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My 86 F-150 with a straight six is dead. Bottom end has sounded like it has marbles in it for the past few months ... now zero oil pressure, lots of noise, ... I am sure the bearings are shot.
So ... this is a daily driver .... body is in very rough shape ... lots of fiberglass and body filler.
Still for $1000 five years ago with a plow, I sure got my money out of it.
That said, I did pass inspection again this year!
I only use it on short trips and for plowing the driveway.
I looked and called everywhere ... not an engine to be found around here in Vermont.
I did find two but since I have never purchased a used engine, I wanted some advice.
One is 1000 miles away and the other 3000 miles so I can't just drop in to look at them.
The first one is at a wreckers in MO ... still in the truck (same truck as mine), 116K miles (if I believe them .. could be 216K). They said it ran when it came in (or they would not have put it into their inventory). No pictures available ... still in the truck.
$650 plus $250 shipping ... $900
The second is on ebay right now ... it was suppose to have come out of a MA50 baggage tug at an airport.
The seller says it was rebuilt at some point in its' life.
Only problem is wrong oil pan. This also means the dip stick is in the wrong place (looks like the hole was tapped and plugged ... don't know how hard it is to change this). Engine looks great but that is because it was in great weather (CA) and used in a clean environment.
$850 plus $475 shipping ... $1325
I know the tug one looks better but not sure it really is.
I don't have money for a new re manufactured block. Not sure the best way to go.
Any suggestions ... or does anyone have a good motor they want to sell or ???
First, I think everything needs machining which meant big $$$$'s. It has 250K miles on the engine and it has been pounding for a few months now. I should have done that right off the bat but I just kept hoping it would hold together.
Second ,,, this is my only car. The wife ....long story ... paralyzed from the shoulders down in a diving accident when she was 12 ... she just turned 40) is driving me around in a wheelchair mini van ... I can't even drive it, no drivers seat, wheelchair locks in ... can't carry much in it... is driving me around for now, I need an engine I can drop in and go. I have a friend who for $200 will change engines in a day for me.
So I am on the search for an engine.
thanks .... Mike
PS ... I plan to keep it for a while ... maybe rebuild the one I take out to swap in a year or two.
Ok makes sense. where in MO is the engine you mentioned. If close I could go take a look at it, I live near Springfield MO. Also look for complete running trucks instead of just engines, might be able to find a wreck or rusted out for about the same price.
Hey! I appreciate the offer but it looks like you are about 2 1/2 hours away ... 5 hour round trip. The motor is in Tebbetts.
I am actually amazed ... wreckers don's seem to keep anything "old" any more. All the ones I talk with say after 15 years they crush them.
It is interesting learning to be a passenger. I got my wife to learn to drive when I met her about 10 years ago. Her family had always told her she could not but I was sure with hand controls she could. It has opened up a whole new world to her. She works and went from part time to full time. She goes out when she want, not having to have me take her out.
I just got to get this old heap back on the road. I am building a shop right now ... when it is done, I can fix this properly or look for something better.
Honestly, it sounds like you don't have much flexibility regarding time or budget and engine swaps with used motors can snowball out of control. You might be better off finding a truck you can use right now for $3K or so?
Knowing this was dying, I set a budget of about $5K for a truck. I have been looking for about the past two months ... been out to see about 8 now.
The problem is everything I have looked at has been in worse shape then mine!
Just saw one two weeks ago ...2000 F250 4x4 w/plow ... asking $5500 ... went to see it ... no floors or rocker panels left, almost 200K miles, bed rusted, no tail gait ...
The week before ..2005 F150 5x5 ... 150K miles ... looked great in the pictures ... went there .... "just needs a little frame work" ... frame was completely rotted!
If I could find something in one piece for $5K, I would jump on it.
It is just rough here in VT.
Plus, it does not help that we only have 600,000 people in the entire state. Our biggest city is only 42,000 people. And we are rural .... trucks get driven till the wheels fall off ... and then used as plow trucks (kept off the road since they will not pass inspection, just used for plowing out the driveway).
