Re: Buying a V8 vs. repairing existing 200T

[WARATAP@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/10/98 3:48:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
SSpangenbe@aol.com writes:

> 
>  Brian & Phil,
>  
>  I appreciate your advice.  This is exactly the dilemma I'm faced with.  
> There
>  aren't too many 5 ks in the junkyards in my part of the country, let alone
>  V8's.
>  
>  I'm facing several thousand dollars of repairs the my 89 200T, and I just
>  wonder if I'd be better off with something newer.  The "street price" of
the
>  V8's is what caught my attention.
>  
>  In no particular order, I need:
>  
>  Rear Main Oil Seal (Squeal goes away when engine pressure is relieved)
>  Cruise ECU...

Well, that's a tough one.  Almost every v8 it seems needs a new rear crank
seal (so that would be a wash, except it's tougher to do on the v8), parts are
more expensive in regards to engine, etc, though these don't go too
frequently.  Suspension parts wear out about the same on all type 44 chasis
cars and the v8 was the last of the 44 to be produced (through 1993).
Hydraulic pump is essentially the same on your car and the v8, as is the rack.

Biggest pluses:  structural reinforcments, sound deadening (weight penalty),
Motronic (starts right up!).  

Minuses:  What happened to the car while in the prev. owners hands (ie not
abused).  Timing belt changed, etc.  

Feel free to check out what I've done to mine so far (its an auto) with
202,000 miles.  Be patient - Photos are large jpegs.

-Ingo Rautenberg
http://members.aol.com/Quattringo/index.html