mootpoint

Hi All, I own a 1992 LS400 that got nailed in a rear end collision. Insurance totalled it out, and I kept it for $450. A used car lot not too far away lists a 1994 LS for $1850. It had an "electrical fire on the top of the engine." The ad says the body exterior and interior are in fine shape. So ... would there be any nasty issues paying someone to swap the engine from the '92 into the 1994 chassis? The engine ran great at 140K miles. It does need the power steering pump replaced. I assume it might make sense to do the water pump and timing belt while the engine was out. Thoughts, ideas, advice? Bad idea? Good idea? What would I expect to pay for the work in the Chicago area? m00t

Thanks guys. The heater thing fixed itself, so I assume a bubble worked itself out. And the lights are out after an adjustment to the microswitch. m00t

All, I have a recently purchased 1995 LS400, after a teenager crunched my cherry of a '92 while I was pulling out of my driveway. :-( A couple of weeks after I bought it, the brake lights stopped turning off. If I put something under the brake pedal to push it up a bit, they go out. Needless to say, I've killed the battery a couple of times by forgetting to put the magic plastic cup under the brake pedal. I checked brake fluid and added some, but the behavior continues. Any suggestions on this one? Is there a return spring in there somewhere that's getting weak, that a handy but car illiterate guy could get at and replace? Or is this a "pay the guy who has a clue" sort of problem? Also getting cold air blowing out the heater when at idle. Keeping the engine at about 1500 RPM keeps it warm. I'm in the Chicago area, and it's been remarkably cold the last month or so. Coolant level looks fine. Any ideas on that one? I still want my cherry of a 1992 back, but hey, so it goes. m00tpoint