I am going to pick up a new project tomorrow. It is a 2003 F-250 SCLB with the 5.4/Auto/4x4. 140k miles with the XLT package. Great shape for being from Wisconsin. However, it likes to drink coolant. I went and took a quick peek at it today. There are no signs of coolant in the oil (dipstick check), there was no bubbling or pressure in the degas/overflow tank, and I can not see any visual leaks. There was very little steam out of the tail pipe. I took it for a 10-minute road test and it drove great. It did drop the coolant about 1/4" on the degas tank though. I am going to verify that it is a possible head gasket issue once I get it home. Run some more testing on it. If it was a head gasket issue, I'm wondering what you guys would do? I am a diesel guy at heart. But this project came at the right time. I thought about a 5.9/7.3 swap but decided it's not worth it on this truck. So my next thought was a lightning/HD 5.4 swap. Then I came back to reality and figured I might as well just put a stock 2v 5.4 long block in it and call it a day. What would you do? Truck values around $5-6k. I will have about $750 into it when I get it home. I do not want to spend over the value of this truck. But I have always wanted a fummins....

 

If you want the Fummins it's a good platform for it; it's not worth hardly anything, barely worth rebuilding in it's current form, has 4x4, and you said the chassis is worth it.

Sane option is either head gaskets (if that's what it is) or a junk yard 2V to drop in.

 

Those were my thoughts too. I would be a bit worried about a JY engine, however. Around here the best deal I can find is 132k miles for $1100. I can get a ford reman long block for $1800. I have not looked into the cost of replacing head gaskets. I would assume the heads would need some work and if I'm going that far into everything I might as well spruce it all up! I would imagine that extra $700 would be worth it. As for the diesel swap, If this truck was a crew cab I would think twice. Most people don't want the standard cab (thinking about resale). I personally enjoy the standard cab as it's usually just me tooling around.

 

Dad had an 04 regular cab with 12?k. When his new '16 regular cab came in, he decided to sell the the '04. It was a white 4x4 xl, in decent shape. The only perks it had was nice later model wheels(yes, they rubbed the leaf springs on very tight turns), cab lights and a brand new battery. The sheetmetal had no rust, but there was a pretty good scale on the frame. The truck was on craigslist for less than 24 hours, it sold for 6k and I had several phone numbers of people that wanted it if it didn't sell. People do want regular cabs!

I would check to see if it needs head gaskets. If you find issues bigger than head gaskets, buy a reman and stick in it. The paperwork should recoup the cost over a JY engine and you want be gambling. A warranty to go with the motor, I see no reason why you can't turn 3k on this truck if it's in the shape you say.

 

A slight variation of the coolant level at the degas/overflow bottle does not always mean coolant loss. It might just be normal operations of the coolant system.

 

check the coolant cap pressure or just replace the cap...it could be boiling out of the degas bottle.

 

Well, I lied. Looking at the Ford parts site, a long block is $3,800 - sounds more realistic. A bare block is $1800. Looks like I fancy the option of replacing the head gaskets. Now, it is easier to replace in the truck or pull the engine and give a once over out of the truck... Assuming it's the head gaskets. Thanks for the ideas guys! Keep them coming.

 

Well, it ended up being a blown head gasket. I found a low mileage used engine I am going to swap in for the mean time. I'll tear this one down, freshen up and resell. Any recommendations on parts to replace on the used engine going in? I plan on plugs water pump, tstat, all filters, intakes gaskets and the exhaust manifolds. I was contemplating changing the rear main seal while it's out and oil pan gasket but I'm unsure at this point.