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just curious - poll

H

Howard H.

Well-known Member

I've got a 2000 f250 crewcab that I like pretty well. It has a 5.4 v8 gas engine & 209,000 miles & pretty new auto trannie in it.

I think I cracked a piston on it today while cruising down the highway with a tractor on my trailer.

I could either stick a reman engine with warranty in it for $3000 or chance a salvage yard engine for much less $ but same investment of time & hassle to swap..

Or put that much towards buying something newer/more powerful. The rest of the pu is pretty good, with normal wear & tear, but very serviceable.

i'm just curious as to comments/opinions as to whether I'm getting way 'too cheap' in my advancing age and maybe would better off if I'd just spend some money... Ha...


Howard
 
I went through the same dilemma with a 98 Chevy 2500 last year. Long story short I bought it used and the valve cover gaskets had been changed and there was a missed matched bolt....it found its way I into the oil pan with the remains of a piston. By the time I bought the crate motor and had the pu running again I had a third more than I figured on spending. It was more pricy than yours for the big block 454 but no matter, if I were in that boat again I would cut my losses and go newer with lower miles.
 
If you know the suspension and drive train is in good shape then a reamn is the way to go. If you just want to get it running to sell or trade a junk yard engine will do. Gotta remember a vehicles life is determined by the frame and body. Everything else is replaceable parts and major components.

Rick
 
well i just went thru this. 03 F250/80,000 miles.
it had a bad head gasket/cr. head? i pouted for a week. it would be $1700 to pull the motor and do head work. i went with a jasper reman/$3200/100k warranty. after 6 mos., it had a miss/weak on 6 and 7. they replaced it, no questions asked +labor. it depends on your outlook/income situation. i will answer any questions you have. **if you get a reman have someone do it.....they frown on do-it-yourselfers.
 
if it were mine, id look at it this way, if the truck does what you need it to, id keep it, tear it apart and see just exactly what it needs, even with the crate engine its cheaper to fix it that to replace it with a newer one worth bringing home, unless you can see the truck the salvage yard engine came from and verify its not a heavy frontal crash, which could have stressed or damaged the engine block, or a rollover which might have ran while on its top,denying the oil to the engine bearings ect id go with something with a warranty so you have recourse if something goes bad, if the truck is not enough truck id look for a later model diesel, with more torque for towing and better fuel economy
 
If you plan to sell it soon, most auto shops will replace just the one piston for you for not too much money, mostly labor costs.

If you plan to keep it, put in a remanufactured engine or rebuild it. If one of the old pistons has cracked already just figure there may be seven more pistons that are ready to crack anytime now too.

Good luck.
 
Last I looked trucks aren't getting any cheaper. I would do my homework and find a very reputable rebuilder to do the work. If the spark plugs have never been out they ARE going to strip the threads! I would look into a 3 valve engine will work. They have better power and mpg's.
 
Few thoughts

97-04 is a pita to work on. Half of the engine is tucked under the windshield. If you're prone to chucking tools you might want to pay someone to do it.

The last 4 or 5 engines I have bought used have had the mileage misrepresented. Pay careful attention to what you get, better yet get a look at it in the donor, hear it run, and check the mileage yourself.

What makes you think cracked piston? Knocking? Dead cylinder, blow by??? I wouldn't guess. I get it diagnosed. It may turn out to be a cheap fix.

If it is in good shape it is definitely worth fixing. That there truck here would be $5-6,000 retail. Used engine plus install for under $2,000, Oh yea, no brainer.....
 
2002-2500 Chevy with about 155,000 miles hasn't caused us "many" problems. BUT looked at this 2009-2500HD today and decided it was time to buy.
Still have the 02 pondering what to do?
Daughter kinda wants it in a year when she can drive OFFICIAL!
That's my pole and I'm sticking on it.
a75538.jpg

a75539.jpg
 
She won't be driving it too much if she has to pay for the gas. Maybe that's a good thing? LoL The 6.0 litres are real gas hogs.
 
i bought a new halfton with that engine back in 95 and i still have it with 220k. used it like it was a f250 and it still kept on going and going. however, unless you can do the work yourself, you probably would be better off using the reman. first you need to make sure what you described is actually the problem as has been mentioned.
 

I appreciate everyone's comments.

I agree - need to pinpoint the problem for sure. Just sounded like a knocking noise crossed with "serpentine belt shredding" noise...

Now it has a tapping when you rev it the slightest above idle... But it idles smooth as a sewing machine with no miss.

In talking to a tractor buddy, he suggested timing chain - and I hadn't thought of that, so hopefully that might be it...

Sure appreciate all the comments/advice!

Howard
 
More likely it spit a cam follower and may have a worn out cam.

I don"t remember a 5.4 or 6.8 having pistons go. These engines are very picky about their oil.
 
I have decided to put a 5.9 Cummings in mine when the 5.4 goes. Hope it lasts for 2000 more miles. Just type in Cummings into a Ford. To Google
 
(quoted from post at 21:13:39 07/07/12) I have decided to put a 5.9 Cummings in mine when the 5.4 goes. Hope it lasts for 2000 more miles. Just type in Cummings into a Ford. To Google
Click to expand...

The problem there is making sure the gearing is changed to meet the torque curve and RPM range of the diesel.

Rick
 
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