Repair or new engine? Advice please
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1
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From: Colorado
Repair or new engine? Advice please
Hi gang! I was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about my current situation:
1. I have a 1995 Bronco 351 with about 133,000 miles on it. It has been a fantastic truck, never had any trouble with it; and the body is in excellent shape. Over the past year, however, I have noticed it has developed an small oil leak around the rear main seal. This Bronco is a second vehicle for me; I have a job assignment out of state, so it sits around for several weeks at a time until I am around to use it. I have neither the time or the skill to fix it myself; I am debating if it would just be better at this time to just take it somewhere to get it fixed, or just to bite the bullet and get a new/remanufactured engine for it. I understand that in order to get the rear main seal fixed, they would have to remove the engine anyway. I intent to keep it for several more years.
2. For either the repair or new engine, does anyone have any idea how much the price difference would be? Could anyone recommend a good shop in the Denver, CO area?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
1. I have a 1995 Bronco 351 with about 133,000 miles on it. It has been a fantastic truck, never had any trouble with it; and the body is in excellent shape. Over the past year, however, I have noticed it has developed an small oil leak around the rear main seal. This Bronco is a second vehicle for me; I have a job assignment out of state, so it sits around for several weeks at a time until I am around to use it. I have neither the time or the skill to fix it myself; I am debating if it would just be better at this time to just take it somewhere to get it fixed, or just to bite the bullet and get a new/remanufactured engine for it. I understand that in order to get the rear main seal fixed, they would have to remove the engine anyway. I intent to keep it for several more years.
2. For either the repair or new engine, does anyone have any idea how much the price difference would be? Could anyone recommend a good shop in the Denver, CO area?
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
check this place out, it will be the way i would go when my engine dies. are you sure that its a rear seal and not just a bad oil pan gasket? or valve cover gasket leak. 133k is not that much . I would spray down the motor with degreaser and then see where the oil is coming from first . then call a few shops to see what the cost is to fix problem. now here is an engine place that has a great warranty http://www.ford-motors-engines.com/index.html
and prices.
good luck
and prices.
good luck
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
The hard part about changing a rear main seal, is getting access to it 
After that it's a piece ofcake.
You can either pull the trans and transfer case, or pull the motor.
As far as price to fix it, maybe $400 or so. I personally would not replace the 351 at 133k, as long as the motor has been taken care of (like oil changes every 3k miles)
Steve
After that it's a piece ofcake.You can either pull the trans and transfer case, or pull the motor.
As far as price to fix it, maybe $400 or so. I personally would not replace the 351 at 133k, as long as the motor has been taken care of (like oil changes every 3k miles)
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
My 86 302 looked like it had a small rear main seal leak but when I replaced the leaky lower intake and valve cover gaskets, the oil leak disappeared. Parts were around $100 including gaskets, hoses and miscellaneous small parts.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Miami
My 87 302 leaked oil from everywhere but the rear main seal. But if you looked under the truck you would swear that the rear seal was leaking. If you run synthetic oil, every little leak will show. 133 thousand on a 351, she is just broken-in. If it does end up being the seal, I would do a compression test, and if every thing looks good, yank the motor new rear seal, replace the transmission seal, fill the torque convertor with fresh tranny fluid, Yank the heads and do an upper re-build on it, a new cam to make it squirrelly would'nt hurt either.
She ain't revved ti'll the rods are thrown!!
Al
She ain't revved ti'll the rods are thrown!!
Al
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: NJ
i too thought my rear main was leaking. i suggest that you clean it up real good and investigate the leak better. these vehickles are good for needing oilpan gaskets. my 91 5.8 had 110,000 miles and the oilpan gasket was the culprit. 8 out of 10 times it is the oilpan gasket. i was quoted a price of 350.00 dollars to have the oilpan gasket done. i did it myself and kept the money in my hand. i also think that 133,000 miles is not that many as long as it has been taken care of so i would fix what you have. remember it is usually the simple things that trick us into thinking that it is serious.
