03 Fx4

Hello and I have to say working on this is a bitch. Back round on me. I'm 50 a mechanical technician now also EX machinist. I've built hot rods, maintained all my cars, built custom blower set ups. Usually mechanical stuff is my game. Back round on truck. I was over a friends in-laws and saw the truck just sitting on the farm leaves all over it in the bed, tires down. He said the motor is locked up and if I wanted it I could have it. Great my kind of thing. I need a truck not likely to buy one with boys about to enter college. So weather breaks and I decided to start on it. Found a low mileage 4.6 from a crown vic. Looks great. Start the process of removing the trucks engine. I have removed alt,fan,intake,starter. I am finding many parts not very owner friendly.




Help me bring this poor truck back to life. Thanks.

guyina4x4

I just cut the exhaust bolts with a grinder, I think I took out the inner wheel well for better access.

yes I used a bunch of extensions on the bell housing bolts. not that bad really

the converter will come out with the engine, plan on buying new seal for the front of the trans, it was like $7 from Ford.

Carcrazygts2

Get them bothe from the bottom. 3/8 drive one 16" extension. Use the cat as pry point to put load on the nuts. To get the engine out you will have to pull the intake anyways to get the oil pan to clear the crossmember. So you can get the top 2 bolts before even worrying about anything under neath.

03 Fx4

Thank you for the help and experience. Think I just needed a break been working on it everyday this past week after work. I think this truck looks great and was worth saving! second pic is just engine so far. Third pic is pass side front cylinder, broken valve guide, who knows what else. Ha, you can see new motor in garage just waiting. Poor care and left for dead, but hey that is also the kind of people who give this stuff away!

Carcrazygts2

Wow a long bed FX. I would do a 5.4 swap. THe Crown VIc mototr depending on the year is going to be NPI engine.

guyina4x4

nice looking truck, hope you get it going again

Fordfan2006

2nd FX4 supercab long bed I've ever seen that's a pretty rare truck. But yeah.. 5.4 is what that bus needed and should've had from the factory. And it's clean looking. And a late 03 I think because of the 2 tone.

03 Fx4

Thanks, I think it looks great and am dying to get it back on the road. Only shows 126K on the odometer, so I'm hoping the transmission is still good. Every thing behind the motor looks pretty clean. It was covered in wet leaves and the front tires were down, so the front end has lots of rust and dirt. The motor I have is a PI engine. It has the correct block/heads/crank numbers as the truck had. Just need to keep calm and carry on with the work. Previous owner must have locked the keys in at one time and jammed a coat hanger in the drivers door. Tore up all 3 seals, so they will need replaced and the musty smell will probably take some time if it ever goes away. Once I get it running then I'm going to do the front suspension. Upper A arm ball joint boots are shot. Yep it's a long beast...LOL. Do you guys think it looks stock? Just wondering if it has any body lift installed? Going to work on it today, back to work on removing exhaust/Ac.

The motor mounts, will it come out with just the cross bolt removed from motor mount?

guyina4x4

yes removing one of these things is a PITA.
takes a lot of time
I think I removed the passenger side mount from the frame to give more wiggle room.

Fordfan2006

Yeah it's stock. No lift or anything. Try tascaparts.com they are all new ford parts with employee discounts they have the weatherstripping most likely. And if I was you I'd change the fluids. Pan spill and fill on the transmission 4.8 quarts of Mercon v and filter ( 4R70W) rear end would be 3 quarts 75W-140 ( if it's a 9.75 ) and since it's a FX4 It most Likely has a 3:55 or 3:73 Limited slip ( axle code H9 3:55 or B6 3:73 ) you'd need to stop at the ford dealer and get friction modifier ( 4 or 6 ounces I believe ) and 2 quarts of 75W-90 for the front ( has a drain and fill plug ) the transfer case takes 2 quarts of transfer case fluid ( you can get it at the ford dealer too for about $8 a quart ) mercon V has additives that aren't good for a transfer case and says not for transfer cases. I wish my truck was that rust free and low miles.