I have a 97 e350 box truck w/v10 and 150k miles. The truck ran fine until the other day when i noticed white smoke coming from the tail pipe. It appears to be a blown head gasket but a local shop told me it could be an intake gasket. I contacted two Ford dealerships and two local mechanics and all tell me they will not do a head gasket on a 150k engine. All recomend replacing engine(rebuilt or used). One said special tools are required to set the cams back to specs and he did not think it was worth the effort to replace the HG on a high mile motor. I am now considering the following options.

1 Replace the motor with a factory rebuilt unit(5k to 6k)
2 Replace the motor with a 29000 mile unit from a 2000 f350(2k)
3 Replace the head gasket myself (?)
I have rebuilt aircooled porsche engines in the past and have some experence with newer engines but have never done one of the newer Ford motors. Option 1 will probably total the truck so I don't think I would go this route. Option 2 Will the f series engine (with computer) work in the early van? What else needs to be considered with this option?
Option 3 How hard is this? Tools? I just hate to see an (almost) perfect engine go to the scrap yard for something like a head gasket. What is the likelyhood of this being something other than a head gasket?

 

do the repair yourself. all loss fails your out your own time and a few bucks. i think thats odd to me they want you to replace the motor. somethings fishy to me.

1978F-250 Ranger Explorer Trailer Special 4x4


Drive It Like You Stole It!!!

 

I'd either try it myself, or go for the used motor. Or better yet, get your's rebuilt.

If you do the head gasket yourself, you're going to have to take off the timing cover. Which means in an E-series removing the grill and radiator to make it easier (or even possible).

If you do not move the crankshaft while you have it apart, and you mark everything so that you know which way it came off, you should be able to put it back on without screwing it up. A quick look at my service CD shows it's rather easy, but mentions a camshaft holding tool - might not be needed if you can keep the cam from shifting from the valve-spring tension. Also, the chain tensioner needs to be recompressed and held in place until everything is back in place - might be a good idea to change it while you're in there if it's cheap enough, and even the chains and guides if you can afford it or leave them if they are in good condition (when you take off the timing cover, check chain tightness and if the guides are worn).

You need a gear or damper puller for the crank vibration damper, but otherwise it looks easy.

The head bolts are "tighten-to-yield" and can not be reused.

 

take your intake off first.... this is much more common than a head gasket.

get some estimates from other shops... there is no such thing as a mechanic refusing work... they're all money grubbers anyway...

 

Is the leaking intake a common problem on the v10? I have seen several people with the 8's having problems with the plastic intakes but mine is all metal.

 

don't forget all the bolts are torque to yield, which means they're good for one time use, and that time was at the factory. No big deal really as long as you know you can't re-use the originals. Personally, with 150K, I would be looking at a used motor. You can up the hp/torque to 2000 specs. Gotta wait for the 3 valve head though, it's not coming in the van or the Excursion in 2005, bummer eh ?