My 1999 f-150 has been down with a seized motor for over half a year now. Everytime I have the money for a new production surplus motor, it ends up getting put towards something else. So, I found a used motor at a local salvage yard. It's from an '03 f150. The search engine I used has an option for the 5.4 with or without an egr. It came up under the option as having an egr. Will this effect me? I don't even know if mine has one or not, I had just assumed it did. The truck is quite a ways away for me to just run over there and look at it. I just need to know if it will actually make a difference.

By the way, the engine has 28,xxx miles on it. They want 1350 bucks for it. Is this reasonable?

 

can't help with the erg valve thing, But got to ask, have you taken your existing engine apart? What is seized? Can you just replace to damaged pieces? Most engine replacement is required if you break something bigtime. ie crank damage, grind and oversize bearing and good to go. $1350 sounds a fair price for a good running unit. But check with Ford if a 2003 will work in a 1999.

 

No I havn't taken the motor apart. I haven't had time or energy to deal with that. I had planned on taking it apart after the truck was back on the road with a new motor and this one on a stand.

I don't know exactly how it all went down, because my wife was driving and couldn't even tell me the order of events for sure. Anyways, when it all happened she was just driving normal, no abuse. When I opened the hood, I found the water in the oil, and the trucks second blown plug. I drained the oil, and removed all plugs. The motor still wouldn't turn over. Not with the starter, not with a breaker bar. Thats how I left it.

I had planned on getting a fully dressed surplus motor since everything is on it and it's a "simple" drop in. But thats like 3500 shipped up here.

The shop that was going to do this if I didn't myself said the 2003 would work. I guess I just took their word for it. I want the 03 since it has all the updates that plague my '99s motor, except maybe the slap. Main thing is the new heads. Both of my heads on my '99 are screwed up now. Ford wanted like 1300 for one head of the same lame design.

 

OK some more light. Going by what you have said I would replace the motor. With water in the oil the crank and bearing are gone for good. With it beening solid too its to far gone for low cost fixing. I would still double check with Ford or one of the speed shops ie rouch (spelling?) for interchanging years. Good luck with it.

 

Your 99 has the EGR. If the bone yard engine doesn't have EGR, if it is from an F-150 then it does, use your old exhaust manifolds that have provisions for EGR.

JMC

 

Ok, the salvage yard's motor does have the egr. So it should work in my truck considering that. Can anybody on here confirm the 03 is a drop in to my 99?

The shop that was going to do the work is a speedshop. Farely reputable as the guy that normally helps me with stuff said it's the only place he'll let work on his stuff besides himself. He's the mechanic on the farm I used to work at. These guys build everything from drag racers to modified dirt bikes and boats.

But if somebody here can confirm the motor will work, that'll be all I need now to go buy that motor before it's gone.

 

If your seized engine is a 5.4L then yes, you can just drop it in. Shouldnt have to worry about the computer or anything like that.

 

The new one will bolt right in.

JMC

 

It'll drop right in. That's an oustanding deal on an 03 5.4 too. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, but the 03 is tweaked to run smoother and the heads have deeper threads to correct the blowout problem.

-Fatz

 

I know the Lightnings in 03 have a more aggressive tune in them. Im pretty sure the heads on all the 03+ f150s have more threads in them

 

They started putting more threads in there on the '03 and up heads.

 

It will bolt right up no problem the price seem alright so let us know how it goes.

 

Just got off the phone with the yard, they put it on hold for me.

He asked if I'd be trading in my core, and what condition I wanted the motor in. As in what accessories, brackets, manifolds, flywheel, starter, etc. do I want left on. I guess the $1350 is a starting price with everything removed and considered core trade-in.

I didn't realize a salvage yard would want a core charge to begin with, but I believe he said it was 100 dollars. Should I keep my old motor to rebuild/build up, or trade it in and be done with it.

How do these salvage yards usually work? What normally would come on a salvage yard motor?

 

All yards have their own policies. Some just cut the wires and hose, some actually unpug the wiring harness and leave hose, ect intact, other strip the motor to a long block. You'll have to see what their policy is. You should be able to reuse all your old brackets, hoses (might wnat to get new ones) ect. anyway.

the price does sounds pretty good for a low mileage 5.4.

 

Went out and looked at it today. Two injectors, the oil cap and the pcv valve are out of it opening it up to the elements. It looks like the hoods been closed, but the guy said it's been like this for about a month. Should I be worried about moisture?

The truck it's in is an FX4 4x4. It's wrecked pretty bad. Forgot to bring out the camara. I'm going to see about getting the seat belts and a few other things my truck needs too. This truck had all the bells and whistles from what I seen.