So, a few months back I bought a 2002 F150, 163k, 5.4 with the 7700 package. Loved it, it was a huge upgrade from the 1988 ranger I had been using for my business. Well, 3 weeks after I bought it she decided to spit out a spark plug and it started knocking. A friend of mine seems to think its a spun bearing, and the noise its making seems to confirm that.

Since then I acquired a 93 F150 and it has been doing the job well but I would hate to completely loose my *** over the 02. So I'd like to get some feedback, I've tried selling it as is but haven't gotten any interest so once mowing season (I own a landscaping business) is over I'll more seriously look into getting a new motor. I can turn a wrench pretty well, I've done an engine swap on my ranger and a 2001 escort zx2, so an engine swap doesn't scare me, but I've seen how the engine sits in there and it seems like a daunting task. I have a friend who is a mechanic for a living and he tells me its a 26 hour job and that by itself makes me wonder how worthwhile it would be. So like I said, I'd love to get some feedback, I'm sure somebody on here has done an engine swap in one of these trucks before and can give me an idea of what I could be getting into.

 

The easiest way to change the engine is lift the cab. If you try to pull it out the top the conventional way, the radiator and condenser have to come out, and the intake manifold has to be pulled.

 

Would taking the cab off be something a few guys in a driveway handle?

 

Are you sure there is a knock and not just noise from the open plug hole? A blown plug is not that big a deal to repair, using a Timesert.

 

It's definitely a knock. After it threw the plug I bought a brand new one for it and the knock didn't go away.