and thats good to hear you dont have to replace anything,what do you plan on doing for upgrades
Not a Good Day...
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 973
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From: Gatineau, Quebec
That's awesome news!...I knew that the lifters will tick if deprived of oil...but since I didn't know what bad bearings sounded like, I could not make any educated guesses and I did not want to send you in the wrong direction. It's great to have the voices that are present on this site.....what the hell did we do before the internet. I remember giving lots of money to garages and a few scrap yards likely got a few good deals.I also know that stethoscopes are very handy(I have one), but you have to know what you are listening for...or listening to.
In any event, perhaps it would be a good time to upgrade to a set of gt40 heads and give yourself a few more ponies under the hood for them steep climbs
.
As for the oil and additives...I once bought a Lebaron that had a ticking... but I changed the oil religiously and added an additive(can't remember which one) with each oil change.
After a few oil changes... the ticking was gone. I can't say for sure it was the additive, but I still put an additive in with every oil change to this day.
All the best!!
In any event, perhaps it would be a good time to upgrade to a set of gt40 heads and give yourself a few more ponies under the hood for them steep climbs
. As for the oil and additives...I once bought a Lebaron that had a ticking... but I changed the oil religiously and added an additive(can't remember which one) with each oil change.
After a few oil changes... the ticking was gone. I can't say for sure it was the additive, but I still put an additive in with every oil change to this day.
All the best!!
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2
Glad to hear its not a bad bearing....You could have a problem with the pick up tube... Going up hill if the tube is somewhat clogged it could lose oil press at some point causing the liffters to not pump up...Just a thought but is a comen problem... Good luck ...Lew
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 23,849
Likes: 20
From: McKenzie River
I agree with your second opinion, and glad to hear things are looking up!.. If you go with any perf. upgrades on the top end, dont neglect the bottom end, this would also be the time to go with new mains and rod bearings too..........As far as bad diagnosis's by mechanics, I once overheard a mech. telling a guy with a Bronco 2 w/2.8 v6 that the ticking he was hearing under the hood was bad valves, and big money repair.....The 2.8v6 has solid lifters, they make lots of ticking noise as normal operation!.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
I don't know for sure that I'm out of the woods but it does give me hope. I bought some Castrol 10w30 high mileage and a new filter. The suppliment the mechanic recommended is AC Delco Engine Oil Suppliment. I'll change the oil tomorrow and see what happens.
Thinking back to what happened when the ticking started: We were climbing the big grade on the Coquihalla Highway. Basically a 8 or 10% grade that easily is 5km or more in length. The speed limit is 110kph and I had the cruise set for that. About 2/3rds the way up the truck seemed to be labouring pretty hard to maintain that speed and then there was a bang that shut the cruise off. And thats when the ticking or tapping started. I thought I'd blown a hole in the exhaust and that somehow that shut off the cruise. Does that cruise shut off if it has to run the rpms up too high?
In one sense this has been good because my wife has already been prepared for a big engine replacement expense so I might be able to sneak a couple of upgrades into the "fix".
Thinking back to what happened when the ticking started: We were climbing the big grade on the Coquihalla Highway. Basically a 8 or 10% grade that easily is 5km or more in length. The speed limit is 110kph and I had the cruise set for that. About 2/3rds the way up the truck seemed to be labouring pretty hard to maintain that speed and then there was a bang that shut the cruise off. And thats when the ticking or tapping started. I thought I'd blown a hole in the exhaust and that somehow that shut off the cruise. Does that cruise shut off if it has to run the rpms up too high?
In one sense this has been good because my wife has already been prepared for a big engine replacement expense so I might be able to sneak a couple of upgrades into the "fix".
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver BC Canada
Well, the verdict is in and its not good. I had truck back into the second mechanic for another evaluation and apparently there are two issues that have been causing issues. First of all, there is a noisy lifter. This is the noise that I've been hearing all this time. Second, and more troublesome, is a rattling dieseling sound under high revs. Three mechanics at the shop all agreed that its a wrist pin. Not horrible right now, but definately on borrowed time. So, I'm likely looking for a new daily driver and then for a new motor. The new ride was needed anyway, as we have our third child on the way, and the truck wasn't going to cut it as everyday family transport.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: metro detroit area...
so far as additives go I would recommend zmax oil and fuel additive... a little pricey at about forty bucks but in my experience with it it is well worth it every 6000 miles
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 219
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From: Maricopa, AZ
Sorry Man, that's no fun.
So, welcome to my club. I just went through this a month ago. It was #4 wrist pin for me.
I went for the Motorcraft reman long block, installed by the local shop.
I let the local shop do the work for two reasons. 1) my garage isn't set up to do it right, and 2) it has a 3yr/100,000mi warranty, including reasonable towing -through Ford - and I didn't want to have to pay for removal/installation labor if it failed during the warranty period. Any Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer (or the original installer) can do the warranty work.
So, welcome to my club. I just went through this a month ago. It was #4 wrist pin for me.
I went for the Motorcraft reman long block, installed by the local shop.
I let the local shop do the work for two reasons. 1) my garage isn't set up to do it right, and 2) it has a 3yr/100,000mi warranty, including reasonable towing -through Ford - and I didn't want to have to pay for removal/installation labor if it failed during the warranty period. Any Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer (or the original installer) can do the warranty work.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 973
Likes: 0
From: Gatineau, Quebec
Sorry to hear the news Todd. I would keep my eye out for cheap "parts truck" with lower mileage and swap engines....
I regularly see trucks in the 5 hundred dollar range which make good donor trucks. I actually could have had one with 351 last summer for 200 bucks, it had 140,000 km which is great, but I already had one in my yard and there wasn't much else good on it. Keep your eyes open and watch for a deal. In the meantime, cross your fingers & hope it keeps on keepin' on.
I regularly see trucks in the 5 hundred dollar range which make good donor trucks. I actually could have had one with 351 last summer for 200 bucks, it had 140,000 km which is great, but I already had one in my yard and there wasn't much else good on it. Keep your eyes open and watch for a deal. In the meantime, cross your fingers & hope it keeps on keepin' on.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
From: Four Corners, MT
Sad to hear about your problems man! I luckily tore my 302 down minutes/hours before I would have spun a bearing and I was experiencing all the same symptoms as you are.
It started having funky oil pressure readings the month before so I tried oil additives and everything else.
Definitely just rebuild the motor you have. Around $1500 should cover everything for a stock rebuild.
If you have pulled a motor before then you should be able to pull the motor on a Saturday, have it torn down on Sunday. Take it to the machinist on Monday, put it back together on Saturday and install on Monday!
It started having funky oil pressure readings the month before so I tried oil additives and everything else.
Definitely just rebuild the motor you have. Around $1500 should cover everything for a stock rebuild.
If you have pulled a motor before then you should be able to pull the motor on a Saturday, have it torn down on Sunday. Take it to the machinist on Monday, put it back together on Saturday and install on Monday!
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