It`s out and on a stand. Passenger side head is off...Parts galore everywhere. Gives me shivers to see my baby this way. The left side head looked ok at initial glance but then I see the thread tap is ate away on about 30-40 degrees of the circumference. They are replacing the passenger side head...#3 and #7 pistons and ring sets. May replace the other head. They are taking it off for inspection. I asked about a new block and they say that they can fix this damage for under thier $3900.00 dollar maximum. I guess any estimate over that means a new block or crate engine. Any how there was some damage to the head as well as the burnt electrode in the #3 cylinder. Guess I`ll know more when the pistons come out. They looked fine. Some concern about the rings with compression down in that cylinder. I could plainly see the dark burnt section between the two holes where there was communication. Gasket looked good. Maybe the head lifted. Hell I still don`t know exactly what happened. I`ve been thinking about the times my chip had to be reseated. If You are in the throttle hard and the chip losses contact with the ecm....wonder what happens. My truck shuts down...maybe it was loose. I push it in neutral and restart it. Cranks up and I continue...Onward through the fog as they say....Guess when it`s back together I drive it right out the door and find out at what speed it breaks this time. The tech is even going to put my pulley back on. I took it off before taking it in. I`ll clean the contacts and stick the program in and go...Conical will go on soon as I get home....If it holds together after the TEST.

 

Should you not break the motor in with some miles before,running it hard?
i would think of running her easy for awhile at first.

 

i've had a certain type of chip do the same thing to me "several times". my 2-other types have never done it, i love the program on my "leave me in the friggin ghetto" chip, so i decided to pop the top contacts free, to tighted the connection. i had to push it hard to get it to seat on the puter and so far so good

ps: i hope your engine is shot, and you get a new one

 

Ask this mechanic if he is going to HONE the cylinders before he puts the new pistons and rings in. Sounds like he isn't planning on it.
BIG MISTAKE!
Ask him how will the new rings break in running on glazed cylinders! This kind of shade tree mechanic crap done by a FORD dealer on a new truck is total BS! Sounds like the labor charges to FORD warranty are better for the Dealership, not you.

Call the SVT hotline, see what they say about 2 new piston/ring sets thrown into an old bore.

Good luck!

 

Yeah, a ball peen hone!:o

 

While I didn`t question the mechanic on the honing process I just assumed he knew what he was doing. Then again you have a good point. I will mention it. Hopefully they will just repalce the motor and heads...then again with the remanned motors I can't help but wonder which evil is the lesser. My 93 had 82000 on it when I sold it to a friend. However the tranny was replaced around 28000. Still going strong. Never had a valve cover off it. My 99's motor was replaced with a complete crate engine. Blower and all. It was new. What with 32500 miles on that motor and 33200 miles on this motor, If I get to use up the standard warranty without major motor work I would be amazed. While I do run my truck up the spectrum now and again I only occasionally hammer it from git go. I run synthetic and change it every 3000. 160 degree thermostat. I had the denso IT20's in. A 3 pound pullley and a conical intake. Ran with the boost dump unplugged. Chipped and also the FT valve body. Magnaflow muffler. Nothing really outrageous.
I got 32000 out of the factory rubber. So I figure this is a good indication of how often I let the smoke roll. I did run it down the 1/8 th maybe 8 times last Fall. From my perspective Ford has been fair about warranty work. I just wanna get to the bottom or root cause. Doubt I ever do . I love these trucks. This is My 4th including the 93. What with over a hundred grand in new Lightnings I do think Ford has a great truck in the Lightning. I'm sure most would agree.

 

I’m not sure what you mean when you say “pop the top contacts free”. Could you elaborate on this?