I have a 1997 F150 V8 4.6 Triton 4x4.

I had a rhythmic ticking and didn't think much of it because it was really faint and didn't effect the performance of the truck. Then one day driving home I was waiting in traffic and the engine just shut off and wouldn't restart. It would turn over but not start.

I took it to a mechanic and he said that it was the timing chain. He took it apart and found that the timing chain broke and the piston hit the valve and bent it. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place now.

I don't know whether I should fix the valves and timing chain or if I should just buy a used or refurbished engine and drop that in the truck. Any advice would be great!

Thanks

 

well chances are your looking at a new head and piston(s) on that bank along with timing components. id get a rebuild or good used.

 

yea drop in one from a salvage yard...

 

Car-part.com - Type in your zip and it will give you a list of used motors that can be had . Starting from closest to you..

I would upgrade to a 5.4L..

 

i thought these modular motors were non-interference?

 

unless a chain breaks.

 

I'd put a long block in it.

 

Well, a valve job will cost $300-$500 depending on the damage, including repairing the head (yes the head can be effectively repaired). Back in my racing days, one of my vehicles was a Datsun 620 truck with the engine bored, stroked out to 2200 cc's, Isky cam, TRW pistons and Chev valves stuffed in a SSC (racing) aluminum head that had another $400 worth of porting and flow testing done to it (and shaved .090 off the head as well). The engine had a 10.3-1 compression ration and 180 PSI in each cylinder. 800 miles on the engine, I had been sabotoged by a "friend", which caused the pistons & valves to contact, breaking the head in 3 equal places (literally- I walked in with 3 separate sections in my hands). My machinist (Kelly's block welding service, West Los Angeles, Ca) welded it up, did a complete valve job and it lasted for many years in the racing circuit with no leaks- a well skilled machinist can repair aluminum heads!)

So it really boils down to cost- evaluate the cost of total repairs and access to a low mileage complete engine!

 

Please educate me on this. I thought a non-interference engine could not make piston to valve contact. Are these(5.4/4.6) interference or not?

 

any overhead valve will hit the piston on timing problems
the valves are within a few millimeters of the piston at TDC

 

What are your thoughts about Jasper Motors?

 

a 4.6/5.4 WILL have piston to valve disaster if a timing chain breaks, that is why when you time then, or pull the timing chains off, you better have that cam locked or the rockers off so it doesnt slam a valve into the head

 

That is the definition of an interference engine...is it not?

 

No, not all OHV engines are interferance. Ford is kind enough at least to not put a timing belt on the ones that are anymore.

And I have only heard good things about Jasper rebuilt engines.

 

They are interference engines. One tooth off on the timing, and the engine will run like hell. Two or more teeth off, and valves are gonna make sweet love to pistons.