To expand upon my last post. Ford was forced to recall certain model/years of the 3.8 V-6. Mine started messing up at around 30k miles. I called the mercury dealer about repairing it, and they told me about the recall. By then, I was out of factory warranty on time, and was going repair it myself. I just wanted to know if there were any improved parts.
They asked for the vin, and told me my car was under a TSB/warranty, and could get a 100% free engine install.
The replaced the engine with a re-man, that made it about 30k miles, then replaced that engine, that was using water around 30k again. I was going to have it fixed again, but the wife wanted a new vehicle, so I traded it, with full disclosure on the engine, and there was still warranty left for them to fix the car in my name before officially trading it.
They didn't want to do it, or at least the salesperson didn't. The GM may have felt differently.
Now, to the point of this long post......
Both engine replacements, from me dropping off to picking up, was less than a week, including them ordering the engine after I dropped off the car. Usually dropping off on Monday, and picking up late Thursday or Friday that same week.
My, how times have changed......
BTW, The problem with those engines was the bolt holes were too close to the cylinders and water ports, and it being the early days of aluminum heads on cast iron blocks, they didn't have good gaskets to help out any.