That poor engine has led a tough life. Airport tug duty is brutal on an engine. Very high cycles, lots of idling, followed by full throttle operation towing heavy loads, with very little in between. Most airport tugs have a speed limiter, so this poor thing has never had a chance to blow out all the carbon at freeway speed, i.e. the (insert name of ethnic group) tune-up. The only way I'd suggest this engine is if it was newly rebuilt but had never been installed, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Another factor is this may be an industrial block, not automotive. Not sure about Ford, but with some manufacturers, the casting for the industrial version can be different. It may not have all of the required mounting holes for accessories, etc. Do you need to pass an emissions test? If so, this could cause a problem transferring over all of the required goodies. The camshaft and compression ratio may be different, too, which could also cause trouble passing a tailpipe test.
That is what I was worried about. For example, I do see it had a different oil pan ... and thus a different oil dip stick hole (I see a tapped plug in the one I use). He has a few for sale ... some with different accessories in different locations ... even a different valve cover than I am use to.
Think the one out of the same truck is a safer bet.
Valve covers and oil pans can be swapped with your own, I wouldn't consider that a factor. The dipstick should swap too. There are at least 2 holes on my block that a dipstick can fit it, one is center near the distributor, and one is in the back. I know you don't have the time to rebuild, but master rebuild kits for these are around $350, and they come with hyper pistons and aluminum timing gears which are an upgrade over original. The cast pistons and plastic timing gear are the only weakness in these motors. But you asked for a motor swap, I would choose the one with low miles swap the oil covers and put it in. That would be faster.
As far as money, I believe you could rebuild what you have for the same price as buying one of those used ones mentioned. Machining is not as spendy as some may think. Call a machine shop and ask them a few questions. How much to mic the crank and rods, if they are good then machining may not be required. If they are not round within spec, then they will need to be grinded, so get those prices. Ask them how much to bore the block also, that will probably need done regardless. As far as the head, I'll bet you could lap your valves and run it another 250K, worst case, It will run until you can have another rebuilt in a few years, no biggy. The only other thing that will require special tools is having the new pistons pressed onto the rods, get that price. Also, you will have to rent a tool from autozone for removing and replacing the cam bearings, it's free once you return the tool.
In the meantime, I would recommend pulling your cylinder head and looking at the cylinder wear. If the top of your cylinders do not have a deep ring groove, then you could possibly hone them and install new pistons.
I know yous said you don't want to rebuild it, but for the same price or just a little extra, you could have a new motor that is better than Original. If you do decide a rebuild is in the cards, make sure you check your engine block cast numbers before you order an engine kit, because there is a difference between the cam bearings from 86' on. I made that mistake.
I just looked at the pic for the grey engine you have there, and I see the rear dipstick hole right in front of the oil pressure sending unit, yours will fit.
There even cheaper ones depending on whether you want the new cam or not, I would recommend it. Maybe a relative has a car or small truck you can borrow for a few months?
You'd have to get new motor mounts but have you considered checking for a windsor v8 (302/351)? they might be easier to source. Pretty sure you'll only need to change out the motor mounts. Transmission will bolt right up.
I mean ideally I'd recommend taking a road trip and finding a good running truck for ~1500. I have bought a couple out of PA for that price that have been in really great shape.
Wow, sorry if it seems like I'm pestering. Wow meaning, I can't believe the price of trucks where you are. I live here in the Tri-Cities, WA( Kennewick, Pasco, Richland). This is a dry climate, meaning there are a bunch of old trucks still around, with no body cancer, we just don't get the rain or salt. I can buy trucks like ours for under $2000 all day long, if they are available. If you pitch your story to these sellers, maybe one of them would ship you a rig, I could look at it for you if it's locally here. Here is just a short example of trucks for sale here in a 2 minute search. Enjoy.
I have come to realize that ... was spoiled, lived in SC for 15 years.
Rust and rot are the real problems up here.
I will piece this one together but by next year, I do want to start looking south for a decent truck.
Even patching this one together, I know it is not long for this world.
I really appreciate all the advice !!!!!!!
I did find an engine local today ... been sitting for a few years .. will not turn by hand but I am going back with a wrench to see if it will break loose. He only wants $300 .. for that price a freshen up kit would be well withing reason. Like you said ... hone the cylinders ... lap the valves .... new pistons and bearings and I am good to go!
Almost forgot ... just FYI ... I can do "real" work when I have a shop (as I said, in the middle of building one). I am a machinist by trade. As my wife needs medical care every 4-6 hours in a hospital bed, she had never traveled before we met.
i got an old RV ... gutted it .. cut a new door, built a wheelchair lift (they wanted $25k ... built my own) and a lift inside ... installed hospital beds. It has an F53 chassis.
