No one wants all the details so, 92 1.9, love the little guy, engine shot, bad compression, runs bad, bought a used engine that now is questionable with missing bolt holes to the transmission. Nothing is known about this engine. My question is: when to give up. I really love this car and I know money could make it great again, but that isn't my option. I just pulled my old engine out and can't see putting this obviously messed up crap into the BBE. I just don't see any worth while engins around the area worth installing. Who has had to give up and when did you realize that you just could not fix you baby Escort? Maybe I am asking for someone to tell me it's OK to quit and junk this car. I did it in the past and regret it all the time. Almost quit on my old truck, but stuck with it and she still gets me to work to this day. I hate quiting, but maybe it is time to say good by to my BBE. I really hate this. Thanks to anyone who reads this pathetic rant. Sorry.
How much wrench time do you have? Are you able to rebuild an engine? Rebuild kits around $340. Machine shop around $150 if nothings broken. John
I have fixed up several 2nd gen Escorts. One feature I like is that from 91 through 96, the engines and transmissions are about identical, though the 92 and 93 non-California cars didnt have EGR. In each case I had lots of other fix up work to do, so hoisted the engine and transmissions out still bolted together. I rebuilt five of the auto transmissions, put new clutches & shift bushings in the two that were 5-speeds. The engine work involved taking each block to a machine shop for cleaning and honing, and in 3 cases milling a few thousandths off the top of the block. Then putting the used pistons back in, with new rings. Also new main seals, new freeze plugs, and a usually rebuilt engine head with new intake valve seat inserts. And of course other minor stuff that is sooo much easier when the engine is out of the bay; new water pump, new hoses, new timing belt, new power steering pump, new thermostat, etc. This was all sequential, about one vehicle each year or two. I once bought a JY engine to get some spare parts; one of the best $200 I ever spent. So far have always put back into the car the engine that came with it when I bought it. Each of mine was bought as-is, and non-driveable. I dont have a lift, most of my work is done outside on a gravel driveway under a large shade tree. I just have enough workshop space to do the engine work under a roof. I am retired, so have much more time than money. Now I own five 2nd gen Escorts, being 3 wagons and 2 hatchbacks, and the wife and I use all of them for daily drivers, since we live in two places seasonally. Have also supplied my kids with cars (escorts). We drive them all across the USA and into Mexico too. And Im 74, so some work is not so easy anymore. Its natural to get tired of doing fix after fix to a car. My method involves having the car apart for maybe weeks, then getting several years steady anxiety free of use out of it. At some point in the life of any and every car, it will need more than just repairing what failed yesterday. Remember that 100% of the cars at every antique car show were fixed up by hobbyists who put huge amounts of time and energy into a car whose market value did not justify it.
So much can depend on whether the owner has a place to keep it if not in common use, and has a place where they can work on it. I dont have a HOA or any convenants where I live in VA, and at our place in TX, most of our neighbors have a couple of derelict cars behind their hoiuses.
I gave up on my 1988 Escort Pony 2dr hatchback after the engine wouldn't start anymore, but before that I had the rear shock towers rust through and engineered them back into place with wood and brackets, I also had the head gasket replaced about 10,000mi before it quit on me. The thing was an eyesore and I was scared the next time I sat in it I would fall through the floor, so it wasn't worth fixing it again.
Sounds like the Pony was truly used up! A rusted out car is pretty well not worth saving, even it is a collectible model. Well, it's worth saving as a parts car, if you have space.
Depends how attached to it you are. Everything can be fixed. You just need time, location, and money. Or if you like to pay more and don't like the satisfaction of saving her yourself, pay someone to do it. I hear all the time, "what is that car worth?". Somewhat insulting question, and none of anyone's business. If you don't have regrets. Junk it. I miss the car that got away from me.