Alright. What's the verdict? Do the 03's have more threads than the earlier engines? I saw a picture of it on here a few days ago, but could'nt really tell anything about it. Thanks for your help.

 

Here are the threads on the threads. It looks like we may be in good shape with the 03's.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102823

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102821

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102777

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102421

Maybe Doug could merge some of these together?


Rocks

 

Did you see/read Superford's thread? Surely looked like they had more to me.

Dan

 

I sure hope these heads make it into circulation.

 

What Flying **** said. In my 02 L I have what sounds like a lifter in a 302 ticking at idle. I know we don't have lifters per say in this motor but that is what it sounds like. It is more pronounced when you stand behing the the door as opposed to the front of the vehicle. Has me somewhat concerned. I'm sure if you launch a plug now you will just get the same defective head you have now.

 

So apparently I need to get '03 heads and '99-'00 rods... sheesh, what a cluster...

 

That ticking sound is the exact thing that my 02 is doing now. I didn't pay much attention to it until a few weeks ago, however it is pretty pronounced. I have checked a few of the plugs, but I need to check the rest. You hear it the loudest with the hood closed. It is kinda like the sound of a rattling exhaust baffle, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

 

Scott-Mine is rather pronounced also and you are correct about it sounding louder with the hood closed. Question is should we take it in to a dealer now or try and wait, hoping the new heads will be out. That's assuming the noise is a head problem. Then the other delima is if they only replace one side what good is that?

 

Looks like the Lucky Ones to get later version 03's will have the best of any gen 2 so far. Apparently Ford's saying the weak or troubled Rod problem went away in May 02 as a "motor build date". Then there saying the new style More Thread in the Heads will be used on some but not all 03's, they first must use up the old style. Yet they claim they won't replace a 02 or older with the new style heads because the head is only for new production vehicles and yet someone already saw one go on as a replacement. Oh ya, the new style heads were first thought to have begun in Dec 02 "head build date stamped on it" but I think Super Ford said something about Nov 02 they actually started.
But if they use up all the old style before using the new style won't that mean the plug spitters get new style "OR" are they now using only new style heads on 03 and some first made still had the old style. Which would then mean they're saving all the old style for us to have when we spit a plug. That would be totally bogus. The old style heads should be used on 03's until they're all gone, and then we should ALL get the new ones if there's a problem. Actually we should all get the new ones on a recall no matter what mods we have. Scitt they can void my motor wrrnty after that for all I care, I'll take my chance with my rods, my build date was December so I should have the better rods on my 02.

I'm soooooooooooooo ****ing confused.

 

The date of the new heads was Nov. 12, 2002. My truck had a production week of 12/09 and rolled off the line on 12/10. It has the new heads. Production date stamped on the head is 11/28/2002.

It may be that the move of the production date for the 2003 from Nov 4 to Dec was to allow the new heads in the L's.


Rocks

 

I'm soooooooooooooo ****ing confused.


Rob_02Lightning - You are not by yourself on this one. Take it one step further, what if I toast an engine in my 02. Does that mean I can get an 03 motor or do they save some of the old 02's so they can replace it with a like engine. Doesn't make much logic to me but then again maybe I'm missing something.


Isn't this an admission on Ford's part that they have a problem with these old heads. I agree, there should be a recall and the older heads replaced but if not, at least replace BOTH heads with the new ones if a person has a problem.

 

That's great news about the 03's. But I feel for those who have these "faulty heads". They should be replaced with the 03 heads no questions asked. I could'nt imagine paying 30k+ for a vehicle and have the heads blow plugs. And to beat it all, it's a known problem that ford should have isued a TSB for. The least they can do is replace the "faulty" heads with the 03's. I understand that things are going to go wrong with vehicles, but this? Ford should have known better than to put heads on a 380 hp engine with only 4 threads. That's about like bolting an afterburner in a jet engine with wood screws! I mean come on!

 

If the new heads are Nov-2002 not 2001 then all 2002's have the bad ones....rods ect because I thought all 2002's were done being built in Aug of 02 so all the new stuff is in the 03's which were to be built Nov of 2002... I am still lost
I have a early 2002 6k on the odometer and here enough rumors now I just dont care if it blows. I think people have to big of an Imagination (sp) I need proof not a story

NO FLAME

Slick

 

READ THE THREAD LISTED AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE by 03LightninRocks.

Especially this one: https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...hreadid=102823

SLICKO478, your 02 has the old heads like every other '02 truck.

So far I have heard nothing (except from Kegger) about the supposedly weak #3 rods used for a few months (feb-may?) of 02. So at this point i'd say it is still a rumor and a fishy one at that. but not impossible.

later,
chris

 

Rob, I'm worried, your post looks like the work of GiGi

later,
chris