5.4 engine advice

[1955moose]

4 wheel mama, your not old enough for generator oilers. Their actually was a little oiler on I think it was Ford Flatheads. Anybody ever convert a 1600 cc air cooled Volkswagen over to water cooled? Where did you mount the radiator?

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[TobyU]

I had a Lincoln flathead. Does that count? And the generator on my 77 MCI 8V71 looked ominous. Luckily, I left it alone and it left me alone.

 

[and0r]

ok, so lesson of the day
there is no such thing as an engine rebuild without just replacing the heads

and wow, these 2v heads were made for EVERYTHING
really amazing,
200$ per head with cam is pretty good value
probably can even find cheaper

how do new heads work with old iron blocks?
they just drop in with no surfacing?
how do these rebuilt heads perform? do rebuilt heads last?
the actual cast metal seems good, though im not sure on the longterm durability of aluminum, and cracking over time

so realistic cost of rebuilding just the engine only is actually around 600$ which includes redone heads, and your own labor

 

[TobyU]

Your right. It wouldn't be a rebuild unless you at least send the heads out to have a valve job done. On most engines if it just has a blown head gasket all it needs is the head check for straightness or slightly surface cut to clean it up and a new gasket installed. On most engines that will require new head bolts to since so many are torque to yield.
If you are going to rebuild an engine or going through on to freshen one up that would involve removing the pistons From the Block and install a new rod and main bearings and new piston rings which would involve at least honing out the block and checking some critical measurements and and many high mile cases it would require the block to be bored and to use an oversize piston and ring set.
The cams on these aren't a wear item so the only reason most people would replace them is to put more of a performance or power building camshaft in like they do with mustangs but for the trucks you could also get one with better low and mid-range torque or towing.
What the Machine Shop looks for on heads is kind of dependent on the head design. These Modular Fords are good heads with no real known issues that I've ever heard of. They are quite huge and absorb lots of heat quite well. So no real cracking issues or places to look. They would just need a standard valve job done which but also check and replace any loose valve guides and grinding valves and seats and/or replacing seats Etc.
Certain heads over the years had known issues and you had to look for spots and weld up any problems. The old Ford escorts for instance we're know to always crack heads and you always looked in the certain area for them and half the ones you would take apart you would see they had already been welded.
Also, on these modulars, people often just get a low mileage set from a salvage yard cheaply and bolt them on with new head gaskets on their bottom end after they freshen up the bottom.
So I would say 500-600 is a lower minimum you might get by with freshening what happens during a rebuild yourself. I would say 750 to 800 is more realistic because things do add up. You want to replace the oil pump while you're in there and if the pickup tube screen is not very very clean you want to replace that also. Then you have the gaskets or gasket set which gets pricey, oil and filter and coolant if you count that as part of your rebuild if it wasn't time maintenance wise to do it anyway. And spark plugs, a shame not to do them while they're so easy to get to.

 

[Machete]

I would have to say, it really comes down to how much you really love your expo or if you could live without it. Mine is an 02 and I love mine, but on the other hand the blue book value vs the cost of repair is where it gets me. Since I love mine as much as I do and it shows (Mine is in excellent condition), I would probably put money into it if the cost were under $1500. If it were the head then I would swap the entire motor.

The biggest repair I have had to do on mine thus far was the intake manifold. She hasn't been the same since! However, when the manifold blew, I couldn't afford the repair. So she sat for a couple of months and then I had an old friend that everyone calls, NASCAR. He earned this name from building rat rods! So I was confident that he could don the job right. Well, as I said, "old friend", he doesn't think the way he did when he was building rat rods. Unfortunately, the truck had no power and she had to be torn down a second time and by a different mechanic who claimed to have a degree in auto mechanics. Well he had a degree, but turns out he never went anywhere with that degree after he graduated college! He went to work with his father remodeling houses! So he didn't k ow what he was doing and his mistake was not replacing the crushed gasket with a new one and it had some serious air leaks! Never even test drove it after he was done. Started it and shut her down and started over with round 3! This time it was my boyfriend that did the work. We bought another brand new manifold and gaskets as well as plugs, wires, coils, injector seals and for good measure changed all the fluids. This time it was good!! It took 9 months to get her back on the road!

I have always been picky on my choice of wrencher that gets under the hood and this is exactly the reason why! I have the know how to fix stuff myself, but I physically can't due to a disabilitating medical condition!

My dad was a mechanic (RIP) and when I came to him to fix my rigs, he would get out his lawn chair and tell me to bring him some corona. He would instruct while I did the work. He said he was determined to make sure his daughter could tell ya what's wrong and how to fix it. I have walked into many shops with my vehicle and had to call them out on their BS! WITH THE RESULT OF A DISCOUNTED REPAIR JUST TO KEEP ME AS A CUSTOMER! I might be a girl, but I ain't no dummy! There is no such thing as alternator fluid and you won't see me trying to check the headlight hoses!

Back to the point...if it's valuable to your heart then sink the money into it, but don't do just the head. Swap the entire motor or rebuild. Parts for the expo are cheap and typically simple repairs. Good luck!

