Replace Head Gaskets or Salvage Yard Engine Swap
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
Replace Head Gaskets or Salvage Yard Engine Swap
Hello all,
Looks like I need to figure out whether to replace the engine with one from a salvage yard for $200+ extra parts/fluids
OR
replace the head gaskets $50ea+ extra parts/gaskets/head bolts etc.
Any suggestion?
1998 Ford F-150 XLT, 2 Wheel Drive, 3 Door Extended Cab, 4.6L Triton V8 Windsor, Automatic 4R70W
I do not know if it is the 6 or 8 bolt Flywheel?
I am doing the work myself.
HEAD GASKETS
I can get a head gasket set for $60 just gaskets to $150 with gaskets water pump and timing chain set online or $224 for head gasket set and head bolts from local parts store.
I had planned on pulling it apart scraping the old gaskets off and putting it back together if I do it.
ENGINE SWAP
I would look for the best engine available $238.98. But a lot of odometers are digital and since there is no battery there is no way to tell mileage, the salvage yards do offer 30 day exchange and one even offers a 1 year extended warranty.
And i'm not sure what other vehicles to look for that would work for a straight swap?
Looks like I need to figure out whether to replace the engine with one from a salvage yard for $200+ extra parts/fluids
OR
replace the head gaskets $50ea+ extra parts/gaskets/head bolts etc.
Any suggestion?
1998 Ford F-150 XLT, 2 Wheel Drive, 3 Door Extended Cab, 4.6L Triton V8 Windsor, Automatic 4R70W
I do not know if it is the 6 or 8 bolt Flywheel?
I am doing the work myself.
HEAD GASKETS
I can get a head gasket set for $60 just gaskets to $150 with gaskets water pump and timing chain set online or $224 for head gasket set and head bolts from local parts store.
I had planned on pulling it apart scraping the old gaskets off and putting it back together if I do it.
ENGINE SWAP
I would look for the best engine available $238.98. But a lot of odometers are digital and since there is no battery there is no way to tell mileage, the salvage yards do offer 30 day exchange and one even offers a 1 year extended warranty.
And i'm not sure what other vehicles to look for that would work for a straight swap?
Last edited by DigitalDad; Dec 1, 2019 at 11:25 AM.
5 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,179
Likes: 1,208
You might start with what truck yr and what engine
are you doing work yourself?
Probably want to get firm quote on that motor price, you might be off by 1000.
If your paying for it.....its easier to swap motor.
If you are doing it, hg is cheaper, but can be problematic. Maybe you do half the labor, only to find a cracked head, cracked block, not a bad hg, etc . Motor swap eliminates those risks. The labor book time is similar
are you doing work yourself?
Probably want to get firm quote on that motor price, you might be off by 1000.
If your paying for it.....its easier to swap motor.
If you are doing it, hg is cheaper, but can be problematic. Maybe you do half the labor, only to find a cracked head, cracked block, not a bad hg, etc . Motor swap eliminates those risks. The labor book time is similar
Last edited by mbb; Nov 30, 2019 at 08:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
1998 Ford F-150 XLT, 2 Wheel Drive, 3 Door Extended Cab, 4.6L Triton V8 Windsor, Automatic 4R70W
I do not know if it is the 6 or 8 bolt Flywheel?
I am doing the work myself.
HEAD GASKETS
I can get a head gasket set for $60 just gaskets to $150 with gaskets water pump and timing chain set online or $224 for head gasket set and head bolts from local parts store.
I had planned on pulling it apart scraping the old gaskets off and putting it back together if I do it.
ENGINE SWAP
I would look for the best engine available $238.98. But a lot of odometers are digital and since there is no battery there is no way to tell mileage, the salvage yards do offer 30 day exchange and one even offers a 1 year extended warranty.
And i'm not sure what other vehicles to look for that would work for a straight swap?
I do not know if it is the 6 or 8 bolt Flywheel?
I am doing the work myself.
HEAD GASKETS
I can get a head gasket set for $60 just gaskets to $150 with gaskets water pump and timing chain set online or $224 for head gasket set and head bolts from local parts store.
I had planned on pulling it apart scraping the old gaskets off and putting it back together if I do it.
