Engine troubles?

[Bexplorer94]

Ok, i have a few things here. First of all, when i accelerate, i hear a knocking. Kind of like something is rattleing around in the engine. ive checked the fluid levels on everything and seem to be O.K. second, i have 175,000 on the motor and thinking about possibly converting to a v-8. i have a 94 xlt. and im wondering if i could fit a 5.0 under the hood. and second, would everything match up to the new engine? tranny, wiring, cables, hosing, ect.... Any info would be greatly appreciated. I only wanna switch engines if my other one is bad or is on the way out the door.. thanks!

 

[MrShorty]

I would guess from your description of the noise, that it is spark knock (aka detonation or "ping"). The 4.0 OHV (especially the earlier ones) have some issues with spark knock. Been discussed many times, do a search for engine ping and you'll get a lot of information.
In short, the engine pings from one of two causes: carbon buildup in the cylinder or the engine's running lean.
Carbon buildup can usually be cleaned up easily and inexpensively using seafoam or similar.
Ping from running lean is usually resolved inexpensively by either cleaning the MAF, tightening the lower intake bolts (loose bolts cause vacuum leak), or closing off any other vacuum leaks.

 

[Bexplorer94]

well im not a big mechanic so what is seafoam and how do i use it? could i just run a cleaner through the vaccum line on the brake boost? or would that burn the plastic tips off of the fuel injectors. i had a buddy run sometype of a cleaner he had through that line and he said it burned or melted the plastic tips on the fuel injectors and he had to replace 3. just cerious. thanks for the help tho!

 

[MattPersman]

the seafoam to clean out the carbon in the intake upper and lower you feed into the vacuum line. it will not harm the ford injectors, some injectors, yes it will, they typically have a sticker on the TB that says caution blah blah about the injectors. its worth a shot. its under 5 bucks where I am at and will at the least clean out your intake pretty well with 1 application.

seafoam is available at most Napa retail stores and I have seen it at gas stations too, thats where I buy it from. its in a white metal can and the print on it looks old school nothing fancy

 

[Bexplorer94]

Can i feed that through any vacume line? say the one on the brake boost? thats the one my buddy used and it fried his injectors.. so i wanted to make sure that that line is ok to use. if not, which one's should i use?