You guys think this is a good deal?
 

I just started looking around for parts so not sure if this is a deal or not. Looks like about $800 for pretty much everything I need but the rear end.

mustang 5.0 and T5

Jim

What type of heads? Also, the seller was 'told' that it was a good runner. Is there proof that it actually ran? Seems like too much of a gamble for a motor that you don't know if it runs or not.....unless you are planning to tear it down and do a rebuild on it then the price is too high.

Hey thanks! Yeah I have talked to him a couple times since I posted this. He got the set up from a friend of a friend whose car was rear ended so he has no direct knowledge of the engine. The trans was originally from a 4 cyl car but supposedly rebuilt to WC v8 specs and worked fine in the car. So the trans was a pass for sure. He was fine with me taking the heads and pan off to inspect the engine but I really didn’t feel good about pursing it. He is 150 miles away and I am pretty sure I would have come home empty handed. It sure looked good on paper though – 800 for everything but the rear end…
I think I’m going to switch gears thought and look around for explorer engines to get the better top end. From what I have seen so far they seem to be a bit cheaper since they are not associated with Mustangs.

Thanks again for your input! This is a really key part of the process that I want to get right!

You should have better luck with the explorer engines because in general they haven't taken as much abuse as the mustangs. Be sure that it has the GT40 heads and NOT the GT40P. There are plenty of good resources on this site, continue to ask questions because everyone is pretty helpful.

+1 for the above post. My last three builds have been more Explorer than Mustang. The only exclusively Mustang parts on mine right now are the bell housing and accessory mounts.

If it came with an ECU and all wire harnesses then it may be worth it. Keep in mind you’re looking at another few hundred for those bits.

-Jason

OK, I just looked at the ad and the $800 does include the electronics. That's a better deal. Here are my thoughts though:

The engine:
Engine has 90K on it.
A customer of mine made this mistake recently with a Mustang motor he purchased in a built conversion. We (Miata people) tend to look at 90K miles from a Miata point of view. At 90K a Miata engine is barely broken in as are most Japanese engines. A late 80's Ford small block with 90k on it is a completely different situation. At 90K an American motor from that era is pretty much done even if it all it was doing was pulling around a station wagon its entire life. This was an engine in a car that may have been flogged most of its life.

A 90K stock Mustang motor is worth what it would cost you to pick up a used bare block, the accessory mounts and the intake - $free to $200 max. I wouldn't even think of dropping it in without a rebuild which will run you at least the cost of a gasket set, bearing set and new rings.

Trans:
If he has paperwork to back up the claims that the trans was rebuilt to a certain spec then it may be worth a few hundred. If he does not it's a used 4-banger trans which is worth under $100 on a good day. If the bell is in good shape that makes it a little more attractive.

Electronics:
Used Fox harnesses run from $50 to $250 on eBay. I usually end up paying about $150 these days for them. The ECU is worth upwards of $125 if it's an actual A9L. If it's some other part number that "works as well as an A9L" than it's not worth that much (unless it's a Cobra computer which is highly unlikely).

Bottom line, which is entirely my opinion and should be taken as such:

If the engine was rebuilt or had some custom parts and the T5 was an actual 5.0 trans it would be worth the cost. You can find deals like that out there. If you can get him to throw in the electronics also for the $550 he wants for the engine/trans it may be a decent deal.

Keep in mind that for just a little more than the $800 he’s asking you could possibly find an entire beat Mustang with 90k on it.

-Jason

Jason if I ever get this thing running I'm going straight to PA to buy you a cold one!