1999 f150 XL
4.2 v6 cyc
auto trans
230K miles
Build date 11/98


Engine is locked up!!!
My best guess is that it got hot! Engine just quit while son was going down
the road, no smoke no bang! When we pulled the truck home it only had
about 1/2 gal anti-freeze that I could get out of raditor! Never noticed any
leaks or high temp readings! I pulled the plugs and fished for liquid in the
cyclinders and found none. Tryed turning the eng over manually and don’t
budge! There was no brown stuff found in the oil, the oil cap or dip stick!

Its been sitting now for a few months! Son has had the truck for 2 years
now.

Iv’e been reading the fourm about swaps and I don’t want to do that unless
its another 4.2, besides there are not many around here that I could find.

From what I have read it sounds like the moter must be removed to
inspect the bottom end for a thrown rod, maybe theres another way to do
this! dont know!

input invited

 

Its too new to by a hydrolock victim, it sounds like poor maintenance and just overheated. That's going to be hard because these trucks have a fail-safe cooling. At 250*F, the engine shuts down 4 cylinders to pump out air. I think anything past 265*F will kill it.

First and foremost you need to pull that engine and find the problem. 4.2Ls are a dime a dozen around here, but then again if it were me (power hungry) I'd drop a 4.6L V8 into it. Don't forget because the truck is a 1999 with PATS, the dealer is going to have to flash the cluster before the theft system will allow the truck to start. You will need the harness, ECU, etc from the donor truck for this to work. There are several well-written swap articles on the site.

 

A 4.6 swap will also require a transmission.

 

Thanks for the input guys!

The first thing I'm going to do is pull the engine! I got me a engine stand yesterday, already have the picker.

I have a question! Those trucks that are hydrolock victums, is this because of a gasket design or engine design? In other words what makes a 4.2 built after early 1998 not **** to hydrolock?

If I were to find a doner engine for are 99 truck a pre-98 might be found, the thing is can this problem be corrected!

 

It's a gasket issue - lower intake and front cover. The gaskets currently available from Ford are improved.

 

Very easy and cheap to swap in a newer 4.2L. Probably be driving it the same day. Just pull the old/install a good one. No PCM play or flashing required, use what you got- its plug and play.

Purchase a newer 4.2L tho, - there's plenty of those EVERYWHERE.

 

Also allot of times, when they seize like that, it's usually sludge. Pull the oil filter and inspect. If the filter is somewhat dry or completely dry, then that's what happened. Or the pump just gave out. A quiet seize more less lol. Not much in the way of warning signs. Should of had the oil light just before.

If I wanted to determine cause, I might pull the pan after the engine was out. Inspect the pick-up screen.

 

Someone correct me if I have this wrong, but I thought hydrolock usually occurs on start up not so much once the engine is up and running. Not saying it isn't possible, just kind of unusual.

 

Right! I suppose it could h-lock while driving, if you dumped enough snake oil in the fuel tank.

Otherwise, I haven't heard of it.

 

Exactly, most h-lock victims happen when they first start the engine. That's how mine was. It made one helluva racket when that valve and rod bent.

 

Maybe you guys can help! I havent started yet! If I cant turn the engine, how I'm I going to seperate the eng from the trans. If I remove the bolts from the bell housing, I think i'm gonna have to find some bolts that tie the flywheel to the converter! Right!! i wouldent be able to rotate to find them!


So far the plans are:
unbolt exhaust
disconnect harness
remove intake
AC compressor (off to side)
remove raditor, fan
remove starter
remove hood when needed


Are there any other cars, trucks, SUV's that have the that I can look to find a 4.2 in?

 

Applications:
1997–2008 Ford F-150
1997–2005 Ford E-150
1997–2005 Ford E-250
2004–2007 Ford Freestar
2004–2007 Mercury Monterey

 

Thought I answered that. Again yes. Like I said, find a newer one. W/low mileage. glc has the list.

Note: Different models will have different throttle bodies and air intake set-ups, different EGR set-ups as well. No problem tho, just use yours.

 

I had a Hyundai once that rods broke and dug into the side of the block. Only way to turn over the motor was drop the oil pan and remove all the bearing caps. It took enough pressure off I could get the rods free from the block with a hammer, prybar and a lot of swearing.

 

Thanks guys for the info! That list will help me do some shopping!

I don't know if I can get the engine high enough to get the pan off to see what happen in side, might have to remove engine and trans together. Don't see many choise's !