Over the past few months my truck (05 5.4; 147k miles) has picked up the nasty habit of stalling out at idle and whenever I stop at stop lights, stop signs, basically anytime my RPMs drop down to 500. I cleaned the throttle body twice, MAF multiple times, replaced the TPS and still no dice. Idle is extremely rough, the "tick" caused by the cam phaser is louder than ever, when I accelerate I can hear a weird metal on metal sound (what I assume are sloppy timing chains), and the last couple of oil changes I have noticed shimmery oil coming out of the filter and a lot of it. I finally got sick of trying to figure out a solution so I broke down and took it to the dealer. They charged $100 for diagnostics and said they think its a timing issue causing it to stall out at idle. They then wanted $450 to take off the valve covers to see if they could find a problem. Since I didn't feel like spending $550 just in diagnostics I picked up my truck and have decided to go a different route. Here's where my questions come in...

Am I assuming right that the timing system has failed and causing the engine to cut out?

Should I get these parts replaced and have no worries about what damage (if any) the metal particles I'm seeing in my oil have done to the rest of the engine?

Or....

Should I just get a reman engine, a new crate engine, or have mine rebuilt?

I'm strongly leaning toward jerking out the old engine and slapping in a brand new "worry free" engine so I don't have to worry about any problems arising if I rebuild mine or go with a reman...

Is this a good idea? If so where in the hell can I find a new, not remaned, 5.4 Triton I can drop in?? do they even exist??

I have a local mechanic willing to do the swap at his house for 1k. I'm hoping I can pick up a new solid engine for a few grand keeping the entire project around 5k. if this is unrealistic please let me know. I'm just looking for the best option in the situation. Any comments, answers, suggestions, advice... anything you guys have to offer would be awesome. Thanks!

 

Probably not practical to you and nor for me. But I say (and this is just all talk not know if it is possible or evem worth it this is just me talking) but why go back to spark plug problem and lifter tick. Drop in a used or new coyote(5oh) or if you want a little more pep a coyote out of the mustangs. Friend of mine told me the mustang had a different cam. Let me state again I do not know much...well idk anything about what is in the mustang vs f150. As I said earlier it is just me saying so dont be to harsh on your response.

 

I have actually put a lot of thought into putting either the Coyote or Lightning Supercharged Engine into it. I think it would be kick *** but I would then worry if the transmission and rear diff could handle all that extra power. Plus as you said I would hate to drop a bunch of cash on a new or remaned engine to have the same problems arise. Those engines are already around 6k and it would be another couple grand to beef up everything else. Jasper Engines has remaned engines that they go through, fix the regular occuing problems such as the spark plugs and add performance cams and other stuff like that. Has anyone else done or heard or someone putting in a Coyote or Lightning? I would be interested to know how it turned out and if its worth it. Glad to know other people think like me and want more power out of their rides lol.

 

I would LOVE a 5.0 in my truck. I'm surprised there hasn't been aftermarket support for this yet.

 

Are they pretty compatible with our trucks? Would I have to mess with the motor mounts or computer or anything like that?

 

For anything other than a replacement 5.4 you'll need a computer for the new motor. If you did do a 5.0 swap it wouldn't have to be the mustang motor. A truck engine and mild tuner would make it more than a beast for your truck and you could have better gas mileage if you can keep your foot out of it. Lol

 

I'm sure it's possible, but wouldn't be nearly as easy as an engine swap in an older vehicle.

 

This isn't a go cart motor we're talking about..

 

In all realism, lets be honest your not going to stick a 5.0 in it lol. Remanned should be fine, long as you get a warranty with it. Of course theres always that you never know

 

A 5.0 would be badass but bottom line it would be a pain in the ***. Jasper Engines has remaned 5.4s with upgraded cams, valves, faseners, they have fixed the spark plug problem and come with a pretty solid warranty. My only problem is that it's still a reman and I dont want the same problems to occur down the road when the warrenty has expired. Has anyone dealt with Jasper? Am I just being paranoid?