Thanks all. You guys seem to know your Contours. I'm a Mustang guy myself, but I have always wanted an SVT. Now I have the chance to pick one up, I think I'm gonna do it.

That oil starvation problem is crazy. You figure Ford would have caught that one. Was it corrected in the 99-00 models?

Sounds like a water pump replacement is priority one. Thanks for your advice and keep it coming.