this would be a fairly simple process between two 99 TL's correct? I'm the guy that started the thread about my car being wrecked and I've been wondering what to do with it ever since. I saw this listing on craigslist today with a guy selling his 99 TL, which is the same color as mine, sans engine for $1000. It's gonna cost me $3500 to repair the damage on my car. Would it be simpler to do the engine swap with the other car (of course checking out the car first). Also would I be swapping transmissions?

this is the craigslist listing

 

Swapping the engine could be done in a day. Its very simple.

 

that's good news. I just talked to my dad and he said it would be no issue in swapping the engine, transmission and whatever I needed from my car to the other car.

Is there anything else I should be on the look out for?

 

nope,pull the hood struts off, open hood straight up, disconnect the harness from the ecu, pull it thru the firewall, lift motor and trans straight up and out (disconnecting the things necessary first).

 

since you are swapping motors you might as well fix anything that is showing signs of wear on your suspension you know like ball joints bushings and whatnot as it is a lot easier to do it when the engine/trans is OUT of the car. if you have not done your t-belt yet good time to do it along with plugs and the drive belts. also might want to put all new cooling system hoses. good time to inspect driveshafts and reboot them if needed.

 

on the listing they said that they had the timing belt service done on the engine. If that's true, could I swap the timing belt, water pump, etc from that engine onto mine?

And my dad went over to check out the car and he said it looked alright except for a scuff on the back bumper and a dent in the driver side door. Overall, he said the car was in good condition.

Is a salvage yard a good place to find a TL that's in need of a new engine, etc? Also would a 99 engine/tranny fit into a 00-03 TL?

 

if the car has no engine, how can it have a new t-belt?

 

actually the engine was still in the car but she said that it needed a new cylinder or something and she was tired of spending money on it. I went over there today and the exterior of the car was in pretty poor condition. My interior was in better condition than that car also.

I was able to start the car up and there was a knocking sound coming from the engine. If anything, I'd buy some parts off of that car like the tail light, hood, tranny maybe?

 

you can buy the car and use the parts to fix your car