up with the same mostly stock Mach 1 I've been driving for the last 10 years if I put a ton of money into the car. It feels like 10K to get my motor back to stock isn't a smart investment.

DSG2003Mach1 · 09-14-2020, 09:06 AM

the big issue is if the crank will be re-usable or not as the forged cranks can be hard to come by now. You can upgrade with terminator rods etc... pretty cheap and cheap put a better piston in it to upgrade. At that mileage though you're still looking at new timing components, seats, seals etc...

the alternative being to go find a marauder take out or something like that, wouldnt be any stronger but much cheaper

ASH302 · 09-14-2020, 11:49 AM

have you thought about finding a 03/04 cobra motor and putting that in there?
I've seen over the years where you can find the whole thing for sale.
can you post pictures of the Mach?
Another thought is try selling it and buying another Mach.

ASh

ASH302 · 09-14-2020, 12:01 PM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Ford-M...0AAOSwKfVfOuR8

ASh

falcongtho3 · 09-14-2020, 07:33 PM

So very heavy. Iron block as well as the additional weight of the blower makes for a very different car. A coyote (or a new Aluminator)swap would make more sense, and even more power.

Rusty67 · 09-14-2020, 07:51 PM

Thanks for the reply guys. If I had the space to pull the motor at my house I wouldn't let this car go. I've loved my Mach 1 even as it has aged and been slower compared to modern cars it has always felt like the right car for me. I had plans to do a coyote swap on it eventually but that was going to be when I moved back to SoCal (which should have already happened thanx COVID). As it stands, it looks like I will be living here for about another 6-12 months.

I don't know how bad off the crank is but I think it will probably be salvageable. The shop I talked to told me that local machine shops will charge between 8-10K to do the rebuild of the motor. Combine that with the 3500 they want to RnR the motor and I think I'm going to have to give up on her.

The only way this would be in my budget to rebuild would be if I could get a good motor in the 3-4 grand range and up here in the PWN I don't think that is going to happen. Maybe back in LA I could find something in that price range. I know I could get that motor rebuilt cheaper (and probably better) back in SoCal. Plus if I was back home I'd have the space to work on the car and do the RnR myself. All the motors I saw on ebay were higher mileage than my existing motor so I really didn't want to jump on any of those and who knows if they are really in good shape at all anyways?

09-13-2020, 09:51 PM	#1
Rusty67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA, CA Posts: 77	Welp my engine is dead.... So it comes down to this, I've got 160,000+ miles on my 4.6L and I don't drive the car very often anymore because I daily ride a motorcycle 99% of the time. From what I can tell, I might have broken a connecting rod or main bearing. I'm guessing bad main bearing. There is metal glitter in the oil I drained this morning with some slightly larger chunks so I know for sure the motor is done. The real question here is do I try to salvage my 03 Mach 1 or do I just walk away from the car. I've had it about 10 years and it has given me overall GREAT service/reliability. The only issue I ever had with the car leaving me out in the cold was the fuel pump went out on me at 120,000 miles. Other than that, it has just been minor issues here and there. My plans for the car were to yank the 4.6L and do a coyote swap if the motor ever went out on me but I was hoping to do that in another 1-3 years after I moved back to SoCal. I don't have the space/work area to do it where I live now and I certainly don't want to pay a shop 10K to RnR the motor and have it rebuilt. Even if I RnR the motor myself I feel like I'm going to end up somewhere in the 6-8K range. What do you guys think? Is it worth fixing the old girl? She isn't in perfect shape by any stretch and does need a small amount of body work. At the same time, I would essentially be calling up a scrapper to come take it after I pull my T56 Magnum and a few other choice parts out of her. I'd end up with nothing for it. I'm a bit torn on this one because it is just at the tipping point where fixing it could make sense but at the same time I don't want to end up with the same mostly stock Mach 1 I've been driving for the last 10 years if I put a ton of money into the car. It feels like 10K to get my motor back to stock isn't a smart investment.

09-14-2020, 09:06 AM	#2
DSG2003Mach1 700 HP Mach Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 8,384	Re: Welp my engine is dead.... the big issue is if the crank will be re-usable or not as the forged cranks can be hard to come by now. You can upgrade with terminator rods etc... pretty cheap and cheap put a better piston in it to upgrade. At that mileage though you're still looking at new timing components, seats, seals etc... the alternative being to go find a marauder take out or something like that, wouldnt be any stronger but much cheaper __________________ 03 dsg mach1 - MPR built 9.5:1 motor, D1, cams, ported intake, full exhaust, magnum t56, built rear, E85 etc... '12 F150 FX2 Supercrew with Ecoboost daily beater

09-14-2020, 11:49 AM	#3
ASH302 Soldier for Christ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Willis, TX at The Daddy ASh Ranch Posts: 30,596	Re: Welp my engine is dead.... have you thought about finding a 03/04 cobra motor and putting that in there? I've seen over the years where you can find the whole thing for sale. can you post pictures of the Mach? Another thought is try selling it and buying another Mach. ASh __________________ 2001 lazer red v6 Mustang coupe sold in Aug 2006 2004 screaming yellow 5.0 sc Mach 1 sold in Oct 2012 2013 grey 6 speed coupe GT Mustang Sold in Feb 2014 2013 RED Dodge Charger R/T Sold Nov 2014 2002 custom Blue 02 Auto Trans AM Sold June 2015 1998 Cobra Black Sold summer 2016 Current 2009 Ford F350 FX4 March 2017 (work truck) 2003 OW 5.0 Mach 1 Aug 2020 ASh

09-14-2020, 12:01 PM	#4
ASH302 Soldier for Christ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Willis, TX at The Daddy ASh Ranch Posts: 30,596	Re: Welp my engine is dead.... https://www.ebay.com/itm/2003-Ford-M...0AAOSwKfVfOuR8 ASh __________________ 2001 lazer red v6 Mustang coupe sold in Aug 2006 2004 screaming yellow 5.0 sc Mach 1 sold in Oct 2012 2013 grey 6 speed coupe GT Mustang Sold in Feb 2014 2013 RED Dodge Charger R/T Sold Nov 2014 2002 custom Blue 02 Auto Trans AM Sold June 2015 1998 Cobra Black Sold summer 2016 Current 2009 Ford F350 FX4 March 2017 (work truck) 2003 OW 5.0 Mach 1 Aug 2020 ASh

09-14-2020, 07:33 PM	#5
falcongtho3 Moderating at Mach 1 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 16,271	Re: Welp my engine is dead.... So very heavy. Iron block as well as the additional weight of the blower makes for a very different car. A coyote (or a new Aluminator)swap would make more sense, and even more power. __________________ Krewe de la Mach Rouge #340804 13th Mach 1 built 11/07/02 Build Date 12/13/02 Delivery

09-14-2020, 07:51 PM	#6
Rusty67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA, CA Posts: 77	Re: Welp my engine is dead.... Thanks for the reply guys. If I had the space to pull the motor at my house I wouldn't let this car go. I've loved my Mach 1 even as it has aged and been slower compared to modern cars it has always felt like the right car for me. I had plans to do a coyote swap on it eventually but that was going to be when I moved back to SoCal (which should have already happened thanx COVID). As it stands, it looks like I will be living here for about another 6-12 months. I don't know how bad off the crank is but I think it will probably be salvageable. The shop I talked to told me that local machine shops will charge between 8-10K to do the rebuild of the motor. Combine that with the 3500 they want to RnR the motor and I think I'm going to have to give up on her. The only way this would be in my budget to rebuild would be if I could get a good motor in the 3-4 grand range and up here in the PWN I don't think that is going to happen. Maybe back in LA I could find something in that price range. I know I could get that motor rebuilt cheaper (and probably better) back in SoCal. Plus if I was back home I'd have the space to work on the car and do the RnR myself. All the motors I saw on ebay were higher mileage than my existing motor so I really didn't want to jump on any of those and who knows if they are really in good shape at all anyways?

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