Dammit, I just turned 240k miles on my 03 EDGE and for the last month or so it was noisy at start up but go quiet once it warmed up.........

bout a week or so aga, the noise has gotten much worse and you can actually feel the vibration through the passenger side vavle cover. Not sure what else it could be.

I can't see pulling an engine with 240k miles on it (even though it runs like new otherwise) for that repair. Not sure what route I am going to take.........maybe a newer salvage engine..........would love to swap in a V-8 but the cost/time invoived are not on my side.

Been driving my dad's 99 S-10 4x4 for the last week or so. I am going throug Ranger withdraw

 

i put a junkyard 4.oLsohc in my truck myself. cost me $1300 for the engine, fluids, sparkplugs, beer and pizza. i had my friend help me, he is a car mechanic, i am a diesel truck mechanic. i had the engine out in 5 hours and the two of us had the "new" engine in and running in 7 the next day. this was dine in my garage on a weekend. i drove to work monday morning with it.
it is not hard to do at all if you have a little mechanical ability and common sense.

 

I have turned my share of wrenches for sure . Interesting timeline you had, I was thinking 15 hours or so. My best friend is a Master Mechanic who works for a private shop. WE have done our share of engine swaps many times together.......but i am so swamped at work, not sure I have the enegery for it.............


My bigger concern would be finding a decent engine.........the sukass thing about it is my 4.0 still runs great except for that

 

a newer 4.0 should go in with no problems, dont think the wiring or computer would need to be changed. my "new"engine came out of the same year sport trac

 

I'm not sure whats involved in changing the rear tensioners besides pulling the engine but... since you have to pull it to swap motors anyways wouldn't it be cheaper to just replace the chain and tensioners and drop your known good motor back in? just thinking out loud here.

 

the problem with that is those chains are supposedly one hell of a job to do. from what i have heard from some of the ford techs my buddy works with and from my own experience pulling my own engine apart, the chains are a total biotch to remove and time. im pretty sure there are specal tools required

 

My buddy had his chains done at a friends shop, still cost him $1100. Find a junkyard 4.0 from a 2003 or newer

 

i think you will be better off finding a newer engine with less miles like i said earlier. most jy will give you at least a 1-3 month warranty

 

I am afraid that is the route I will have to take. No idea how long it will go for now....

 

i really hope your not still driving the truck like this! you can do some serious damage to that engine if the chain lets go

 

If he's replacing the engine anyways whats the difference if it blows?

 

his previous post led me to believe he might fix it

 

I drive 100 miles each day round trip to work primarily on interstate. If it lets go along the way at some point that is going to be an expensive tow

I have been on vacation the last week and have been drving it somewhat (mostly though been in my "weekend" car - 1999 30th Anniversary Trans Am but go back to work on Monday. Not sure yet if I am going to drive it.

I was considering it but after doing some research it seems as it would not be avery good idea, way to much $$$$$$$.............

 

do yourself a favor and get one from the wreckers. throw new plugs and wires at it, water pump and thermostat then drop it in

 

Had the same problem with my 03 4.0L 210k miles would bet a cracked/shattered chain guide, all the parts (Chains, Tensioners, Guides, etc.) over 1k. By the time I would pull engine, find tools, makes repairs etc... would not work for me.I got a rebuilt engine from ford dealer for around 2500 and it comes with a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty. had the engine out and new one in and running in two days.

 

$2,500 out the door?

 

I just looked at the ticket it was exactly $3,629 for the engine, but I got $1000 back for the core making it $2,629 for the engine. For that it worked great for me considering the 3 year unlimited mileage warranty (and it was any problem bring it to the dealer and we fix it, not take the engine out....and so on) so I found it to be a much better deal than getting an abused engine with 100k on it from a junkyard knowing that the chain guides were just going to fail again. I have 60k on the rebuilt engine and runs great. As far as i am concerned the guide failure is a major defect with the engine and the dealer somewhat agreed but ford didnt care.

 

Just for kicks I am going to get an estimate from Ford.

 

It was a kick allright. Dude told me $4,900

 

Damn

 

lol that does not surprise me at all. get a junkyard motor. should be able to swap in a slightly newer one with the chain guide fix

 

What is the condition of the coolant in the reservoir?
Is it clean or is it dirty and foamy?

 

This thread is five years old.