Looking at '95, F-150, engine won't turn over, Need advice
#1
Looking at '95, F-150, engine won't turn over, Need advice
I'm going to look at a 5.8, '95, F150, 4wd, Ext. Cab. Guy who is selling it says that they never got the engine to turn over. It was given to him and no idea other than it has a new PCM, ignition switch, new stainless exhaust and headers.
He even told his nephew that brought it to him to pull plugs and try a breaker bar with some penetrating oil in each cylinder, but they never did. He said that the oil is clean, and there isn't any coolant/water in the pan.
One question I have is, can I tow this back within 50 miles, under 50 mph, without having to drop the rear driveshaft? It just lessens my work until I get it back here. If not, then I will mark the location where it was originally bolted.
What, if anything else can you guys think of I should look at before making the deal? Its under $800 for everything. Has bucket seats and center console. Tires and engine bay look wonderful. Body has less rust than my d.d '92. Would under $800 sound reasonable? I believe it does. He also said that the exhaust work was $400+ and PCM was $266.
Thanks again!
He even told his nephew that brought it to him to pull plugs and try a breaker bar with some penetrating oil in each cylinder, but they never did. He said that the oil is clean, and there isn't any coolant/water in the pan.
One question I have is, can I tow this back within 50 miles, under 50 mph, without having to drop the rear driveshaft? It just lessens my work until I get it back here. If not, then I will mark the location where it was originally bolted.
What, if anything else can you guys think of I should look at before making the deal? Its under $800 for everything. Has bucket seats and center console. Tires and engine bay look wonderful. Body has less rust than my d.d '92. Would under $800 sound reasonable? I believe it does. He also said that the exhaust work was $400+ and PCM was $266.
Thanks again!
#2
You don't say what type of transmission it has. Even if it has an automatic transmission, as long as you can get the transfer case in neutral towing shouldn't be a problem with driveshaft connected.
How do plan to tow it, tow bar or rope? If you plan on rope and driver in towed truck, the towed truck probably won't have adequate brakes without the engine running.
How do plan to tow it, tow bar or rope? If you plan on rope and driver in towed truck, the towed truck probably won't have adequate brakes without the engine running.
#6
Even if the brakes are in decent working condition from not sitting too long, I'm not sure how well they will work without the engine running, being equipped with power brakes. Don't forget to check that out before pulling it at any speed down the road.
#7
Trending Topics
#8
#9
#10
#11
Ok guys, here's the skinny!
Went and looked at the truck. It's not bad. Usual rust. Crank won't budge, in either direction. Also, looks like they did some damaged to the crank pulley, with something to dent the bottom, 2 small places..weird.
Pulled the dipstick, there isn't any water or coolant in the pan, oil is dark, so it wasn't changed recently. Radiator shows sign of rust, with no visible coolant other than maybe half in the radiator.
Saw receipts for exhaust work, $408, and $266 for PCM. Also looks like someone changed the stator in the dizzy, but dizzy, looks OEM. The old stator was in the back seat. Everything works with key on. 212,XXX miles. Column shifter is loose, doesn't correspond on dash, but can shift transmission. Busted plastic door handle on driver door, broke lens on passenger side brake light.
Tires have good tread, nice factory aluminum rims, not steel type. WARN locking hubs. All pulleys, AC, Smog, Power Steering turn freely. New alternator.
I may remember more later.....
BUT...In the meantime, any ideas as to why this thing would just completely lock up. Im lost as even the guy said all they were doing was ignition work and finally when they got it done, it wouldn't budge. They spent lots of $$$, and now it's just a boat anchor of an engine.
Thank again everyone for advice and suggestions!!
Went and looked at the truck. It's not bad. Usual rust. Crank won't budge, in either direction. Also, looks like they did some damaged to the crank pulley, with something to dent the bottom, 2 small places..weird.
Pulled the dipstick, there isn't any water or coolant in the pan, oil is dark, so it wasn't changed recently. Radiator shows sign of rust, with no visible coolant other than maybe half in the radiator.
Saw receipts for exhaust work, $408, and $266 for PCM. Also looks like someone changed the stator in the dizzy, but dizzy, looks OEM. The old stator was in the back seat. Everything works with key on. 212,XXX miles. Column shifter is loose, doesn't correspond on dash, but can shift transmission. Busted plastic door handle on driver door, broke lens on passenger side brake light.
Tires have good tread, nice factory aluminum rims, not steel type. WARN locking hubs. All pulleys, AC, Smog, Power Steering turn freely. New alternator.
I may remember more later.....
BUT...In the meantime, any ideas as to why this thing would just completely lock up. Im lost as even the guy said all they were doing was ignition work and finally when they got it done, it wouldn't budge. They spent lots of $$$, and now it's just a boat anchor of an engine.
Thank again everyone for advice and suggestions!!
#12
#13
No oil or someone forgot to put the oil pump drive shaft back in when they changed the distributor. You might as well consider the engine a loss at this point.
#14
#15
Auto trannies shouldn't ever lock an engine, but I suppose of the torque converter clutch is locked and the trans was stuck in gear that would be the result. But those are both unusual failure modes, so I doubt that as well.
I guess I'm not sure what would happen in the torque converter clutch was locked with the trans in park. Still would be a pretty unusual situation though.
So overall I'd guess assume that the engine is toast. Buy it as a parts truck if it's worth it to you and take it as a pleasant surprise if the engine turns out to be salvagable