I have the opportunity to purchase a clean Eddie Bauer 4x4 version w/122,000 miles on it and a blown motor. It also has a snow plow attached and I'm interested in using this truck to plow residential driveways next winter. So my two main questions are should I rebuild this engine myself or by a reman unit if so please recommend a good one or two. Secondly is the transmission in these trucks solid or do they have a history of problems? I'm just leery about doing this myself because I read about so many people with head problems on this 5.4L engine and I'm mechanically inclined (Ive rebuilt 2-stroke engines) but have never rebuilt a 4 stroke truck engine before. Did Ford ever come up with a fix for this problem?

 

The Expedition is not designed strong enough to plow commercially. It is only a 1/2 ton frame. You'd be much better off with an F-350 4x4 pickup.

 

alloro's right about the snow plow, if you check the owners manual it say's just that.

 

Alright everyone knows what the manual says and what happens in the real world are two different things. I realize it's not meant to push large amounts of snow however it can push with a smaller blade like the one that is on it. I'm 43 YO and I've plowed for years, I'm not some kid that doesn't know what he's doing. Besides I'm only doing driveways not large parking lots. Are you telling me that guys with Jeep Wranglers, Cherokees, Chev Blazer & Jimmy shouldn't be plowing with their trucks because they're less than 1/2 ton???

There's a correct application of a snow plow for almost any 4x4 vehicle, of course I wouldn't try it with anything less than 6 cylinders. I have a friend who plows with a 6 cyl Toyota Tacoma... I plow with a 1/2 ton Chevy pickup truck and an 8ft blade and my truck is no worse for wear.

I really was looking for advice about the engine reliability, and whether these were really a junk motor not worth putting $ into. I've read about a lot of the 5.4L blown up w/ less than 75K on them. Anyone with helpful information please share, thank you.

 

I appreciate your concern, let me know where I can find an F-350 4x4 with a Snoway 7ft. plow on it for under $5K and I'll jump all over it...

 

on your original question about the motor.... you could buy a remanufactured engine for cheap, but getting it installed is a little less fun than your average kick in the ***. but as for what everyone else says, i wouldnt trust a snowplow on that size truck, a 350 or even a 450 would be best.

 

I think I would go with a reman or low mileage used engine versus rebuilding what you have, quicker, definitely easier and possibly cheaper. As far as plowing with it I have a friend who has been using a '97 for about 5 years now and in the summer pulls his bobcat and has never had any problems and he's over 200k on miles now.

 

I had a 97 expy with the 5.4 and 192k on it when I up sized to and excursion and it still ran strong did not burn or leak oil. I used the expy for my company vehicle and carried around about 800 to 1000 lbs of tools/supplies. The 5.4 has always held up for me.

 

ebay has alot of 5.4's but you'd be looking around 2400.00-2800.00 from what I see listed now or theres acouple used ones for less

Good luck either way
for a side note I would'nt put the stain of a plow on my 99 navi. would get a f250 or up