Wow. A girl after my own heart. So much here it’s hard not to comment.

First, I used to be a DIYer. Then as I got older and started to make real money I bought the bigger house, bimmer, boat, suits etc. I decided I’d spend my time w my job during the week and make more money and relax on weekends.

I loved floating in my pool while the yard service worked. Had a pool service, a custom Taylor and rolled my bimmer to the dealer.

Having done both I always saw people who tried to do repairs beyond their abilities or learn OTJ ended costing more and causing their vehicles to lay up for long periods of time. It almost always ended up costing more after all was said and done.

Today I do a little of both. I shovel my own driveway, I tinker on my old Harley, but I take my truck to the dealer, have it detailed, and use a yard service.

I’ve done top end freshen ups on other cars I’ve owned. Got buddies that did em. I’ve done crate engines, used engines and pull and rebuilds.

In the end after all the smoke has cleared if you love your truck, boat, Harley etc spend more now doing it the best/proper way now. You’ll save over the long haul.

Oh and girls in trucks, girls and cigars, girls on Harley’s are major turn ons. Just sayin.

 

[and0r]

Your right. It wouldn't be a rebuild unless you at least send the heads out to have a valve job done. On most engines if it just has a blown head gasket all it needs is the head check for straightness or slightly surface cut to clean it up and a new gasket installed. On most engines that will require new head bolts to since so many are torque to yield.
If you are going to rebuild an engine or going through on to freshen one up that would involve removing the pistons From the Block and install a new rod and main bearings and new piston rings which would involve at least honing out the block and checking some critical measurements and and many high mile cases it would require the block to be bored and to use an oversize piston and ring set.
The cams on these aren't a wear item so the only reason most people would replace them is to put more of a performance or power building camshaft in like they do with mustangs but for the trucks you could also get one with better low and mid-range torque or towing.
What the Machine Shop looks for on heads is kind of dependent on the head design. These Modular Fords are good heads with no real known issues that I've ever heard of. They are quite huge and absorb lots of heat quite well. So no real cracking issues or places to look. They would just need a standard valve job done which but also check and replace any loose valve guides and grinding valves and seats and/or replacing seats Etc.
Certain heads over the years had known issues and you had to look for spots and weld up any problems. The old Ford escorts for instance we're know to always crack heads and you always looked in the certain area for them and half the ones you would take apart you would see they had already been welded.
Also, on these modulars, people often just get a low mileage set from a salvage yard cheaply and bolt them on with new head gaskets on their bottom end after they freshen up the bottom.
So I would say 500-600 is a lower minimum you might get by with freshening what happens during a rebuild yourself. I would say 750 to 800 is more realistic because things do add up. You want to replace the oil pump while you're in there and if the pickup tube screen is not very very clean you want to replace that also. Then you have the gaskets or gasket set which gets pricey, oil and filter and coolant if you count that as part of your rebuild if it wasn't time maintenance wise to do it anyway. And spark plugs, a shame not to do them while they're so easy to get to.

oh thats right, i forgot about the headbolts

 

[1955moose]

Machete, you left out girls with tattoos! Personally I've always liked girls that were soft spoken and nice. It would have been cool though to wrench with one of them. I did teach my first girlfriend to ride my Yamaha 250 Enduro dirt bike, so that's something. Back to the show. As far as will the cast iron heads fit? Yeah, but you'll need to do your homework, and take measurements. Deck height of block vs head combustion area. The areas have got to be the same or close. Measurements need to be done to be sure something doesn't go bang, the first time you turn key. In the old days we used clay on top of the pistons, to make sure their was no interference when installing higher compression pistons. Look online, theirs usually always an article or 2, that gets you where you want to be. Hell half the time, I get info I don't know for you guys there. Man's got to know his limitations! I've worked on a lot, but not everything.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[Machete]

Machete, you left out girls with tattoos! Personally I've always liked girls that were soft spoken and nice. It would have been cool though to wrench with one of them. I did teach my first girlfriend to ride my Yamaha 250 Enduro dirt bike, so that's something. Back to the show. As far as will the cast iron heads fit? Yeah, but you'll need to do your homework, and take measurements. Deck height of block vs head combustion area. The areas have got to be the same or close. Measurements need to be done to be sure something doesn't go bang, the first time you turn key. In the old days we used clay on top of the pistons, to make sure their was no interference when installing higher compression pistons. Look online, theirs usually always an article or 2, that gets you where you want to be. Hell half the time, I get info I don't know for you guys there. Man's got to know his limitations! I've worked on a lot, but not everything.

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

Damn I knew I forgot something. Tatted up is very sexy!!

 

[TobyU]

oh thats right, i forgot about the headbolts

Yep. Just another scam to sell more parts.

 

[1955moose]

Bolts you got to throw away. Had to be the right wing wackos that thought that one up. You can reuse bolts from Model T, circa 1925, but not a 2010 truck. Like Jackie Gleason said in Smokey and the bandit, what's this world coming too!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk