So, as I continue to battle a random misfire in my 5.4, it got me thinking about replacing the engine. My truck is near mint condition, regardless of the odometer showing 213,000 miles, so I would like to hang onto it. I don't use the truck for work like I used to, but it's my daily driver. Logic says, just fix the misfire. Believe me, I'm trying. But having this issue appear randomly every few weeks or months, changing coils, wrenching under the hood has gotten old. Not to mention the heads have had inserts put in them and that issue is always in the back of my mind, too. And she's been using more and more oil lately. Get a new truck. I like having a truck, as it is handy, but I don't need a $40,000 + truck or payment and I don't want to start over with someone else's problem. I called Ford this morning and to my surprise, I can still order a brand new engine from my local Ford dealer for $5,332.00. To me, that seems like a pretty good deal. Just swap over my brand new intake, another new set of coils and accessories, and I should be good to go until I keel over. But I have a question that the parts guy couldn't answer so I'm hoping someone here can; Did Ford make any improvements to the heads on these regarding the plugs blowing out like mine did? It would really suck to have that happen on a new engine. I guess now that we know of the issue, just tighten the plugs a bit more before putting the new engine in, maybe? I don't know. Share your thoughts with me and let me know if anyone has gone the brand new engine route

 

Is it really a brand new engine?

Ford used to make re-man short and long blocks?

I'm sure if you did some more research, it is likely Ford improved the engine problems on later model engines.

You would have to find that out and then order one from that newly improved era, providing it would be a direct fit.

 

I want a direct replacement. Ford went to the 3 valve in 2004, so not many years to develop improvements. And the 3 valve has it's own share of problems.