Okay all you smart and resourceful guys, question for you!

Just got news from my shop that the 460 engine in my 1997 F350 has no compression on cylinder 7 and they kept testing and I was advised the engine is not good! They said they would have to tear it down and either rebuild it or they felt it would be cheaper / more efficient to replace the engine?

The shop is a friend of the family so I trust them I just wanted to check here with you guys that know and deal with these trucks on your thoughts for my options for engine replacement?

Thank you in advance for any help you guys can help me with.

 

It all depends on how you want to go about it,how many miles are on it?

I would tear it down and have everything inspected and get quoted how much all the machine work will be.

I rebuilt my 460 last year,replaced the crank,2 connecting rods,.030 pistons,new cam,lifter and timing set,all new bearings and plugs in block and had about $1800 in it.I assembled everything myself.

The only thing about the remanufactured engines you can buy is you don't know what work was done and what wasn't,I've heard some places will just bore 1 or 2 cylinders if it needs it instead of all 8.But you get a warranty with the reman'd ones.

 

Do a leak down and find out where the compression is going. It could just be a bad valve.

 

Pull the offending cylinder head and determine if it's the valve or the piston. Repair the problem component. I'd also check the oil pressure with a manual gauge to determine the state of the bearings.

 

Okay thank you guys for the answers. I will see what they say.

The truck only has 98,000 miles. I purposely looked for over a year for a low mileage truck.

 

When i wore my 460 out (almost 300k) I replaced it with a 7.3

 

I'm going to avoid the whole diesel vs gas debate and just leave it as I am a gas guy. But out of curiosity is the 7.3 a direct bolt in or does it require a lot of changes?

 

Had to switch motor mounts but all the holes for the 7.3 were there. Also replaced all the diesel components and wiring harnesses. I had a donor truck and literally just swapped one to the other. Rebuilt the 7.3 while i had it out

Don't get me wrong i liked the 460. But I've doubled my fuel mileage with the 7.3 now.

 

460 all the way. And 98,000 miles....bull**** that engine is bad. Sounds like a shop that wants money to me. Like most. Try to fool people. I bet its a valve. I have a 460 with 350k on it and still runs VERY strong. I have put 100k on it in the 3 years I have had it and I have given it nothing but RotellaT 15w-45. The only thing I have replace is the clutch. Doesn't leak or smoke yet. So try seeing where that compression is going first.

As for the Gas vs Diesel Debate....they 7.5L is very good. The 7.3L is very good. I'd love to have a 7.3L truck as well as my 7.5L. Lol!

 

I would do a leak down test for sure....as said could just be a valve and not be as bad a job as they are saying. If they don't know what a leak down test is get a new mechanic even if they are a friend of the family