Engine Replacement Questions

2001 5.4
I may be looking at having the engine replaced and am trying to get a wag on end cost and what year model engine to look for and which ones to avoid. Developed what I told myself was a tick a while ago that would go away as soon as engine temp started to come up. This has slowly morphed into more of a knock, and the other morning was a full blown clacking for about the first two seconds after fire up.
Instead of buying another used car in the $5k range and inheriting a bunch of new problems, I am thinking of swapping out the engine and driving it a few more years. It has almost 300K on it and not much else is wrong. Put new fuel pump in last year, new tires, new rotors and pads. I was going to drive it til it died, but I have kind of fallen in love with the old gal and wouldn't mind driving it another 100K or so. I have a shop I trust that is very reasonable. I am going to stop in next week and talk to them about what it might cost.
From reading on here, I have seen things about certain engines that may bolt up, but aren't necessarily any better and have some issues. Things like 2 valve vs 3 valve, etc...
Questions are:
1,) Which engine do I want and which do I want to avoid?
2.) Approx. what should I expect to spend on the engine.

I know there are a lot of variables, water pump, gaskets, etc...
Thanks
Rich

You have a 260 horsepower 2valve engine. It has 2 per cylinder or 24 total. It's best to stay as close to your year as possible as they all have little differences. As far as a 3 valve, or 24 valve total, that's a definite no, unless your shop wants to change out a ton of items. And even then who's to say it would work. If your going the remanufactured route with a warranty, your looking anywhere from $3,000 up to $6,000, depending on location of shop, and price of motor and their labor. At 300k miles, your SUV is at it's life's end. The value of your vehicle is under $2,000 with those miles, possibly less. Maybe you or that shop can find a low mileage engine to keep it going.

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If it were me and this is just my opinion I would find out what was making the noise.... rods, bearings, maybe timing chain? Replace all of those. I would chk and see if cylinders weren't too bad, rehone, or rebore if necessary. Add new H or I rods, for sure as that is the weak point on these motors and balance the whole assembly. Also with a little opening up of a few crucial oil passages you get a lot better oil flow also add a new melting or billet oil pump. Do this and you could Supercharge or Turbo it or just have a bulletproof engine that will go a half million mi. No problem

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You will have more than the vehicle is worth with anew or reman engine replacement.
Either sell now while running and go look at a lot and find one you like and trust, or get a used engine put in yours.
www.car-part.com will find you engines all over the country arranged by proximity to your zip code.
Friend of mine in Florida just got a 99 4.6 from town car or crown vic with 73K for $525 and installed locally for right at 750.

If you get a 125k or fewer mile engine you should have a lot of life out of it. You could consider doing timing set while it's out as that's not too much more, but I would definitely do the exhaust manifold gaskets and studs/bolts. Gaskets are about 15.00 and studs or bolts cheap too...since these like to rust off and leak.

I put a 06 6.8 in my excursion in 2015. It had 110K on it and was spotless inside valve covers.
Still running perfect.
Got it for a great deal with a trans too and installed myself so very economical.

Thanks for the inputs.
Haven't heard the noise in the last week. All I hear now is a very light (almost imperceptible) ticking for the first min after starting when cold.
If I wasn't listening for it, I probably wouldnt even notice it. That combined with the fact I am at 275K miles, makes it a non-player to me.
One thing I didnt mention in the orig post was the day before i heard the clacking, I had an oil change done. Shouldn't matter, just coincidence I guess.
I called the shop I use and they said to come in and let the guy that does the engine swaps look at it and he will give me a wag on labor.
Reman engine will be more than I am willing to put into it because of possibility of something else terminal showing up due to high mileage.
But putting a couple grand total in it either by doing a cheap rebuild, or a lower mileage engine out of a wreck or something may be an option.
Thanks again for the info.

You should be using a Ford Motorcraft oil filter. They have an anti-drainback valve in them. Without that, an engine will often tick on startup...

Trainmaster that's more a problem on the 3 valve motor than the 2, but as cheap as they are, not a bad idea. I think the oil change might have disrupted something in the top end, or the person working on it didn't put back 6 quarts. I know you probably already did this, but check oil level. Stupider things have happened.

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I’m seriously considering doing the timing job on mine. Complete w Melling oil pump, Melling steel tensioners vs plastic and the new style guides w cam timing is $2000. I might add a new water pump, the radiator hoses and throw in new spark plugs.
Wondering if spending $2500-$3000 is worth it since everything is peachy keen. I am pushing 200k now.

Machete said:

I’m seriously considering doing the timing job on mine. Complete w Melling oil pump, Melling steel tensioners vs plastic and the new style guides w cam timing is $2000. I might add a new water pump, the radiator hoses and throw in new spark plugs.
Wondering if spending $2500-$3000 is worth it since everything is peachy keen. I am pushing 200k now.

Click to expand...

No it's not and I wouldn't even consider it. Those must be shop prices at $2,000 to do the timing set and oil pump. There are tons of guys that work on these all the time that charge far less than that.
I could go and take my pick of 2000-2004 expeditions with decent miles and in good shape for between 2 and $3,000.