Time for New Engine— Any Help?
12-02-2016, 11:13 AM
#1
Time for New Engine— Any Help?
I have a 2002 F150 4.6L Lariat Crew Cab, extremely well maintained. EXCEPT, when the previous owner had the timing chains rebuilt, the genius mechanic failed to clean the broken timing chain parts out of the oil pan.
So, it was only a matter of time...
I need to replace this engine, and I'm going to buy a complete drop in engine to replace it. I have a few questions if anyone can offer some help—
1- Who is the best Ford modular engine rebuilder? All opinions welcome.
2- Is there any improvement on this engine, or any suggestions on taking this opportunity to drop in something a little better than the stock?
3- any other input would be greatly appreciated.
Steve
So, it was only a matter of time...
I need to replace this engine, and I'm going to buy a complete drop in engine to replace it. I have a few questions if anyone can offer some help—
1- Who is the best Ford modular engine rebuilder? All opinions welcome.
2- Is there any improvement on this engine, or any suggestions on taking this opportunity to drop in something a little better than the stock?
3- any other input would be greatly appreciated.
Steve
06-23-2017, 08:04 PM
#2
No Answers
Wow... sorry no one answered. Dec 2016... and I came here to ask basically the same question. I need a 4.6 2V for my '97 2whl F-150 XLT... jeez, well, back to the drawing board.
06-24-2017, 07:45 AM
#3
Reply to Rollin'97
Too late to offer me any help Rollin', but maybe I can offer a small amount to you.
I beat my head against the wall trying to get some advice on this in several places, but in the end had to come to my own conclusions. Here's what happened:
I investigated rebuild engines until my head was ready to explode. There are good rebuilders, and bad rebuilders, but as far as I was able to find— no Great rebuilders. At least not the mass-produced kind. Which leaves only a one-off rebuilder and finding that guy was not only impossible, but would have cost twice the price of a mass rebuilder. At least. It all seemed like a crap shoot to me as to whether you got a good engine or not for $2,500 with a rebuilder.
What I ended up doing is— I got lucky. I decided to look for a fairly low milage engine salvaged out of a wreck. I really needed this truck back on the road, so I paid $900 for the third one I looked at. It looked clean, but had not been steam-cleaned to hide anything. Small details made me think that it had been well-maintained, like vacuum hoses replaced and not just left to go to hell. The shop I bought it from said they had compression tested it, and I made them back it up with a 6 month warranty.
I helped my mechanic swap the engines, and when I pulled off the oil pan to clean and inspect what was in there, I found that the previous owner had been running expensive Red Line oil, presumably for the life of the engine, and it ended up having not detectable wear. I had to put a few minor parts off the old onto the new-used because it wasn't a perfect numbers match being a year newer engine. Other than that, it was an easy swap.
My old engine was extremely well maintained— it only died because of an idiot mistake made by a different mechanic. The new-used engine ended up being a better engine than my great original. Like I said— I got lucky.
So my final opinion is— if you can find a salvaged engine that gives you good feelings after you do some checking and due diligence, AND if you can get it for a good price, ($1,600 less than a re-man. in my case) I'd say give one a try. I don't think it's more of a crap shoot than not knowing what you'll get for $2500, because going through their warranty process and only getting $500 allowance for install looked like a potential nightmare to me.
Do the obvious checks for engine condition, take a mechanic with you, and above all— use your instincts about how well you think that engine looks like it's been maintained. Don't be fooled by power washing or steam clean.
There's my two bits. And I figure we broke the no-help chain... maybe.
PS— Wrecking yards aren't the only place to look for a salvaged engine. I'm currently living in Denver, and in a town this size there are at least two auctions that auction off wrecked vehicles for salvage. If you've got a good mechanic, they will know of one close to you. That will open more options. —Good luck.
I beat my head against the wall trying to get some advice on this in several places, but in the end had to come to my own conclusions. Here's what happened:
I investigated rebuild engines until my head was ready to explode. There are good rebuilders, and bad rebuilders, but as far as I was able to find— no Great rebuilders. At least not the mass-produced kind. Which leaves only a one-off rebuilder and finding that guy was not only impossible, but would have cost twice the price of a mass rebuilder. At least. It all seemed like a crap shoot to me as to whether you got a good engine or not for $2,500 with a rebuilder.
What I ended up doing is— I got lucky. I decided to look for a fairly low milage engine salvaged out of a wreck. I really needed this truck back on the road, so I paid $900 for the third one I looked at. It looked clean, but had not been steam-cleaned to hide anything. Small details made me think that it had been well-maintained, like vacuum hoses replaced and not just left to go to hell. The shop I bought it from said they had compression tested it, and I made them back it up with a 6 month warranty.
I helped my mechanic swap the engines, and when I pulled off the oil pan to clean and inspect what was in there, I found that the previous owner had been running expensive Red Line oil, presumably for the life of the engine, and it ended up having not detectable wear. I had to put a few minor parts off the old onto the new-used because it wasn't a perfect numbers match being a year newer engine. Other than that, it was an easy swap.
My old engine was extremely well maintained— it only died because of an idiot mistake made by a different mechanic. The new-used engine ended up being a better engine than my great original. Like I said— I got lucky.
So my final opinion is— if you can find a salvaged engine that gives you good feelings after you do some checking and due diligence, AND if you can get it for a good price, ($1,600 less than a re-man. in my case) I'd say give one a try. I don't think it's more of a crap shoot than not knowing what you'll get for $2500, because going through their warranty process and only getting $500 allowance for install looked like a potential nightmare to me.
Do the obvious checks for engine condition, take a mechanic with you, and above all— use your instincts about how well you think that engine looks like it's been maintained. Don't be fooled by power washing or steam clean.
There's my two bits. And I figure we broke the no-help chain... maybe.
PS— Wrecking yards aren't the only place to look for a salvaged engine. I'm currently living in Denver, and in a town this size there are at least two auctions that auction off wrecked vehicles for salvage. If you've got a good mechanic, they will know of one close to you. That will open more options. —Good luck.
The following 2 users liked this post by Raincheck:
DigitalDad (12-01-2019),
Rollin'97 (07-08-2017)
07-08-2017, 08:29 AM
#4
Update
I live in N. AZ... and thanks for the input.
My mechanic, who was going to do the swap about 18 months ago, did a lot of salvage yard and 'used engine' searches for me... we couldn't find one less than 100,000 miles on it... (mine has 285K now). And they were 100+ miles away.
I am getting too old to do a lot of labor on my own (nearly 70 now) and want to, need to get my truck back to a running condition (reliable running). While I will have to figure a way to pay I'm leaning more and more towards Ford locally. They have a good rep 'here'... and several local mechanics told me they've always been treated fairly by the dealership. I have used Amsoil in my cars since day one... cannot be sure why the #2 cylinder started to leak (coolant into) and it isn't extreme but I cannot trust it for a cross country or even Los Angeles thru the desert.
Thanks for the input... BTW, given the recent S. AZ (larger city, more salvage) weather it is presumed that all engines down there have melted ;^)
Be safe
My mechanic, who was going to do the swap about 18 months ago, did a lot of salvage yard and 'used engine' searches for me... we couldn't find one less than 100,000 miles on it... (mine has 285K now). And they were 100+ miles away.
I am getting too old to do a lot of labor on my own (nearly 70 now) and want to, need to get my truck back to a running condition (reliable running). While I will have to figure a way to pay I'm leaning more and more towards Ford locally. They have a good rep 'here'... and several local mechanics told me they've always been treated fairly by the dealership. I have used Amsoil in my cars since day one... cannot be sure why the #2 cylinder started to leak (coolant into) and it isn't extreme but I cannot trust it for a cross country or even Los Angeles thru the desert.
Thanks for the input... BTW, given the recent S. AZ (larger city, more salvage) weather it is presumed that all engines down there have melted ;^)
Be safe
