An oil water blend can still lubricate. So there might not be major damage. But you're still guessing on the cause. If it was just an intake manifold gasket leaking coolant into the crankcase that's one thing, but it might be a head gasket or something else. I'd clean up that gasket and be sure, not pretty sure. Find the blowout.

As far as cleaning up the gunk, worry about that after you know how the coolant got in to the oil. You could probably go to Jiffy Lube and ask them for 10 gallons of used oil to flush the engine with after you put it back together. A spinning non-running engine won't load the bearings like a running engine.

Just some thoughts.

 

Since everything is due for replacement and I love beating a dead horse with a stick, I'm rebuilding the engine.

So far I've gotten the fan, alternator, AC compressor, and power steering pump off. I layed the AC compressor to the side in the battery tray so I don't have to discharge it. I took the bracket off the power steering pump side and layed it to the side. A previous mechanic broke a 15mm bolt off in the block so that will have to be fixed, it required some negotiations to get the bracket free. Tomorrow I'm going to pull off the starter, AC bracket, water pump, and radiator then free it from the transmission.

The heads will get inspected, as well as the block, after that everything will get boiled.

 

If your AC bracket is like mine this is what causes that bolt to snap.
Where it snaps never seize the crap out of it with the new bolts. I packed mine solid inside and out before I put the AC back on.
If your bracket is like mine some of the bolts hold on the water pump too., mine is a 1999.
Take a look.
https://www.f150forum.com/f6/1999-fo...4/#post7225875

Edit, The remains of the bolt came off easy with my extractor tool, I would advise to not use heat.

 

That's exactly where mine snapped too! I paid some fly by night mechanic to pull my engine earlier this year. He got some stuff taken off, mixed up all the bolts in a bin, and broke that exact bolt off then left $50 richer, never to be seen again. He was going to pull it for $500 but I guess the other $450 wasn't worth the trouble.

​​​​​Thinking back on it, I must've been high. I refuse to let anyone work on my vehicles but was desperate.

Back to topic. I got the bracket off with a hammer and chisels. I was able to get one in between the motor and bracket. Then I kept getting bigger ones till it had a good amount of tension. At that point I tapped the top of it with a hammer till it popped free. I didn't look at it good but it seemed intact.

Edit: Your post is great, I'm going to be referencing it as I go. Hopefully you get another 25 years out of your truck.

 

Got the water pump, alternator bracket, and radiator out today. The studs for the water pump didn't come out, I'm guessing they're seized in place. I'm considering taking the crank pulley off to get an extra bit of space but it should be clear as is.


The 4.2l looks so small without everything attached.




It's rusty but ​no sludge had made it back into the cooling system.

There's a few more things underneath to disconnect, I think it's just plugs and motor mounts. I sprayed the exhaust bolts with pb blaster and I'll get them off another day. If I have to cut it I will. I plan on going with stainless headers if I can find a decently priced set.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and have the engine out and ready to go to the machinist.

 

If there's rust in the water pump there's rust everywhere. That's a lot of rust. Your problem might be bigger than you think. I have gone completely over to the other end of the spectrum. Better check things out closely. Good luck.

 

Yeah that's a pretty Rusty looking water pump impeller. Seems a bit odd. The velocity ought to keep it cleaner. Did this truck sit long time without anything to inhibit corrosion in it just like plain water in the cooling system or something

 

My 1999 looked like this, and the little rust you see I think happened after I took it off.
But I flushed my system and change the anti freeze every now and then.
My engine block passages look the same, clean for its age.
If I didn't break the housing while removing the water tube, I would bet that I had many miles left on it.

 

Yeh..... it's best we don't dive into the mistreatment this trucks seen over the years. The fact it drove into 2022 is a miracle. It's going to be a new day for this thing.

 

Does the transmission have to come off to get the engine out? I'm finding mixed opinions on this. I feel like with the driveshaft pulley off then I'll have plenty of room. Any suggestions? I may be ordering the factory service manual from ebay since I'll have this truck forever after this.

Another random idea I have is painting the engine block ford blue. I'm thinking something like this.