Is she dead, or do I try and revive her

[Hotswopp]

On the way home tonight as I pulled up to a stop the oil low/hi-temp light came on and the oil gauge bottomed out. Was only like 3 lights from the house. made it home never overheated, but did rattle more than normal when I pulled in. I have noticed over the last few weeks a sound like push rod tapping, it comes and goes but has been more frequent lately. oil levels are good, and always kept up. checked nothing in the exhaust for oil or water, water res is full and clean.


Over the last 3 years I have done the following, rebuilt the whole front end, hubs, inner outer strut towers ball joints. Had the transmission rebuilt about 11 months ago. Installed front and rear cross drilled/slotted cryo-ed rotors all the way around and composite pads. Just put new tires on it 3 weeks ago.


At this point I am leaning towards having the timing chain, guides, tensioners, water pump and oil pump replaced since it all must come off to get to the oil pump. Probably looking at 1500-2000 for everything local mechanic. Engine has 190k on it, but still runs very smooth and gets decent gas millage.


Since I have so much into it already, it is hard to just walk away. But thinking if there might be damage from this, I don't know what else to do?


Any ideas?



James

 

[JExpedition07]

If their is significant engine damage due to losing oil pressure you may be better off looking into reman engines. Timing set gone bad is normally clanking and eventually misfires and timing off. What year is your expy?

 

[Hotswopp]

it is a 2003, but my thoughts were replacing everything since it all has to come out, rather than putting old parts back in. It was running fine when i shut it of. I don't know how to check for engine damage?

 

[Hotswopp]

How much would I be looking at for a crate engine? any ideas? it is the 4.6

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

If you're looking at $1,500-2000 even, that's a significant percentage of the value of that truck. If it were me, I would think long and hard before plunking down any more cash. Don't let the sunk cost fallacy push you deeper into a potentially bottomless pit.

 

[R W Carpenter]

If you're looking at $1,500-2000 even, that's a significant percentage of the value of that truck. If it were me, I would think long and hard before plunking down any more cash. Don't let the sunk cost fallacy push you deeper into a potentially bottomless pit.

The sentimental part of my brain says fix what you have. I have 2 06's (one eddie bauer and the other a limited) and I am quite attached to them. However the logical side of my brain says that $1500-$2000 is a decent down payment on a newer or maybe even new expy. But then there is the dreaded monthly payment to consider as well.

 

[JExpedition07]

The sentimental part of my brain says fix what you have. I have 2 06's (one eddie bauer and the other a limited) and I am quite attached to them. However the logical side of my brain says that $1500-$2000 is a decent down payment on a newer or maybe even new expy. But then there is the dreaded monthly payment to consider as well.

Depends on your situation. If you can’t swing a ride in much better shape than the current one, your money is better spent fixing your current 03’ rather than buying another with all old parts in it to start all over. That’s my take. Lots of people ditch one ride for a different one in equal or worse shape because of the “time to move one factor”, when it made no sense to do so.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I sold my old SUV a few years ago for $2,600. Now I'm looking for a third vehicle as a backup in case my wife or I need it, and my first thought was that old SUV. Much like that old GF you broke up with 10-20 years ago, you mostly remember the good times. Then you start to think about it a little more or maybe you even go back for a nostalgic f**k and it all comes rushing back to you. Now I remember! That old SUV had no AC (believed by my mechanic, who is a heat/AC specialist, to be the dreaded blend door that required removal of the heater core to access), a leaky roof, rotted rockers, and needed ~$2K worth of suspension work. Even if that 240K engine went another 100K+, I was looking at an opportunity cost of $5K+ to keep driving her ($2,600 + $2K + AC/rust repair/etc).

 

[JExpedition07]

I sold my old SUV a few years ago for $2,600. Now I'm looking for a third vehicle as a backup in case my wife or I need it, and my first thought was that old SUV. Much like that old GF you broke up with 10-20 years ago, you mostly remember the good times. Then you start to think about it a little more or maybe you even go back for a nostalgic f**k and it all comes rushing back to you. Now I remember! That old SUV had no AC (believed by my mechanic, who is a heat/AC specialist, to be the dreaded blend door that required removal of the heater core to access), a leaky roof, rotted rockers, and needed ~$2K worth of suspension work. Even if that 240K engine went another 100K+, I was looking at an opportunity cost of $5K+ to keep driving her ($2,600 + $2K + AC/rust repair/etc).

You have some good points, in that case for you it was time to move on. It’s all situational and depends on the finances and owner. A new truck can be over $1,000 a month easily, that’s a money pit that is tough to beat lol, and at the end your left with a heap of valueless scrap, or you trade in and take a huge hit and a newer higher payment. Vehicles are a bad investment but they are a need. We either blow money fixing them or blow money buying them.....it’s time for me to go to bed.

