If it were me, I would get a second opinion on "you need a new engine". I recently helped a buddy with a 2018? (it was not a Ford) that he bought for $1700 that the owner said that the dealer told him "you need a new engine". It turned out to be a stuck open injector on cylinder #1 and my buddy made $10,000 profit on that one. Second and even third opinions can sometimes save the day.

 

That '14 reg. cab looks like a rust bucket to me. Your truck has a much better body.

 

I agree. I’d fix the 04 over that 14 any day. That thing has all sorts of rust issues.

 

how was that diagnosed?

Depending on what diag was done, agree with a second opinion suggestion.

if it’s really shot, I’d get a used engine as they are typically good for hundreds of thousands of miles.

if you can get an 07/08 4.6 you’ll pick up some added HP, but look into what all else you’ll need (assuming intake manifold and possible pcm or reflash of your pcm, but I’m not sure on specifics).

and/or watch for a smashed up truck or one with bad trans or something. Would probably be cheapest option if you have way to pull it cheaply.

Good luck and post back with diag info and how you proceed.

 

What exactly does a "shot 3rd cylinder" mean? Bent rod? Melted piston? Cylinder wall scoring? Who diagnosed it? What'd it do that made you take it in?

The 4.6L was known for reliability, 127,000 miles is LOW for one of those. My 5.4 I had gave me 170,000 relatively trouble free miles other than replacing the timing components. I would take it somewhere else for a second opinion before making any decision. I've heard several stories on here of mechanics immediately jumping to replace the engine without doing good diagnostics.

 

If mine craps out, I'll replace it same same.

 

I'm not a fan of the 4.6. I had that engine in a 1998 and a 2003. It is grossly underpowered for a truck, but generally reliable. I have friends with that engine in trucks approaching 400,000 miles. I'd be looking for one in a scrapyard with around 100K on it. It should be good for at least another 100K. You were either extremely unlucky or the engine was neglected at some point to die at 127,000 miles.

I'd go that way for around $2000-$3000 total. Keep it a while and then decide if you want to keep it or trade it for something else. You'll get more for it running than not running. Enough more to cover the cost of a scrap yard engine install.

 

In all fairness to the 4.6, part of the reason they seemed underpowered was because of the 4 speed trannys they were mated to, in heavier steel body trucks. They did get the 6R80 toward the end but I have never met anyone that had one.
If the 4.6 was (somehow)mated to a 10R80 in an aluminum body truck it would be a completely different animal.

 

Only the (4.6L) 3Vs. *And they were/are no dogs.; never the (4.6L) 2Vs.
.

 

Yea I know, only the 3 valve. Point is, the 4 speed transmissions were vastly inferior to the 6R80.