Hi Folks, I appear to have a slight head gasket leak in my V10 econoline. A bit of pressure every now and then leaving a few drops of coolant on the white coolant tank around the cap. Two new Ford oem caps, no change. I also put a new coolant tank, oem on it. The engine has not ever over heated and I am towing 9k with it (travel trailer) I am beginning to consider my options. $7500 for ford to put a remanufactured engine in it. That is too much money. $3700 for new head gaskets from Ford, but I don't know which reman company to trust. Even Ford uses more than one company. Any suggestions or experiences with remaned would help me. Thanks. I bought a ford certified transmission a few years ago and it was cracked and they ended up giving me a Jasper instead, but a very disturbing experience.

 

It's a hard spot to be in. I went through this with my wife's truck a few years back. For the price of new heads and re-surfacing the block it was cheaper to get a rebuilt long block.

The problem with replacing the head gaskets is if you have warped surfaces the new gasket might not do anything for you.

I can't remember who I used for a rebuilt engine anymore.

Steve

 

Yes it is a bit of a quandry. Thanks for the response. I intend to keep my V10 a long time for towing and I would do a reman in a heart beat, just don't want to get taken, its expensive to get that motor in and out for their bad workmanship to meet warranty. If anyone has any companies I should definitely stay away from that would help a lot too. Thanks

 

 

I bought a reman transmission from my local Ford dealer two years ago. I asked if it were a Jaspe, and he said no, they quit using them due to quality problems.

Your best bet is to find a local shop with a good reputation. I don't think any of the Big Names are worth a plugged nickel.

 

So far my Jasper torqshift tranny has held up well, 50,000 miles of towing 10,000lbs. I change the external filter once a year and the fluid has stayed clean. But I believe you are right and may well find a local guy who knows what he is doing, thanks.

 

A buddy of mine had a Jasper reman 5.3l installed in his Suburban. Something in the valvetrain failed within a few months. Jasper supplied a new engine and paid for the labor. Not sure if that scenario is good or bad.

 

Well that's what I am hearing all over the reviews of just about every reman company. Inconsistency, quality control, one worker at one of them posted that the thing that bothered him about their engines is that there was no consistency of parts quality. One month usa made parts, next month China made parts, so its hit and miss, and that is too much money and work to have a failure that soon. I have another V10 van with 300,000 miles on it, I bought it new. Everything on that engine and trans is original except the alternator. The idler pulleys are original, water pump is original, a/c is original and never needed topping up. Plugs, and oil. It still runs perfectly. Had issues with coils and boots like everyone else. Now this one I bought used with 37k on it. I am pretty sure the mileage was legit, but who knows these days. Tranny at 130k, headgasket at 200k, the motor runs perfect. I don't want to get a reman'd motor and have the head gasket mess up on me in 100k. Sure would be nice if Ford would sell me brand new engine, I would be very intested in that if anyone can tell me a resource for that. Gave the parts man a part number for a new engine and he said that is no longer available and I would have to go with a reman'd engine. Anyway thanks for the responses, I will let you guys know what I do when all the thinking is through.