1989 Ford f150 needs a motor.

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Originally Posted By: BigD1
Right now I think I am going to roll with ATK High Durability engine. It's about $500 more than the standard ATK DFA4 engine because it has a new valve train plus the other stuff listed below. Not sure if the extra $500 is worth it over the standard engine.

HDE Engine: (High Durability Engine) Hypereutectic Coated Pistons, New Camshaft, All New Valve Train! Valves, Springs, Rocker Arms, Pushrods, No Weld Or Crack Repaired Heads w/ All New Hardened Seats, Double Roller Timing Chain.

https://www.napaonline.com/napa/en/p/ATKHD15/ATKHD15_0191448705

I found a few Jasper engine installers in my area, and I know a couple of them do excellent work. Going to make a call tomorrow, and see what it will cost me for turn key. Probably will be my best bet anyway.


Worth mentioning, that reman is flat tappet, the Explorer engine is roller. I would put a LOT more faith in a factory longblock pulled from a wrecked Explorer than some of the rebuilds out there. I have a pretty solid amount of experience with SBF's and you'd be very hard pressed to find a rebuilt engine that wasn't a LOT of money that was even on-par with a stock 86-93 302HO. 86-91 had TRW forged pistons from the factory and all the engines were hand balanced.

I did a somewhat similar swap to the one you are doing a number of years ago. A buddy of mine had a '91 F-150 with the motor that took a dump (PO didn't take good care of it) and we picked up a low mileage 302HO longblock and swapped it in. We reused the intake and other parts off the truck engine, used what we could from the 302HO. The 302HO was 225HP/300lb-ft, the F-150 engine was 185HP/270lb-ft. It was a pretty significant upgrade.

The valley of the engine that came out:


The valley of the engine that went in:
 
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
ATK (And Probably Jasper) offer Roller engines...

I agree an HO or explorer engine would be a good swap.



I know they do, but the one he linked was a stock replacement, which is flat tappet
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Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
ATK (And Probably Jasper) offer Roller engines...

I agree an HO or explorer engine would be a good swap.



I know they do, but the one he linked was a stock replacement, which is flat tappet
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I know you know...
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Looks like HD16 and HD17 are those numbers. There are about 200.00 more, which should be 200.00 well spent.

The ATK Catalog can be found at: http://atkvege.com/content/index.php/Our-Build-Sheet.php
 
Thanks for the link. Looks like the DFX5 is the Explorer longblock with the GT40 heads. The HP06 looks like another option if he wants some more power.

IMHO the Explorer engine would be better than the truck engine and would still be cammed for low-end grunt
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Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
Without the whole motor a 351w is a non trivial swap (Its taller and wider so the manifolds and accessory mounting is all different)



I thought there was a smaller 351? Same family as whatever the 302 was. I recall Cleveland, Windsor, and "M"... I was always a Chevy guy, so I didn't pay attention.


A 302 (5.0) and a 351 (5.8) Windsor are both "Windsor Engines" but the 351 has a taller deck, so the intake manifold is different (I am not sure if the 5.0 truck upper will bolt onto the 5.8 lower either), distributor is different, accessory drives are different and the exhaust manifolds generally are longer. There was essentially only one 302 (5.0) save the rare boss which is why no one runs around saying 302 (or 289) Windsor. Note too that the balance factor changed in the late 70's or early 80's for the Windsors. The firing order and whether the FI is SEFI or Batch gets muddy in here too.

The 351 Cleveland is a different animal altogether and the 351 Modified and 400 Modified are sort of a Cleveland/Lima motor combination. Neither a Cleveland or Modified would be something I'd attempt.

A complete truck 5.8 would be a nice swap if you could find one as an assembly, you'll probably need the computer and perhaps the harness.

Originally Posted By: supton
I wonder what that $1,500 rebuild buys you. Hot tanking, boring, decking, line hone? What about head work? Blueprinting shouldn't be needed at this level, but it'd be a great time for an RV cam or any other mild mods. Speaking of head work, I know for the Chevy guys, for a while the Vortec heads were the hot ticket--for about the same price as rebuilding heads, one could buy new heads which would probably outflow the old ones. Any similar deals for a 302? Sometimes a few extra bucks here or there can be a good call.


I wonder too, the machine work alone on my block and heads was more than 1500.00.

I've also been into Jasper Motors that had three different size pistons in them and had to put two ATK's in one of these trucks due to a leaking rear main, they did warranty it.

This truck is speed density injection, be careful with camshafts.

The Ford guys have GT40 and GT40P heads, the GT40P heads are Explorer heads, but usually need special exhaust manifolds due to plug angles IIRC.


Thanks, puts that idea right to bed.
 
OK I found out the truck was still running before it was parked. Truck was taken to a local shop, and they said one cylinder had broken rings which was causing all the smoke and cylinder miss. Motor is not locked up.

Called around, and I can buy a rebuilt long block for $850. Two year 24,000 mile warranty included. Not going to cost me as much as I thought. Labor is going to cost a good bit, but while the shop has it I am going to have all gear oils drained and filled, the clutch, pressure plate, release bearing replaced if needed since they will already have done the work to get to that point. Might as well have them put in a front seal on the transmission too. Probably going to cost me about $2,000, and hopefully no more than $2500 turn key.

http://poteatsengines.com/services/
 
Got a friend with a borescope? I wonder if looking in would reveal anything. If the walls are scored, it needs boring; but if it's just a stuck/broken ring, it might be cheap to R&R just that cylinder. Well, might as well do them all; but you don't "have to" touch crank bearings, camshaft, etc if it's just ring replacement.

But that rebuilt sounds reasonable.
 
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Explorer take out might still be cheaper...and a better engine!


Yup, as I mentioned earlier. The Explorer 5.0L is a better mill.
 
Sounds like a good buy. These are great trucks, not many around. I have a nice 87 with the 4.9 inline 6 with the 4spd. I wonder what it would cost to rework your existing engine? I have heard horror stories with some of these remans out there. I'm for a 302 just to keep it simple and as inexpensive as possible. There's plenty of power you need from a 302. They are only as good as the rebuilder, look for a decent warranty if you go that route.
 
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