Need V-8 Mechanic and recomendations
 

Well, unless I'm severely mistaken, the engine in my F-150 took a dump this afternoon Westbound on I-80 at hwy 20. It rattles like all hell, and almost sort of runs kind of on what appears to be 4-5 cylinders for brief periods.

I am blaming it on Cory's AC compressor installation :) [race card]I think he has something against WHITE trucks... [/race card];)

With many thanks to Pat R. it is back in Sparks on top of Matt's trailer but that's a different long story.

So I think I need somebody to swap an engine, and probably do water pump, clutch, flywheel, and possibly tranny at the same time... Anybody got a recomendation? I'd prefer to pay a trustworty individual rather than a shop, but will take either reccomendations.

Next I am trying to decide what to do on the engine. It is a 5l, and I'm wondering if it makes sense to spend a couple extra bucks on something with more low end torque, etc. Maybe I need a blower. :) It is primarily a tow vehicle.

Do I just get a Kragen rebuilt, have this one rebuilt, buy a crate motor from Summit????

Khail, and Napa options?

Austin, as our resident American iron expert, I expect some brilliant insight from you. :)

And no, I am not trading it for a Nissan... :P

Sorry, sir, that sucks.

Wow, I didn't know the S2k had a tow package ;)

Never underestimate a Honda:


http://seccs.org/forums/attachment.p...tid=1288&stc=1

You should like buy a used Titan or something.

A fresh build with carefully chosen manifolds will be night and day even without a motor swap Dean. The blower would be way overkill. If you attempt a swap, try to grab a junkyard diesel and make it worth it!

I don't know exactly which manifolds the 5.0L trucks came with, but I would guess any change would probably decrease low end torque, not increase. All the performance manifolds out there usually have shorter intake runners than stock. If you're looking for more low end torque (and want to stick with gasoline), swap it for one of the 80s-90s 351W truck blocks. You should be able to find a decent running junkyard unit for a few hundred. If it was close to the same model year I imagine it would swap over without a ton of difficulty. If that doesn't work for you, go diesel. :)

http://car-part.com/

just get a cheap ring and bearing rebuild kit, and an rv cam from summit and call it good. if you have the extra 1200 er so to spen bolt on a decent set of heads. i've most delt with chevys, but iron is still iron. it's just in a different configuration.

as usual i'm here to help. and i'm trying to quit my job.

Yes, I do have issues with WHITE trucks!


That really sucks Dean! Whenever you spend money to fix something, something else breaks. Stupid Murphy and his stupid law...

It's a '94 4x4 w/5spd. MT by the way.

Will a 351 just drop in and use the same manifolds, accessories, etc, or will I end up swaping all those as well?

Anybody ever heard of Nevada Engine Wholesale in Carson?

:D Buy a Brand New TRUCK....

I agree with Ez. Cut your losses. This thing sounds like a nightmare from what I've heard here.

Not likely. Why would I buy a brand new anything that only gets a couple thousand miles at most use per year? Because I love depreciation?

Used trucks are cheap these days with gas prices and all.

I know of a 96 F150 for sale pretty cheap. But it's stick, 6 cyl, and 2wd.

I would drop a rebuilt 351 and turn your block in for core thats way ceaper than a whole new truck for as often as you drive it!!

Well so you could look cool of course...!

Actually a rebuilt engine for a ford should be pretty damn cheap, you can buy most stuff you need for them at the local quick mart these days. Find a good shop to do the work. The problem with rebuilding stuff, is after the new stuff is put in, the rest of the vehicle starts to break.

Thus my whole theory on the AC compressor causing this.

It is like sombody getting an organ transplant, and the body rejecting the new organ. Only in this case, the new organ wins, and kills the body.

Thanks

Get that shit off my trailer :lol:

Well, I have a couple leads on a mechanic, and I went by and took another look at it.

There appears to be water in the oil, and no water in the radiator, so the revised guess is head gasket which should be significantly less than an engine swap. Hopefully nothing else died at the same time.

Any possibility of overheating and warped heads?

:D

You need a more secure place to hold it.

Yea you shouldnt have any cracked water jackets or heads or anything.

Hey Dean, one of the engineers at our office just bought a brand new F-150 because he got tired of fixing his V8 4x4 '94 F150. :lol: