I'm happy and sad....
 

Well, today...9/27/01 at around 3:45pm EST, my cooling/alternator belt decided to brake off at 65MPH down Route 29S, and I don't think I've ever seen the temperature gauge rise so quickly on my Rx!! I had a new belt with me because I was planning on putting them on this weekend, but I couldn't put the new belt on w/out taking the stupid fan off. So I let the motor cool off, drove about 2 miles(I was about 4 miles from home), stopped again, let it cool off, and drove home, its outside now hood popped open and reaking of melting rubber hoses and misc. peices :cry:
On a lighter side, I guess I'm either going one of two ways...
I'm either going to sell the '88 for payoff(I still owe on it), take whatever is left from the payoff, and get a loan to purchase a 3rd gen, OR I'm going to drop a 13BT w/ upgraded turbo/fuel injectors/haltech/FMIC and just make a small project out of it. Personally, since winter is coming up, I'd rather go w/ the 3rd gen, I hate working in the cold! Well theres my sad story...so what should I do, go for the 3rd gen, or rejive the 'ol 88 w/ a nice JSpec Turbo 13B??

You dont sound too much like a canidate for a 3rd gen. Just do the swap.

Yeah, I know how that feels. Good luck in whatever you choose. If I find out my engine is bad, then I'm going to wait for a rebuild. I thought about buying a 3rd gen for like $12k, but I have a kick ass FC already and $10k could get me a new motor streetported with a larger turbo and all the fixins.;)

3rd gen for 10k or even 12k I would be highly suspect of. The ones I looked at before I bought (now sold) my Lightining were in sad shape. And the 3rd gens seem to be very tempermental beasts that would rather spit coolant or slip a vaccum line than work right. From browsing the 3rd gen section they seem to require a lot more work than the 2nd gens.

Do the swap.

Besides a 2nd gen makes a great sleeper especially since FNF was released in the theaters. And Ive seen a T2 with some good mods hang with a modded 3rd gen at the local 1/8th mile and out at Texas speedway in Ennis (the guys are friends).

Re: I'm happy and sad....
 

If i were you i'd keep the car and convert it to a TII. Its not too expensive as oppose on buying another car. Just save up some money and start collecting parts for a mean project.

Sell the car and buy a TII instead of a 3rd gen.

BTW you don't have to take the fan off to put an alternator belt on. You do have to pull the smog pump and PS belts though.