78' F150 xlt. Replacing Engine

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Mar 7, 2012 | 05:01 PM

#16

jim collins

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,038

Likes: 4

From: South west Idaho

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idaho_truck

I guess I should have refrased how it "Died" ...
Blown head gasket, and 2 cylenders have very low compression. When I bought this truck 2 years ago, the guy I bought it from said that he believed that the guy before him rebuilt the 400... I figured with the little time I get on weekends to get home and work on my pickup that it would be quicker to get another rebuilt engine instead of trying to rebuild the engine myself and tune it properly...

@ Jim Collins... What mpg would you say you got with those engines on your construction fleet ??

Thanks again for all the help

MPG was never good on any of them,but they were for work ,so it was just another business expense I passed on to the customer. When they were new we had a better grade of gas back then than we have now. I did get 13 to 14 with one of the 400s,but it got worse as they got older and the gas got weaker and harder to burn. I would believe rebuilding your 400 ,if that's what you have is the way to go. Unless you have access to a good 460,cheap, and don't mind hunting up the mounts . The 460 really needs the bigger 4 core radiator too ,all though i have used the smaller 3 core.----

Mar 7, 2012 | 05:16 PM

#17

Idaho_truck

Thread Starter

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Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 9

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mjshagnasty

Is the truck your primary transportation. I'm in the same boat as you. I pulled my 390 a month or so ago and started the whole rebuild process.im still not done. I go to college almost 2 hrs away so getting time to build the engine back up is scarce. Lol I'm almost done degreasing the whole thing. Worst part is when you order parts and when you finally get the time to see if they sent you the right part you find out you are missing a couple pieces that you ordered. It's all part of life though. Again I would stick with the 400 rebuilding it into a powerhouse would be the same if not cheaper than swapping in a 460. Kids like you and I need to remember books first, then budget, then choose between spending time with girls or with the truck.

It was my mode of transportation every day.. I am going to college 2 hours from home as well, but luckily we had an old dual sport motorcycle im using to get around right now, which is to say the least.. cold.

And youve got a point there with the budget.. Ill see what happens, thanks again for all the input guys

Mar 7, 2012 | 08:27 PM

#18

earthquake68

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Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 13,136

Likes: 347

From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.

Ok, if it were me, I'd pull the engine and throw a kit in it. By "kit" I mean an overhaul kit. Take the block to the machine shop and see if it needs to be bored. Have the valve job done and the cam bearings installed while it's there. Assemble it yourself from there. Overhaul kits can be had from Summit for around $400. Total cost would be around $800-$900 and you'll have a brand new engine. Junkyards around here charge more for running used engines than you can rebuild one for and DEFINITELY cheaper than a reman engine from a parts chain.

Rebuilding what you have will be the cheapest, easiest route to take. Plain and simple. As long as you don't have a cracked block or head. (another reason to drop it off at the machine shop) Another tip: DO NOT buy any parts until you hear back from the machine shop, ...or let them buy the parts if you trust them.