Help my Motor is wrapping

[caldi55]

it started the other day, when i first start my truck in the morning there is a load wrapping sound for about 5 min then it goes away for the day. I looked at trading in my 97 (126k miles) eddie bauer for a 200 (50k miles). Ive weighed all the options trading for newer vs motor replacement and im going to replace it.
I have the 4.0 SOHC. I can get one from Jasper for $3450 + labor. I really dont have than kind of cash right now even though their warentee it amazing.
I need some advice I can roll the dice and buty a used motor off EBAY but this will be my 3rd motor.
help me out

 

[unclemeat]

You may want to check to see if it is a timing chain. If so you may need to pull the engine to fix.

Also $3450 + labor is outragious. You can get a longblock from a stealership for about $1,800. Labor should not be more that about $700.

Check your local junk yards, you should be able to get a used motor for about $800 with a warrenty.

 

[exploded99]

I would vote for the junkyard as well - quite a few explorer rollovers out there with good engines sittin in em. You get to see it before you but it, no shipping, and as unclemeat says, they will warranty them for 90 days or so.

 

[caldi55]

I checked with the dealership and the longblock with my employee discount costs $2750, shortblock with discount ($2270) I am going to check the timing chain tensioner first.
Thanks

 

[unclemeat]

I priced a short block a couple of months ago at a Richmond Ford for a Gen 1 X $ 1200, retail.

 

[MalcolmV8]

I'd stay away from the junk yard especially if you're paying someone else to install the motor. It's a huge gamble. Let's say you spend $700 labor to get it installed and it's junk. Well now you have to spend another $700 to get it pulled, swapped, and try a new one. Second motor is junk too. Oh my. Now you're down $2100 JUST in labor. At this point you are very frustrated and just want your money back. Uhhh sorry. Junk yards don't do refunds apparently. Your only option is to just keep swapping motors until you find one that works, just rebuild the piece of junk from the junk yard, or cut your loses and go buy a remanufactured unit like you should have done in the first place.

And don't think it can't happen. I've been there. Done that. It sucks! It really really sucks. I'd hate to see you in the same boat I was in.

Take care
Malcolm