Good Evening!

In my 97 4.6 I am getting a misfire CEL on my drive home from work (mornings runs great)
It has been several times in the exact same place before the big bride on my commute (5 minutes into my drive home) (has happened several times)
I had my dad look at it and he says that it is a head gasket (apparently also common on my engine from what I have read)
It has been pressurizing my coolant system and blowing coolant everywhere and throwing the CEL for misfire.

It has 230,000+ on her right now, I am looking to get it running right again but not sure which route to go.
Any suggestions, good remanned engines, "easy" fixes, tips, etc.

FYI my 8th digit is W

 

Well if you're blowing coolant everywhere you probably have it diagnosed correctly.

The first question is what condition is the rest of your truck in? Because to fix it you've got to spend a lot of money if you pay someone to do it. It's a lot like buying your truck all over again........ You have to want this truck.... And want to keep this truck running.

If that's not the case, if you're not completely happy with your truck, if you want something else, then it's best to cut your losses and move along.

You can certainly fix it yourself for relatively cheap, but it's a lot of work. And there's always the small risk you get elbow deep in it then you find out you have a crack not a head gasket leak, or a surface that's eroded and will never seal again, etc.

How much are you willing to spend on this truck?
If you spend $5,000 to put an engine in, and then the transmission goes, and the AC goes, are you going to be upset? Because over the next several years that very well could happen to an old vehicle.

At the time I put an engine in mine almost 5 years ago..... I spent about $8K fixing up a bunch of stuff...... Because I was going to keep driving it several more years at least to recoup the engine cost. It is a gamble, there's no way about it on an old vehicle. If you get in a wreck you're going to lose just about everything you spent.

 

I just recently moved back to the states from Germany and bought this with the cash in my pocket. I would like to get it running again. It isn’t in the best shape it has some rust and the interior isn’t great. I have debated on selling it but then I’d have to buy another turd and start over.

I am fine with putting 5k in it for it to last me another 3-5years. Keeps me from spending 500+ monthly on a new vehicle while I build my credit (been in Germany 9 years)

I would either pull the engine and have a machine shop or do it with some friends. I work for a diesel shop and the rebuild shouldn’t be too complicated for us to tackle.

with the machine shop they take all the risk and looks like I could get it done for around 1500 and then drop it back in myself

or get a remanned engine that’s going to set me back 2500-3000

Once I get a new truck in a few years I’ll use this one as my hunting truck

thanks for any help

 

My logic is.. I spend the money now and if something else major goes wrong it will still be cheaper than a monthly car payment

im not ready to admit defeat 😂
or that I bought a turd lol

 

If the truck is worth it to you, and you can do the wrenching, then fix the truck.
If the only issue is Head gaskets, they can be done in the truck.
You should take the heads to a shop for rebuild while they are off and change the timing chains and guides. Use good gaskets.
Not a difficult job but time consuming. The power steering pump is a pain.

Take lots of pictures.
Also, if you have access to a lift, the cab comes off in less than an hour (plus rust issues if any).