i have seen some engines with the reinforcing plate, and some without.
i have noticed the engines with the plate are less prone to suffer flexplate failure at the crank.

 

Some do and some don't. This was in my 89 ranger almost 20 years ago(back when it was Honest Engine) so I don't remember if it had one. Haven't had an automatic since

 

Every SBF I've seen has had a steel 'block plate' installed at the factory. I always used one.

 

I have a truck in the shop right now with a Jasper remaned transmission thats bad. Problem being this truck will be down 2 weeks. The tranny has to go back to Jasper for them to tear it down and see whats wrong and determine it they will warranty it. Then ship one back. I won't deal with them anymore.

 

The following is straight from Promar warning about dropping one of their engines into an otherwise comprised operating system:


"Have you checked or replaced the following?
Radiator, water pump, thermostat, belts, hoses, fan and coolant sensors, exhaust system and catalytic converter, oil pump, oil cooler and lines, oil pump pick-up screen, torque converter, transmission and related components, distributor and related pick-ups, modules, oxygen sensors, fuel filters, EGR valves, fuel regulator, etc."


"thrust bearing wear due to transmission-related components or problems, faulty rotted freeze plugs due to lack of cooling system maintenance or ground straps..."


"Causes include inoperative or malfunctioning computer and or emissions control and ignition devices, clogged catalyst or exhaust systems,etc."


Seeing as in my particular instance, this motors has a apparent spectacular one-cylinder failure on an otherwise appearing sound, pretty well-cared for engine, seems likely that there's an operating fault there.


Have already had all the injectors out for the dunk and service kit with filter baskets, but foolishly didn't think to single out injector #1.


They all powered up and moved air, seemed fine.


Replaced fuel reg. at that time. High press. pump (Bosch) going in tonight.


(Truck starts/runs albeit lousy but has 0psi/KOEO...37psi KOER)

 

You would think that a major car magazine would have done a reman engine comparison by now. Anonymously buy the same engine from 5 or more places an tear them down. Researching this for my 460, I have read about ATK, Jasper, EngineGuy, HiPerformer, Blaines, Groomes and now from this post, Promar.
One of the warranties said it was void if put in a non original application. Sounds like I would have no warranty in my 1970 F250 460.

 

this may help for a view

 

I love my 96 460. She is one hell of a beast. She has 350k on it and you wouldn't know the difference. Apart from standard maintenance to it I have never had to replace anything major on the motor. She is finally losing compression on all cylinders, experiencing power losses, minor oil leaks. So she is being shut down to be rebuilt.

I am not sure why you'd drop money on new when you can probably just rebuild what you have. Unless something is wrong with that block, I'd reuse it. You know its a lower end problem, but the chances of it being a piston/ring issue is a lot more likely than a block. Before I decided to replace something like a block I fully break it down and check it out. Those 460's are some tough *** blocks. But if you had to go with one of those companies, I have heard nothing but good about Promar. I have also had a Jasper trans in an old 89 I used to have, went out in 500 miles. They wouldn't replace it because they claimed the shop ****ed it up. But the internals were bad on the trans. So how did the shop who only install it **** it up? Anyway, Jasper is junk. Promar is good.

 

I over heated it and it has a crack somewhere or it is warped. If I'm lucky it is the heads that I want to get rid of anyway. Just weighing my options. My attempt at rebuilding my FE did not work out, but some of that was work I farmed out.

 

Buying a reman vs rebuilding your own engine is simple

a reman typically can be at your door in lest than a week and comes with a 3year 100k warranty.

rebuilding your own engine takes a month plus depending how buys the machine shop is and ZERO warranty

 

I am on the fence about reman company's as well, I was in the dealer world for 20 years. I would never buy a jasper, total trash, I cant comment on the others, I am a firm believer in fords reman program, as these have to stand up to their warranty's. I don't know about the availability of the older products anymore, but the newer stuff is decent and they do stand behind the product. decent machine shops are a dying breed is the other thing. I ended having my 347 at 2 different ones since the damn 1st one screwed it up royally, next time I do a full custom one, I am buying a ford crate engine