Hi all,

I'm usually on the 1999 to 2003 7.3 forum, but I have a friend who's in the Army and moving to my area; he owns a 1995 PSD.

This monday he calls me and I'm thinking he's in a helicopter because of the noise; unfortunately it was his truck and he was asking for some advice. Long story short.....with time being critical I took him to a small local Ford dealership that I trust.....the mechanic is a truck puller and knows these motors.

He listened to the motor and knew it was missing, it was decided to pull the valve covers.....he found #8 rocker arm broken, two bent (one was really bent) push rods, burnt UVCH. Replaced all and the miss is better but still there.

Mechanic believes valve or valve guide damage has occurred (my friend had to drive the truck and put approximately 50 miles on it in this condition before we got it into the shop).

Cost estimates are approximately $2500 to R & R both heads. Does the diagnosis and repair cost seem appropriate? Thanks in advance for any guidance! BTW, the motor has 200,000 miles on it.

 

It sounds like he seriously overreved the engine for that kind of damage. was the push rods bent on only one side of the engine or both. if on only one side why are they pulling both heads ?

 

Id agree something was definately pushed to its limit, however You do need to pull both heads to ensure they are all good and if your going to do a valve job on it you need to do both side. The price doesnt sound too far off to me assuming they are removing the heads replacing all the broken parts, as well as doing a full inspection of the valve train for potential other issues ie stress cracks, then replacing ALL the valves to recorrect the balance. If all that is being done and its from a dealer Id say thats proabably about right if you wanted to take the heads off yourself, and take them to a machine shop you should be able to do a alot better on the price depending on where you live anyways.

 

Depends what you mean. Will the heads be repalced with reconditioned heads?
It's a lot of work removing heads in the truck, and the recon head's might not be too cheap, either.
Lots of factors here, plus FORD has a certain $$$ they need to make doing it, from what their book tells them.
I bet you could get a better price from a reg diesel shop.

 

Have them do a compression leak down test , it will tell them where to look

 

Both bent push rods were from the number 8 cylinder. One had a 35º bend in it with the other very slight. I don't believe he over revved the engine.....it's believed the rocker arm failed and that's what caused the subsequent damage to the push rods and possibly the valves/piston/cylinder etc.

Thanks for the inputs! I've never needed a diesel mechanic here (near Scott AFB IL). If I was closer to BTS, that's where we'd go. V/r Les