Just a little backstory about this expedition, it did not belong to me untill today, i was the girlfriends parents vehicles, they were not oil changers or checkers. It got ran low and began to knock, it did not get drove long when the knock began. They gave it to me because otherwise for them it was the scrap yard. When i started trying to start it it was 3 quarts low on oil and then still wasnt full, where it went idk! the bottom of the engine was dry. i limped it 1.5 miles home.

I noticed on start up the knock sounded real bad then soften, it is present at all rpms, oil pressure was at half on the guage, when i got to my house it went all the way down and the low oil high temp light kicked on. The knock is almost just not a single knock it kind has like a reflex knock i guess. when i rechecked the oil after i drove it home it was pretty black even after three new quarts but i didnt see any shavings.

I have never worked on any newer ford engines, just an old 330 in a grain truck, our vehicles are both 4.3 chevys so i know my way around those but newer ford are new to me. I did rebuild my jeep engines and have pulled a few as well.

Where should i start on this project? ide like to patch it up cheap as possible to get it down the road. it has 196,000 so the trans and tcase may be about done aswell.

 

You'd start by replacing the crank, all of the crank bearings, and possibly any damaged piston rods, or just swap the engine out with one from a junk yard.

 

yea know that may be the best bet! how tough is an engine swap on one of the trucks?

 

These engines take 6 to 7 quarts, so its not expexted that you see anything on the stick with only 3 quarts added if bone dry. The engine is probably shot, so cheapest would be to get one from the junk yard

 

Yep, that "reflex" knock are multiple rod knocks due to the lack of lubrication. Never a good sign.
No marvel mystery oil here!

 

Not too bad once you pull everything out of the front, like the fan, radiator, condenser, etc.

 

Yes it sounds pretty ugly when its running! At the local junkyard they want 350$ for a used motor, that may bethe best bet for me.

Now what engines from what vehicles will work? i know the 4.6 may have came in different vehicles

 

Your best bet if you want a direct fit is another expedition. But yes, that engine has been in many vehicles with different configurations

 

direct fir would be best, other than the internal problems the current engine runs and idles smoothe. no ses lights.

 

No sure but besides "internal" problems, you'd have to worry about anything else.
You might have some fun and see how far you can get with this engine, providing you stay close to home. Love to see the guy next to you at a stoplight.

 

haha!

So i called a few junkyards, they all are saying 290-350$ for used engine that i likely will never hear run untill i start it myself. seemed like a not so good deal, pay 300 and hope it runs.

I may be better off going in through the oil pan with a new crank and bearings!
you guys think this is doable?

 

These modular engines are very expensive to go thru yourself, many bolts are 1-time use and have to be replaced each time they are loosened. If you did open one up, you would be looking at a reman crank, crank and rod bearing sets, timing chain and guides, oil pump, seals/gaskets, and assorted fasteners, just to do a cheap job.

I have purchased used engines from LKQ, the cost was around $700 delivered. They give a 90 day warranty, but I never had an issue. This was way cheaper and faster than trying to rebuild. If the used motor has over 80k miles, I would personally inspect the timing chain guides, they tend to get brittle and fall apart. All the bolts on the timing cover are 1-time use, you can get a kit from Ford with all new chains, guides, tensioners, gaskets, and bolts for a reasonable cost, they are packaged as Ford Racing M-6004-462V cost around $400. They also have kits for 3V and 4V heads. This is easy to do when the engine is on a stand, harder but not impossible in the vehicle.

 

wow thats a different way of looking at it, sounds like a costly motor.

At one junkyard i may have the possibility to hear the engine run before its pulled, i know some exploreres had the 4.6, which vehicles would have a 4.6 that would work? an dhow can i tell if it will?

 

Look at the EGR system and the front of the engine, specifically where the AC compressor, power steering is mounted and how the serp belt is routed. If it's different, you have to replace it, worst case scenario, you have to replace the timing cover. Of course, you get that from your old engine. Other things to look out for is if it's 1 or 2 knock sensors, but those are mounted under the intake and not visible when it's in the truck.

 

Ahh interesting. so in theory a 4.6 from and explorer should work fine in my expedition?