I have a 99 F-150 with a 4.6@ 401,000 miles. It still runs good but I want to go ahead replace it with a new Engine. I just moved to San Antonio, where do I start looking to buy a new engine?

 

You can't buy a new one. You can buy a used one from a junkyard or a rebuilt from various sources. If you buy a rebuilt from Ford, you get a decent warranty but the price will be higher than from independents.

I'd wait till yours dies, no rebuilt is as good as a factory engine.

 

I wonder why they won't sell you a new engine, I am guessing it's because they want you to buy a new truck. Thank you for heads up. My engine has a lot of white smoke at idle that smells and i have to cycle the key for 10 seconds twice to start it right away and as soon as it starts it high revs for 20 seconds then idles at normal RPM. I am going to replace the starter this week then change the fuel pump and fuel filter next check. What else should I check to make this truck run a little better?

 

Your idle problem could be an IAC valve. That's a minor problem causing the idle to do that, not a failing engine.

 

Probably wouldn't be much demand for new engines because they most likely would cost more than a good rebuild. Plenty of rebuildable cores out there.

 

They won't sell a new engine because there aren't any to sell. The 4.6 is long discontinued.

 

I have seen some of these engines that had over 600,000 miles on them and a few with over 900,000 miles on them and still running good. These were in police and taxi vehicles so thats not even figuring in the time these vehicles spent sitting and running at idle. If it runs good why change it? It may very well run longer than any rebuild or bone yard engine you replace it with.

 

Only as a point of interest, because I was curious I looked up a 4.6L for a 99 F150 on FordParts.com and found that (as glc stated a brand new engine isn't offered, just a Reman) they list it for $3600.

Here's the thing to remember though, I have used that website to get a ballpark price on parts in the past and almost every single time I paid less for what I wanted. Case in point a new rear diff cover was listed for $30, I paid $14
When I replaced the head gaskets in my truck I also priced a ford long block at the dealership (the 5.4L was also listed at $3600 on the website) and the parts guy said one could be had for significantly less than that, so it doesn't hurt to call and get a hard number from them as well.