External Head Gasket failed me

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Oct 29, 2012 | 04:00 PM

5.4ofHate

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Joined: Nov 2010

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External Head Gasket failed me

So In a prev thread I thought my radiator gave up. I didn't look too hard I just called my shop and had them pick it up. Turns out the external head gasket gave up. The prev owner didn't use antifreeze and the only thing that was in the radiator was 1 part water and 2 parts rust. So thanks prev owner!

Anyway I have 3 options

Option 1: replace gasket, put the motor back in and keep on moving

Option 2: rebuild the motor

Option 3: find a replacement motor with low miles

any ideas?

Also the transmission is fine, I replaced a lot of the stuff on the truck already. (I replaced the Susp[all of it] brakes, tires) So I'm using this as a chance to upgrade the motor if I go with using a new motor. Outside of the stuck 5.4L, what options do I have that will work with the stock trannY

Oct 30, 2012 | 02:33 AM

alloro

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Option 3 is probably the best one. You have no idea how much rust scale is built up inside the block and you could be looking at more problems down the road as a result.

Oct 30, 2012 | 07:27 AM

monckywrench

Cargo Master

Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 2,220

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Generally modern engines aren't worth rebuilding. Many people wishfully do a partial repair only to have something else, like the bottom end, die shortly after. Engines are expendable because they so easily go beyond economical repair and it's all about "dollars per mile".

I'd either find a low-mile engine or look into a remanned unit.

You also just learned to change ALL fluids when you get a vehicle. I do this even for total beaters, because I don't trust previous owners to be smarter than a tree stump.