'90 F250 SC 4X4 with a 351W. I just installed a new reman from Autozone this summer. Engine has maybe 1000 miles on it. I broke it in properly and changed the oil at about 600 miles.

Was driving up a steeper (7%) highway in the mountains the other day. I was in 3rd gear at about 4500 RPM's. It was loud, but did not seem excessive. The truck broke down. Upon inspection, I noticed that the distributor gear was stripped, and the gear on the cam that drives the dist was stripped as well.

What could have caused this? The engine has an 18 month unlimited mileage warranty, but of course, the engine builders are waffling big time and Autozone says it's between me and them. They want me to pay labor, and then they will inspect the parts and THEY will determine if they were defective. If so, they will pay a max of $550 labor. That may get me in the door of the repair shop, but not much else. The Engine Rebuilders are called Surefire and they are out of California. The distributor was replaced in March and had maybe 3K miles on it. It was a reman from Autozone as well. I think it my be a fatigue failure on one of the teeth on the Distributor, but I would like you guys input. I can spin the oil pump freely with a drill, so that didn't seize.

I'm now in the process of trying to pull the cam out (big pain in the rear) with all the emissions stuff in the way.

What do you guys think caused this? WIll I have a reliable engine if I replace the cam?

Thanks for the post - sorry about the rant, but I'm upset since the reason I installed a new engine is so that none of this crap would happen.....

Jeff

 

Your first mistake was going to AZ for an engine. They sell the cheapest parts you can buy. I am not surprised in the least that the cam gear stripped. I'm also not surprised that they are giving you a hard time on it. They sell their engines for dirt cheap, use cheap parts, and don't make much money on them. So they don't have a lot of room when it comes to honoring their warranty.

Bottom line, you get what you pay for.

I would look into contacting a lawyer and having him draft a letter to the store you bought it from and the engine supplier. If it were me, my preference would be for a full refund of my money. Then take the money and get a motor from a reputable builder.

 

Thanks for the advice. I've installed probably 7-8 engines on various vehicles and have never had this problem. The last engine was from Checker on a '78 F250 with a 351. It ran very well and had no problems. The other ones were from local rebuilders and I never had any problems. I guess I was lulled into a false sense of security with the warranty. Now it seems like these warranties are no good either. Needless to say I'm very upset about it....

Jeff

 

I've installed a few engines from advance auto and havent had any problems. Maybe you just drew and bad straw. I agree with andy though, get what u pay for...... but I also agree that you should get a lawyer.