 

[1955moose]

I guess it boils down to the shape of the SUV. Is it a rust bucket, or sound. Problem is you've got so much new, it might be worth a motor. You do have one of the better 2nd gen SUVs, at least the bigger brother 5.4 is. The only way to access the wear, is to totally disasemble your motor, all the way down to the crank. Anytime you have an oil starvation problem, it's usually not pretty inside. If you have another vehicle to drive, which at this point you kinda have 2, go for it. You might want to scour around for a good low hours used 4.6 motor at the local pick and pull. Should be able to find one cheaper than the 5.4. I'll bet one of our members has one that got wrecked, and is parting out.

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[Hotswopp]

Decided to keep her. Found a used engine for 1000, local guy will swap it for me for 1000. 90 day warranty, better than a new 500+ car payment.

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[1955moose]

$2,000 is better than the usual $3,000 plus labor. Good luck, definitely smarter move than a $500.00 or higher SUV payment.

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[theoldwizard1]

...made it home never overheated, but did rattle more than normal when I pulled in. I have noticed over the last few weeks a sound like push rod tapping, it comes and goes but has been more frequent lately.

There is a good possibility that you may have damaged the main bearings or connecting rod bearings. I would NOT put a lot of money into that engine, because it may have a short life.

 

[Transporter]

If the body, tranny, and suspension are all in good shape, even at $2500 for a crate motor install, one is much better off then buying an outrageously priced new or even used 2016 or 2017! Besides that house payment sized new car payment, welcome to 5 or 6 years of higher then need be vehicle insurance due to the loan.

At 278,553 miles I put a new Tranny in my 03 EB 4X4 because spending $1900 (4 year warrantee) was way better then $800 a month payments for 5 years plus higher insurance payments because I live in a big city. I pay $400 a year in insurance don't want to go to paying $175 a month!

Something to think about.

 

[Want3d]

Ok I just put a new crate in my 04. I spent 4700 roughly but it has 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty way better than a 500+ car payment. Truck had 160k when I had the new put in. Body was sound have a bunch of parts waiting to go on. I think it was better for me to go that route.

 

[Transporter]

What I really would have liked to do was put a V6 Eco Boost twin turbo (current 2018 engine) mated to the new 10 speed transmission in my 2003 EB 4X4 but that would have been more then a new Expy!

 

[JExpedition07]

That would be the retrofit of a lifetime. Close to impossible, id go 5.0 myself if I were to tackle that. Then again you can’t beat the Triton engines. Will bolt right in and are a cast iron engine with forged internals, good motors.

The 6.2L V8 would prob be the easiest to retrofit into an older one. Hydraulic power assist and closer motor mounts.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Decided to keep her. Found a used engine for 1000, local guy will swap it for me for 1000. 90 day warranty, better than a new 500+ car payment.

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There are a lot of options in between sinking $2k into a vehicle worth $2k and buying a $30k vehicle ($500/mth payment on a 5-year car loan). Best of luck with it.

 

[Transporter]

There are a lot of options in between sinking $2k into a vehicle worth $2k and buying a $30k vehicle ($500/mth payment on a 5-year car loan). Best of luck with it.

Yes the KBB is $2000, but if one is working with a known quantity (original owner of 2003, or bought it very low mileage), then there is another huge variable if said owner knows the rest of the vehicle is in good to great shape. One could put a new motor in plus in a few years a new Tranny into a 2003, new tires when needed, upgrade the brakes, replace the struts and shocks, and still be miles ahead dollar wise in 5 or 10 years versus shelling out $52K for a 2019 base Expedition and paying thousands more in required higher insurance. The fuel saving and repair costs saving on a new Expy is never going to even remotely approach break even versus buying a new engine and later even a tranny. And here is Georgia the Ad Valorem Tax on a new vehicle will more then pay for a new motor!

Besides, for me, the amount of new electronics I have in my 2003 is all ready 2 to 3 times the vehicle's value. New JVC seven inch display Apple Car Play head unit, new speakers, back-up camera, Valentine One radar detector, my iPhone, Android Note 8 to run the JBV1 App on, Icom-7100, and AL Priorty Laser Parking System.

But of course I do a lot of driving so best for me to drive this 2003 EB until it is basically unrepairable.

 

[1955moose]

On top of all that it's like a favorite pair of old quality shoes. Do I resole them? Or do I buy a new pair? Sentiment is a powerful tool for a lot of us. Our vehicles are like the family dog/cat. We spend thousands on surgeries for them when their at their life's end, and don't think twice. Our friend here is doing a similar thing. Our Ford's are like a family member to a lot of us. Hell, we treat our SUVs better than family members in a lot of cases. So if we can get another 5 years or more out of our friend in the garage/driveway, why not. Old dependable friends are hard to find!

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