I know this has been talked about a lot but I haven't found the answers I'm looking for so please hear me out. And please don't start a discussion about how or why this is happening.

So the left rear spark plug blew out on my 2002 5.4L. By the looks of the plug this is the same cylinder that I paid the dealer ~$1400 to repair a couple years ago. I found an independent shop that says they can refix it for $800. Now I'm looking for other options.

1. I don't have to smog my truck where I live so are there any decent and relatively inexpensive bolt on heads (on or off road) that I can buy and be done with this once and for all?

2. I know the newer year heads are fixed but there are differences and I don't understand the differences or how to tell them apart. Are there any reliable outfits that sell the newer style heads? Used and/or remanufactured?

3. I had a lightning previously and am toying with dropping a lightning engine and tranny in the truck. Anyone know of where I can find a used set up or wrecked truck?

Thanks guys for all your help!

 

Alright then, try searching the "engine" forum. There's more than enough info to answer all your questions. You can contact a Moderator and have this thread moved if your truly serious. Don't double post tho, that will cheese people off, just have it moved.

It also ALLOT cheaper and fairly simple fixing blow outs yourself. You never have to remove the head(s). Search "Time Sert" repair for info.

 

This is a hole that has already been repaired with some sort of insert already. I'm familiar with Time Sert but assume I can't use it on top of what ever may be in there. I did search and maybe I'm using the wrong search but I didn't find anything. Some help other than go look for it would be great. If I could find it I wouldn't be asking. Thanks.

 

If you were serious, you would have went to the time sert site. There you would find what's called "Big Sert" to fix problems like yours. That info is also on this site, but in the correct or more specific forum of course. That would be engines since the plug use to be in yours.

Here, I'll help yuh make the trip -

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...o-problem.html

This was just posted recently and it's even cheaper if you go thru Galaxy.

 

Thanks for the advice.

Now does anyone have any answers to my three questions?

1. I don't have to smog my truck where I live so are there any decent and relatively inexpensive bolt on heads (on or off road) that I can buy and be done with this once and for all?

2. I know the newer year heads are fixed but there are differences and I don't understand the differences or how to tell them apart. Are there any reliable outfits that sell the newer style heads? Used and/or remanufactured?

3. I had a lightning previously and am toying with dropping a lightning engine and tranny in the truck. Anyone know of where I can find a used set up or wrecked truck?

 

I tried

 

And failed. I guess I'll try a different forum.

 

You will save a lot of money and headache by using the Big Sert. That was what Jbrew was so ineptly trying to say. LOL You can replace the heads but used heads will be the cheapest ones and will cost a lot more than the Sert. If you are interested in the Time Sert, there is a member here that rents the kits. He is Galaxy, send him a PM or email.

I will move this to the Engine forum, maybe you will get more posts.

 

I had already used an insert on the same cylinder- #8 that I bought from a parts house and it did not hold. I rented the regular time sert tool from Galaxy and it worked like a charm. Here is the contact info: https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...o-problem.html
Before I pulled that head...I would give this a shot!
Good luck!