Knock of Death....

[V8sofa]

Well,
My 85' is on it's last legs, soon to throw a rod you see, but I paid only 300 dollars for it and the body is near perfect so I'd really hate to send it to the
junk yard.

I see this as more of an opportunity than a tragedy,I just don't know what I want to do,
a rebuild is inevitable at this point, but If I'm going to go through all that I'd prefer a 351w swap and just totally do away with any computer controls
the "Analog Vic" if you prefer, But I don't know what all this may require.

So I ask you mangs, what should I do, and what can I do?

I'm open to just about anything at this moment.

I've got About 1,000 dollars to spend on it at this moment, any more and it will take some more time.

So, can you help?

[86VickyLX]

Go H.O and convert to EFI!!!!

[P72Ford]

Toss in a 350 chevy w/ a TH350. Its cheap, and its reliable, and you can make infinite power upgrades down the road...

[86VickyLX]

Ford in a ford.

[Freshmeat]

The apostrophe takes the place of the missing text. It's '85 not 85'. Also, when using "its" in a possessive form as you did in the second line, you shouldn't have an apostrophe.

[mrltd]

Toss in a 350 chevy w/ a TH350. Its cheap, and its reliable, and you can make infinite power upgrades down the road...

Hmm, the same can be said for the 5.0L nowadays.
A 500 or less junkyard 5.0 is a huge improvement over a lopo, can make almost double the HP with the explorer motors.

[V8sofa]

Curse my bad grammar...

Whatever I end up doing, i think I'll go with a carb.

[P72Ford]

I was joking guys... ok? It was a joke.

[85crownHPP]

You cant do much in terms of modifying it AND getting a fresh motor with only a grand... you'd have to be doing all the work yourself and get some killer deals on used stuff to make that budget.

If you arent doing any of the work, a grand wont even cover a rebiuld/R&R leaving it CFI... a short block rebiuld cost me $800 10 years ago, not including removing, tearing down the motor, then putting it back together and installing it.
I paid $1,000 for the labor I just mentioned and the car, it was a package deal makeing the total $1800

[86VickyLX]

I was joking guys... ok? It was a joke.

I can never tell, we need a sarcasm smiley

[P72Ford]

I can never tell, we need a sarcasm smiley

Thats a problem that I have...

[86VickyLX]

I've noticed :p

[Mercmarquis]

buy a low mile exploder motor for it, throw a carb n cam on it and go

[mrltd]

buy a low mile exploder motor for it, throw a carb n cam on it and go

Nope, just toss a carb on it. Will be a tireburner.

[interceptor1985]

Ditto look on Craig's list ...start now and try and find the cheapest explorer 5.0 or merc mariner 5.0 as possible...toss a carb on it and you should have tire burning fun in no time. keep all your accessory's and stuff off the old engine ...or keep saving and buy little bits as you look for the perfect engine...please baby the one you have now..it will keep it from dieing on you too soon.

I'll help keep an eye out on the craigs list you in the dallas tex area right? even though I'm in oregon I can still look up stuff too...I'm good at that stuff.