Please help 4.2 v6 engine issues
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Please help 4.2 v6 engine issues
I am new to this forum, but not new to the tunning world. My sister has a 1997 f150 with the 4.2 v6 motor. She gave me the truck the other day, becuase she blew it up. After much searching of the internet, I finaly found this great forum, but my searching is not complete yet. I need help in the diagnosis of the motor, as I am unsure weather or not to seek out a new reman motor, or try and rebuild. From what I have gathered, remans are not cheap at all. Let me explain what this "special" truck is doing. I can still start the truck, has plenty of oil, but it does not sounds healthy by ANY means. Shakes the whole truck violently when you get it to start. Sounds like the bottom end of the motor from my experience, but then again I am not an expert. Thus why I am here. I can not even discribe the horrible sound she makes......clunking around......that is the best I can discribe it. So thank you in advance on the info you provide, and for reading my long winded post.
Cory
Cory
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 352
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From: uk
hi, as you discribe the sound i would say you are correct in thinking the main bearings are all shot and posabley a bent rod. the cranks have a hardened skin of only 0.010 of an inch and if its too worn to regrind (like mine) then a replacement crank is the only way. this is when the bills go up and up. a reman motor may be the best way forward unless you wish to treat the rebuild as a project and then it may still pay to cost all the parts before you go ahead with the rebuild. 1997 gasket failure strikes again.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,532
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From: Trussville, Alabama
Glad you found us! Sorry to hear it is under the circumstances you describe.
It does sound like your diagnosis might be accurate. A bottom end problem sounds like it might be the culprit.
I do know some engines have been restoreed by just replacing the defective parts.
However, it is hard to say for sure because you don't knwow the extent of the damage.
I might be inclined to get a reman motor.
There was one on the floor at my local Ford dealer the other day for $2400.
I'd check in to that before I spent a lot on a rebuild.
But, if you can determine only minimal repairs are required, maybe go that route.
Thanks for posting and hope you stick around!
It does sound like your diagnosis might be accurate. A bottom end problem sounds like it might be the culprit.
I do know some engines have been restoreed by just replacing the defective parts.
However, it is hard to say for sure because you don't knwow the extent of the damage.
I might be inclined to get a reman motor.
There was one on the floor at my local Ford dealer the other day for $2400.
I'd check in to that before I spent a lot on a rebuild.
But, if you can determine only minimal repairs are required, maybe go that route.
Thanks for posting and hope you stick around!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,899
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From: Raleigh USA
Save yourself the headache and buy a reman with a warranty. Ford's FQR engines have a 3yr/36k warranty honorable at any dealership so I recommend going that route. You may tear into that engine and find bent rods, bad crank, then it will need to go to the machine shop, prob a new front cover and oil pump will be needed, it could have warped heads, and after saving $500 over the cost of a reman, you have no warranty.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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I'd compression check all the cyclinders before you pull the motor. That way you can get some assurance that the heads are not cracked or warped, or know which cylinder might be a issue WRT the top end. I haven't tried it, but you might be able to pull the oil pan and the crank with the motor in (I did this when I burned a hole in a piston on a Acclaim as a kid and just replaced the bad piston, head, and the radiator). If it was me though I would pull the engine after the compression test and tear it down till the last nut and blot are off, looking for the root cause. This motor is prone to intake gasket leaks that pour coolant into the cylinders, then you bend a rod. Some blow head gaskets too. Find the cause, then find all the damagaged parts and price them out with a new gasket kit.
I'd go this route because I like to tinker, I know my work is better than most guys (I take my time), and I'm usually on a budget when it comes to cars. If you want a warrenty though, and have the extra cash, then the reman is an option.
I'd go this route because I like to tinker, I know my work is better than most guys (I take my time), and I'm usually on a budget when it comes to cars. If you want a warrenty though, and have the extra cash, then the reman is an option.
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