Good morning all, just droppin in for a bit of wisdom.

My 2002 F-150 with a 5.4 seemed to have just sprung a leak in both head gaskets...leaking the most from the passengers side. I am at 145k miles. Anyway's, had a private shop look it over and was quoted roughly $3k to replace the gaskets. The shop informed me they have to lift the cab off the frame in order to access that part of the engine.

I'm just starting to get the ball rolling on this to weigh my options. The truck is going into a Ford dealership this morning for a second opinion and to discuss options.

I have allready thought about a crate motor, bout a $2k difference from the gasket repair, but still weighing the options.

Is the cab from frame removal necessary? I am worried about new problems arising after the gaskets are replaced from the removal/reinstallation of the cab.

Would a crate motor come with upgraded parts such as the heads and head gaskets so I do not have to worry about spark plug ejection or the head gaskets leaking again?

What about rebuild options if they have to tear the truck apart?

Is the cab removal necessary for engine replacement or is it just a quicker/easier option for gasket replacement?

So, for starters I am trying to decide between...

A. Fix head gaskets

B. Drive as is an monitor oil level more frequently and monitor leak.

C. Rebuild engine

D. Replace engine

E. Get rid of truck

The truck has been a good truck, just paid it off as of this month..it is mine, just put $800 into tires and was recently in a deer accident with bumper damage only and have a front end replacement from tough contry on order, it is setup just like I want it and suites my needs perfectly...so I am thinking I want to keep it around for awhile. I am not rich but do not mind spending the money to fix the truck but want to do what will last down the road, doesnt have to be perfect, just fixed so I can keep it out of the shop most of the time and enjoy it. It is no longer a daily driver also, I primarily use it as a hauler around the farm, for hunting, bad weather commutes when the Chevy Corsica can't cut it, camping/road trips.

Thanks,

Travis

 

If you don't mind the new payment and have a decent down payment + clear loan trade in, you may want to consider the trade option. I think you could make out pretty good with this option.

Go to this site and put your info in for your truck to see what the dealer might give you. http://nada.com/

This site as well for a comparison: http://www.kbb.com/

Tough decision, Good luck !

 

Thanks tjk, have thought about that option as a last option, but...has Ford fixed the plugs seizing in the '04 on up models lol? I figure all makes have problems so why not just fix what I got and move on...I am happy now that it is paid off and no more payments. If I were to sell the truck I would honestly probably go backwards to an early '90's 3/4 ton with the 351.

Thanks for the other info as well, I was kind of leary on the cab removal, I have read several internet postings on guy's replacing heads without engine or cab removal...I'm thinkin maybe the shop just doesn't want to touch it. We shall see what the dealer has to say, after I fight with the service rep about why they did extra work to the daughter's Taurus last night when I had her take it in for tire rotation only...they just love to throw on the extra's while it's up on the rack...seem's to be gender oriented and ended up bein a 110$ dollar tire rotate lol...

I will update after visit to Ford dealership..

 

If you have access to a lift the remove cab option does make the job a lot easier. You can however replace the heads without removing the cab. My 99 5.4 swap engine leaks. It has leaked for the last 60K. I keep tabs on the oil level and so far so good. Every fill up I check the oil level and add if necessary.
I have all the parts needed to fix the leak but I am just too lazy to do it.

 

isn't pulling the engine out entirely easier than removing the cab? i know the cab is only held down by six bolts, but still...

 

I agree, it is gender oriented. My wife took her car in for the 2nd of the 3 free oil changes and the tech was finding things to do and replace. She's smart, she whipped out her cell phone, dialed me and then handed the phone to the service manager. Let's just say, she left with just the free oil change.
I took it in for the 3rd and last free oil change and they said the car was in perfect running order.

 

Yeah, nice...I chewed the wife out for not callin lol, but it wasn't a major amount and found out it was something that needed to be done...but I'm still not cavin in lol.

Just got back from Ford dealership...

Same price as other shop, 3k for gasket replacement and bout 5k for new motorcraft engine. They said they would do it without removing the cab, mechanic stated that some guys do it for ease of repair and it was personal preference.

Still trying to decide, still thinkin of drivin it as is but the oil is leaking on cat convertor and tranny an worried bout fires, doubt it would happen but you never know, plus I am worried about goin on road trip and leak gets excessive and vehicle becomes undrivable so think I will drive it as is until i decide between repair or new motor.

Service manager stated that the original gasket was of poor design and an upgraded gasket with brass rings instead of teflon rings would be installed and that the head or whatever the 2 parts are that the gasket mates would be checked for straightness cause they usually leak due to poor machining.

Any con's to swappin a motor? Do more damage than good in a 7 year old vehicle?

Think I am leanin more towards just gettin the gaskets replaced....actual total was about 2800$ and service manager said he would work with me on price and the mechanic that would be doing it has driven F-150's forever and has done several head gasket replacements...replace the gaskets and hopefully get another 100k out of her.

Thanks for the input you guy's-appreciate it..

 

find a wrecked truck. Get a used motor. Make sure you hear it run first!!!!


I woulda had over $500 in doing ONE of my head gaskets on my 4sixxx, butinstead I picked up a 93k mile 5.4 for $500. . . WERD

 

I have been driving for 30 yrs this month.
I have had 4 vehicles that have had a head gasket go bad.
The 1st one, had the head's done and new gaskets. I was back there a week later because one head wasn't done properly. They fixed it and I traded it. I didn't trust that it was done right and didn't want the wife stuck on the side of the road.
2nd car, drove it as long as I could, awhile actually, checking the fluids, finally put a rod through the side of he block
3rd, I was quoted around $2500.00 for the work, traded it for a good price and bought a new Mustang GT in 2002. That was a sweet car.
Last one was a 3rd vehicle, jeep cherokee for hunting and field driving, drove it until it died. Drove that one for about 12-15k with a bad gasket on the inline-6
If you really like your truck, especially with no payment and you TRUST the Dealership, get the head fixed, IMO.

 

Yeah, think that is the route I am gonna take. Another question, is replacing the head gasket's considered a huge, complex project? I am just assuming it is because of the price tag and the amount of time it will take and I prefer a Ford dealership to do the work if it is something complex and Ford specific but I have 2 shop's that I trust more to do most of the work I have had done, but do not feel they are setup or as well experienced when it comes to some of the larger more complex repair's. For example, dealership tech say's that he can do the repair without lifting cab off frame and one of the other shop's I use say's that it is a necessity which I do not believe after the dealership explained to me what was goin on and the procedure when the truck was up on the rack. Repair quote's were almost identical, the dealership actually went over the quote in detail and explained all charges where as the private shop just threw the price out at me and I am the type that like's to know exactly where my $3k is going and what is being done to my truck when it is something this big.


Oh, and...while they have that much of the truck tore apart, is there anything else I should have done to it? Dealership service manager said no, but just want to make sure.