I think it is in my near future. Head gasket leak and lifters are knocking on these cold mornings.

What is a ballpark on a rebuild

 

Too much. Find someone reputable on Craigslist. Don't pay upfront. My neighbor used to own a shop and he only charges $300 to do head gaskets. Shops have too much upkeep. Insurance, Licenses, Rent, Workers Comp, etc. Just make sure you don't get someone who will half *** it.

You can also learn to do it yourself and it will cost you $0

Answer:
Shop - $1,200
Craigslist - $300-$600

 

Are you looking to rebuild the whole thing? Or just the top end?

I rebuilt my top end when I blew a head gasket. Gaskets were 315 and getting my heads refinished was like 120 but I also replaced spark plugs, headers, water pump, belt, hoses, coolant tank etc etc. I ended up spending close to 500 to 600 in parts alone without including the long tubes in that. Now if you need a valve job or youre gonna replace valve springs, rockers, lifters, cams, injectors, etc your looking at close to another 1000-1500 easy.

 

I rebuilt mine with aftermarket h-beam rods and lightning pistons to save a little $$. The heads were completely gone through after a little porting. Parts i was into it almost $1300 not including a new head to replace the bad one the rods hit. Labor to build the motor and all the bells and whistles was another $1200. I paid a guy $600 to pull the motor and help me put it back in. Lifted 4x4 F150s are not fun to pull motors on Getting back into that firewall is a PITA!!

So just that i'm into mine $3100 with a built motor that can handle 500+hp all day long.

 

After more digging I was told to check my Rubber boots connecting to the PVC valve. (right behind the oil cap) Well mine was OFF just laying to the side I must have pulled it off doing the other engine work. My idle is now smooth.. Although my boot is not tight. So I'm picking up a new one. Unfortunately this is a dealer only part. $$$ Looking around the web I have seen guys using a 90 degree boot off a spark plug. $4.00. I may try that to see how it works.

This boot has been a problem since I got my truck but I never knew what was causing it. Sometimes at stop lights or when I put it in park I would hear this "trumpet" type sound coming from my bay. It did it again last night after putting the boot on. Holding it down it would stop then come back after letting go. I'm really happy to have found that sound and fixed my problem at the same time. I was looking into getting my head gasket replaced which was big $$$$. That wasn't my problem as I had no over heating issues.

 

Rebuilt mine myself and it was right at 2500 for the following
Bored the block with torque plates
Mmr h-beam rods with arp 2000 bolts
King main and rod bearings
Total seal moly rings
Icon forged 10cc dished pistons
Pi heads
Pi intake
75mm bbk throttle body
Madfan electric fan
Felpro gaskets
New side bolts, head bolts main bolts, ballancer bolt
New belt
Timing chains tensioners and guides
All the fluids