I'm replacing my engine with 203k with 127K due to low oil pressure (here is why https://www.f150forum.com/f4/should-...paired-367165/).
My question is, should I do anything to the new engine while its out? I know about the pensioners, should I replace it now?
Thanks in advance.

 

I'd pull the oil pan to check the condition of the oil or potential sediment in the new one, clean the pickup tube real well, throw new rear main seal, front crank seal, etc. All of this on top of the timing chain/tensioners.

 

If it was me, I would pull both exhaust manifolds, and replace gaskets and hardware, do the full timing job, plugs, water pump, and oil pump. good time to check the cams and lash adjusters too. You will never be able to get to all of these things so easily again.

 

Should I use OEM seals, gaskets, or can I get away with aftermarket? Also which tensioners should I get?

 

Oh I know, trust me. I did the timing job on my current engine. It was no fun That's why I'm asking if I should look for anything else so I don't have to do it when I drop the engine in.
Why would I need to replace the manifold gaskets?

 

Inspect heads rollers/ lash adjusters / use metal ratcheting tensioners . I redid my engine at this many miles so should you . Complete clean out VCT bodies , rollers/ lash adjusters /phasors . Basically $1400 in oem parts , that's my bill . I am hoping to get 100k to 150 k out of it again . If lucky 300k total . I am 35 k into it now .
Then I will consider my own reman job at $2800 for long block with new intake manifold plus some of the same parts . Maybe try to spec 08 heads .
The heads are the key are they in good shape ? No sign of head gasket failure /heating .

 

I think you should be able to get another 200k out of your engine without a problem. My old one has over 200k with only aftermarket phasers replaced by previous owner. If he did the oem timing and oil pump, I wouldn't have to do this. Do you have a preferred place to get the parts? I haven't noticed any failure in the head gasket visually and no coolant in the oil and the donor is a racked truck, so it was running. I will check the caps, followers etc, once I pull the engine out of the donor truck.

 

Some from fairway ford Ohio online . Some from amazon ,tensioners ,plugs , transmission fluid .

 

One more question, which tensioners should I use? Some people say use the iron tensioners from the 2V engine some say don't use those. Any suggestions?

 

Some are using the iron ones, some are using the regular OEM ones meant for this engine. Personally I'm using the latter.