ENGINE SWAP
I would look for the best engine available $238.98. But a lot of odometers are digital and since there is no battery there is no way to tell mileage, the salvage yards do offer 30 day exchange and one even offers a 1 year extended warranty.
And i'm not sure what other vehicles to look for that would work for a straight swap?
Minister
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 193
Likes: 7
From: Florida
I'm in the same boat after 500k with 140psi on each cylinder except the passenger rear cylinder.
Might want to check the intake. Mine SEEMS like it's leaking back there and I found some oil in the two front cylinders.
Where are you looking for a motor/Place.
I have resigned to rebuilding my '65 FE352 / easier and not as expansive as a 2k motor I'm finding.
Might want to check the intake. Mine SEEMS like it's leaking back there and I found some oil in the two front cylinders.
Where are you looking for a motor/Place.
I have resigned to rebuilding my '65 FE352 / easier and not as expansive as a 2k motor I'm finding.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
I'm in the same boat after 500k with 140psi on each cylinder except the passenger rear cylinder.
Might want to check the intake. Mine SEEMS like it's leaking back there and I found some oil in the two front cylinders.
Where are you looking for a motor/Place.
I have resigned to rebuilding my '65 FE352 / easier and not as expansive as a 2k motor I'm finding.
Might want to check the intake. Mine SEEMS like it's leaking back there and I found some oil in the two front cylinders.
Where are you looking for a motor/Place.
I have resigned to rebuilding my '65 FE352 / easier and not as expansive as a 2k motor I'm finding.
I found oil in the coolant reservoir. I called the guy who sold us the truck and he told me he had an issue with the temp jumping up so he put "Pour n Go Red Devil"? in it.
It is nice looking, solid suspension, good interior and almost rust free truck.
The reason I asked about the bolts on the flywheel is due to the questions asked by two places I read about here HollanderParts.com & Car-Parts.com asking about it, see the pics bellow:
See where it asks that about the 4.6L, VIN 6 (8Th Digit, Windsor), 6 Bolt Flywheel & 4.6L, VIN 6 (8Th Digit, Windsor), 8 Bolt Flywheel.
I didn't think the intake could cause that problem so I haven't checked it.
And it is just a local salvage yard in my area, the guys scrap a lot so they just want what the metal is worth plus a little extra basically.
Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
I can't find where you said how many miles are on the truck/engine. IMO if you have the expertise to do an engine swap, I'd rebuild the salvaged engine completely and install it. I get the idea you think you can just drop a salvaged engine in and problem solved. The salvaged engine may have worse problems than the one you are replacing.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 4
I can't find where you said how many miles are on the truck/engine. IMO if you have the expertise to do an engine swap, I'd rebuild the salvaged engine completely and install it. I get the idea you think you can just drop a salvaged engine in and problem solved. The salvaged engine may have worse problems than the one you are replacing.
The salvage engine has a warranty, so if it runs worse it can be swapped. I have experience swapping motors, but rebuilding a motor takes expertise IMO and takes many special tools I don't have.
5 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,179
Likes: 1,208
A custom rebuild with top quality parts, by a skilled builder can be the best engine you can get.
A backyard refresh by a hack....can be the worst.
If your going to keep truck and keep driving it, and want another 100k + out of it, engine isnt the place to scrimp. You will not get what you do not pay for. It is the heart of the vehicle.
Many salvage engines will have 12 mo/12k warranty. But finding under 150k is getting hard now, 20 yr old engines.....with some same problems as your own. Things need replacing proactively to get best life out of them. Replacing an engine is too much work not too redo the timing chain guides, water pump, oil pump, clean pan/strainer, freeze plugs, coolant pipe, etc. Common failure points.
A backyard refresh by a hack....can be the worst.
If your going to keep truck and keep driving it, and want another 100k + out of it, engine isnt the place to scrimp. You will not get what you do not pay for. It is the heart of the vehicle.
Many salvage engines will have 12 mo/12k warranty. But finding under 150k is getting hard now, 20 yr old engines.....with some same problems as your own. Things need replacing proactively to get best life out of them. Replacing an engine is too much work not too redo the timing chain guides, water pump, oil pump, clean pan/strainer, freeze plugs, coolant pipe, etc. Common failure points.
Last edited by mbb; Dec 3, 2019 at 06:00 AM.
