Hey guys. I recently had the notorious leak at the crossover on my 2000 F150's upper intake manifold and replaced it. After a few hiccups, I was able to get the job done and it was running great. Unfortunately, about 450 miles after the fix I started getting a hard miss on cylinder four. Pulled the plug, which was only 450 miles old, and it looked horrible; like red rust. My friend and I did some troubleshooting, including a block test and there is definitely a coolant leak. Even have some milky looking oil on the block filler cap. I guess the fix repressurized the system and the next weakest point went.

Now, let me get to the point. The truck is in pretty good shape, but not worth much according to Blue Book. It has about 246,000 miles on it, but the transmission and other drive train parts seem fine. I can't sell it because it won't pass California smog, and it isn't worth much as a donation, so I am willing to consider swapping the engine out. Would it be worthwhile to buy a remanufactured or low mileage used engine and drop it in or would I be better off having my current engine rebuilt? I have another friend who thinks the block might be cracked instead of a blown head gasket, and if that were the case, a rebuild probably isn't in the cards. I have never pulled an engine and dropped another one in before, and I don't have a real shop setup, but I love a challenge and learning new things.

Is this worth doing with a 13 year old truck with 246,000 miles or should I just bite the bullet and move on to another vehicle?

 

I should also mention that the engine also started sounding like a diesel on start-up. Luckily I have a company vehicle, so I don't have to rely on my truck, so I haven't driven it since, but that sound is another factor to consider...

 

Its a tough call. I had the same thing 6 months ago. Truck with 250k miles, several problems. Considered rebuild motor, buy low mile motor (dont know what your getting)... finally i decided to sell my old truck cheap and put that and the money for a new motor and labor into another truck. Found a similar truck with 100K miles and bought it. No labor involved and im back in business. I really was considering getting another motor and transmission and installing, but you mever know what your buying for sure.... and the old truck had LOTS of parts with 250K miles on them.

 

Guess what your truck is worth to someone as parts.. Rebuildable motor, running trans, bed, seats, tires and rims, windshield, doors and glass, etc.

 

That is the other side of the argument... It might be a new(er) engine after the swap, but the tranny and chassis are still have 250k miles on them... And to be honest, the body has more than few dings and dents.