To Rebuild or Not To Rebuild; That Is the Question

"Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy" (camshaft-chris)
08/26/2015 at 10:02 • Filed to: Crown Vic, Panther, Panther Life, Not A Cop, 1997, Ford, engine, rebuild

I recently acquired a 1997 Crown Vic LX that was bought new by my grandfather in ‘97. The car passed to my uncle and now to me as both my grandfather and uncle got new cars. My wife and I needed a second car since we’ve got 2 kids and I have to drive a good bit to get to and from work. So far, I absolutely love this car. It’s really comfy, rides smooth, and pretty much everything still works.

But, the car has 223k miles on it, so it does need a bit of refreshing. The motor is not the original, but was replaced with a used one about 100k miles ago. That engine, when put in, had 43k miles on it, so it’s currently sitting around 143k. Recently I’ve noticed some rattles while accelerating that could be anything, but I’m thinking it might be a valve. Don’t know why I think that. That’s just what my gut is telling me I should check.

I know this would only involve taking the heads off and checking them out, but I’ve been considering rebuilding the motor lately. Plus, the engine mounts are old and need to be replaced as well. So I figure, since the engine has to come unbolted as it is, why not just refresh the whole damn thing? I can get a rebuild kit for $500 from JC Whitney and figured I could get it done over labor day weekend.

Now, my main question to you guys: Should I buy the already complete rebuild kit from JC Whitney and just do it like that, or should I pick and choose my own parts and rebuild it a little more robust (and a little more powerful) than stock? I’m not looking to throw a whole bunch of money at it right now, but I would like the big beast to have a bit more growl. Pics of the ‘ol barge for you time and input.

(An yes, I know, the headlights look terrible. I’ve already cleaned them up a bit, but I need to take the time and really polish them)

DISCUSSION (39)

georgechristensen > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:04

Do a Cobra motor swap

CalzoneGolem > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:06

Make sure it is not some heat shield rattling and for the love of God polish those headlights!

Margin Of Error > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:20

Every Panther is worth saving.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:24

I’d probably go the full kit route. That way you know you’ve touched all the internals, and can be fairly confident that the engine will be up to snuff. Yes, piecemeal might be more “fun”, but this is needed as a second car. Having the car on the shelf for something you could have fixed sucks.

crowmolly > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:25

See if you can hunt down the rattle first. Could be an exhaust leak, bracket, or something minor.

If you do rebuild, go stock unless you want to have it tuned afterward.

Justin Hughes > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:25

Make sure the rattle isn’t just some spark plug about to get ejected! They do that from that block, and that’s a much easier fix. Check the simple stuff before committing to the complicated stuff.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:25

twin turbo coyote swap

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:28

If you can do it yourself and need a car, there’s no reason not to. These are easy to work on and built like tanks. I’d go to rockauto instead of JC Whitney, though. You can get that $500ish kit for $400ish.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:31

What year is the engine (if you know)? If it's PI, rebuild it. If NPI, replace it (maybe with the 5.4l V8)...

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 10:37

Supercharge it. The whine will drown out the valve noise.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated!
08/26/2015 at 11:11

Good point. I wasn’t thinking anything too crazy. Just basically looking at the list of every part included in the full kit, and the picking out my versions to maybe add a little boost in the HP range. But I def. see where the full kit is the safer and more logical route.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > georgechristensen
08/26/2015 at 11:12

I’m considering that or a Coyote swap, but a bit futher in to the future. Don’t have the funds or time currently for such an undertaking, hahaha.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/26/2015 at 11:25

Yea, I can definitely do it myself. And thanks! I’ll check there.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Justin Hughes
08/26/2015 at 11:29

Hm, that’s a good point. I’ve poked around a bit and nothing obvious has stuck out at me as being the source, but I haven’t checked the spark plugs. I’ll check those on my lunch break then. Thanks!

Justin Hughes > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 11:34

More info here: http://www.fordproblems.com/trends/triton-…

They sensationalize the issue a bit, but the basic facts about it are accurate.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > crowmolly
08/26/2015 at 11:35

Yea, I checked around and nothing obvious sticks out. But I’ll try and get it up on a lift this weekend to get a better look at things.

And it would definitely get tuned if I upgraded it from stock. There’s a local shop here that specializes in Mustangs and 4.6, so I’m sure they could fix up the Vic no problem.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > CalzoneGolem
08/26/2015 at 11:38

Already checked the heat shields and they were fine. And I’ve already scrubbed them once with a rag and some of that restoration cream and they look better. But they still need some work and some hefty polishing, lol. Gonna have to break out the power tools!

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/26/2015 at 11:39

And I wouldn’t even have to tear the engine apart! Perfect!

Plus, I do love the whine of a good roots blower.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Margin Of Error
08/26/2015 at 11:42

Definitely. This one’s gonna be modded a little bit, but trying to keep it closer to stock since it’s got a lot of family history to it. Something I can eventually pass on to one of my kids, in like 15 or 20 years, hahaha.

Gonna get a P71 next for my next project car. I’m thinking auto-x Interceptor :D

CalzoneGolem > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 11:43

Personally I’d want a professional opinion of the noise before I tore into the engine for a rebuild. I’m also shocked that this is on its second engine.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
08/26/2015 at 11:44

Obvious solution. Why didn’t I think of that first?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 11:45

I’d probably go the rebuilt kit route, I’d want to swap the heads but thats a lot more money.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
08/26/2015 at 11:47

The engine I’m assuming is from another aero (‘92-’97). But I’m not 100% sure. Any idea how to tell the difference? And I’d love to do a 5.4 swap, but I don’t have that kind of money right now. Maybe in a few years after I’ve gotten a promotion or three the Crown Vic SVT Lightning can become a reality, hahaha.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > CalzoneGolem
08/26/2015 at 11:55

Same here. Not quite sure what happened to the first engine. That was replaced 4 or 5 years ago while my uncle had the car. I’ll have to ask him the details of what actually happened. And it’s only a minor noise with no changes in performance or driving and no warning lights or obvious signs of a major issue, so I’m holding off on the shop unless I absolutely need to. Much cheaper to fix it myself. And I trust my mechanical abilities a lot more than I trust most of the shops around here.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/26/2015 at 11:56

Yea, if I do end up rebuilding, it’d be all internal, save for some intake and exhaust work. New heads aren’t really in the budget at the moment.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Justin Hughes
08/26/2015 at 11:57

Thanks man. I’ll definitely look into that then.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 11:58

I hear you, I want new heads on my Montego, but that’s not in the budget either haha.

Safe move is to rebuild the whole thing.

CalzoneGolem > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 12:01

Yeah I didn’t mean for them to do the work but to give you a diagnosis.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/26/2015 at 12:14

Yea, heads are too damn expensive, lol. And at the very least, if I don’t rebuild, it does at least need new gaskets and motor mounts. Judging by the rubber exhaust hanger I replaced a few weeks ago, I’m sure those motor mounts and dry rotted and completely shot.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > CalzoneGolem
08/26/2015 at 12:18

True. I’ll have to see what they’d charge for a diagnosis. I know at the dealership I used to work at, the diagnosis alone was $75. And in my current financial situation, I don’t want to spend that only to have them tell me something that I’d already figured out. I am gonna have my dad take a look at it though. He builds old Trans Ams for fun and I know he could diagnose it just as well as any shop could.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 12:20

Yeah you’ve got all that, you could also port the heads.

Matthew Phillips > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 12:26

That looks like mine ! Definitely the rebuild, and check your tee valve being the intake manifold and the hose underneath it.

I decided to keep it :)

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
08/26/2015 at 12:50

Very true. I’ll have to check with the local machine shop to see what they’d charge for that and see if it’s worth it with theses heads or if I’d just be better off saving up for new heads.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Matthew Phillips
08/26/2015 at 12:52

Glad to see another aero owner on here! Don’t see too many of them on the road anymore. And I haven’t checked that. Is there some sort of benefits to removing it?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 14:16

We’re probably going to need to start an Oppo Panther club. Anybody with Panther in their name can join.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
08/26/2015 at 14:26

I like it. Count me in! We can even have our own special Oppo - Panther Edition stickers made up!

Matthew Phillips > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 15:53

They’re know to have a hole melt through them, and it’s a special order part. The hose underneath the intake manifold is a pita because in order to replace it you have to remove the intake manifold

Use this as a chance to sign up to crownvic.net they have a large database of info that've I've never seen any other fan base compile. It's takes awhile for your account to be approved. In my case five months, but the wait was worthwhile in exchange for information.

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Matthew Phillips
08/26/2015 at 16:28

Huh, I’ll have to look and see if there’s an issue there, thanks. And I’ve already signed up on there, but just haven’t gotten a chance to post yet. I’m always on Oppo though so I figured I’d ask here first, lol.

MM54 > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/26/2015 at 21:45

I recently autocrossed my P71 for the third time, it’s a good time but (you can imagine) not at all competitive