What engine option to take?

[JKELLYN13]

Hello I am a proud owner of a 2002 Sport Trac that is 2 wheel drive with the 4.0 SOHC. It has 205k miles on it and I purchased it with 200k miles on it. Now that it is at 205k miles the rear timing chain cassette or guide has gone out on it. So my question is there are a few options I can go with. I can drop a remanufactured engine in it myself for probably around 3k total dollars. I can go with a used engine with maybe 120k miles on it for around 1700 dollars myself or I could pull the engine and rebuild it myself. What option do you believe would be the most cost efficient option for now as well as down the road? I used to race dirt cars so I'm familiar with engines and that sort of work. Trying to do this the most cost efficient way because my check is the only income for me, my wife and our 2 kids. However I want the truck to last and not just do a band-aid repair either. If the best option is rebuild it should I rebuild just the timing cassettes or the entire engine down to the piston rings? I'm not certain the longevity life on the rings and main and rod bearings as far as if 200k miles on them is a lot or not much. Thanks for any input.

 

[SoHK_alumni]

I'm blown away at the cost of a well used 4.0 SOHC engine! WOW!!

Often, a good used engine can be had for well under a grand but a quick search in GA shows no low miles engines at all and even then, at least a grand or more. Wow!

If you get lucky, you might find a good used/running 4.0 at a fair price by looking for a complete Expo on-line. They can often be found crashed or trashed but still running well. Probably your fastest and possibly lowest cost option.

Still, might well be most cost effective to take on a rebuild on your own and you'll know what you've got when you're done.

 

[JKELLYN13]

Yea I would love to take it out and rebuild it myself its just that I work 6 days a week from sun up to sun down so my time is a little limited to take on a project that intensive. Didn't know if anybody knew of a reputable rebuilder or crate engine place for less than 2500$. Seems all im finding are around that price and was trying to keep the total job under 2500.

 

[rb142]

Don't put a used 4.0 SOHC in there without doing the timing replacement. It may be the cheapest route up front, but the timing gear on the replacement could go at any time and you will be even farther in the hole.

The best option would be to do the rebuild yourself, assuming you are up to the job and can work out a way to get around the time it will take (have alternate transportation, etc.). You will need some special tools too.

 

[JKELLYN13]

Yea this actually all happened about 2 months ago so the truck has been sitting since then. Since it happened luckily my mom had just bought a new jeep and her crv was parked so I've been driving the crv and am absolutely tired of it. I will have about 2800$ the first week of February from a school refund and will be doing the job then. I have the mechanical knowledge to do the build myself, just working 6 days a week not much free time. I am trying to not spend the entire 2800$ on the engine replacement. If I do the rebuild myself I know that I want to either have the heads worked or replace them with an exchange set. RB142 do you believe that I should just do the heads and the chain job or should I take the entire engine down to the bare block and do a full rebuild? I'm just thinking that a full rebuild with machining and all may not be any cheaper than dropping 2300$ for an all ready rebuilt engine. What would be your input?

 

[chefduane]

You need to contact 2000StreetRod here on the Forum. He has done multiple teardowns and rebuilds on various platforms - really knows his stuff. He's extremely helpful and patient even with non-motorheads like myself.

 

[Number4]

You need to contact 2000StreetRod here on the Forum. He has done multiple teardowns and rebuilds on various platforms - really knows his stuff. He's extremely helpful and patient even with non-motorheads like myself.

Put the "@" symbol directly in front of the '2' and you'll sucker [MENTION=111113]2000StreetRod[/MENTION] into the forum. Oops, I just did it.

 

[Tech By Trade]

If you have the time swapping out the chains is a interesting experience. They sure have you over a barrel on those engine prices. SGI Salvage will sell you a mustang 4.0 for 1100 Canadian.

 

[JKELLYN13]

Cool thanks everybody. I'll look up streetrod and talk to him and get his input. Yea I'm just trying not to spend my entire school refund to get the ole trac back up. I love the truck when it was functioning properly. It's just a 2 wheel drive but I have nice plans for it. Just got to get her back up and running first. haha.

 

[2000StreetRod]

helpful thread

The question of what to do when timing chain components fail comes up frequently so I've just started a new thread to address the issue: SOHC V6 - replace, rebuild or remanufactured?

Before you decide what to do I suggest that you post the results of a compression test of all cylinders.
Have you ever experienced low or no oil pressure? Sometimes when a cassette guide or tensioner fails the oil tube pickup screen will be blocked with pieces starving the oil pump.
Have you ever experienced engine overheating? The heads are susceptible to cracking due excessive or repeated over heating.
Was the engine running good prior to timing chain component failure with good power and good fuel economy?
Has the suggested periodic maintenance been performed (engine oil and filter changes, air filter changes)?

 

[JKELLYN13]

Thanks for the response. I have not done a compression test yet no and there has not been any issues with oil pressure that were noticeable. The truck did have about 17 miles per gallon or so, not sure if that's about normal or bad or what. Power wise it wasn't a beast like my old 86 5.0 mustang I built after high school, however for what it is it was about where I expected it to be yes. As far as intervals of all the maintenance the gentleman kept all his receipts and looking at the dates it appears to have been done at the proper times. I only have owned the truck for 5k miles so cant speak for the life of the truck. The guy I bought it from was an air plan mechanic and had all his receipts for the 160k miles that he owned the truck. Truck has never over heated with me, however when I checked the radiator coolant after purchasing it I did notice that there appears to be radiator stop leak in the radiator. Not sure if that is due to an engine leak or a radiator leak as I have never discovered any coolant leaks in the truck. I intend to put reworked heads on it regardless of the option I go with.

 

[Tech By Trade]

Just a heads up, if you pull the heads you are looking at 150 bucks in bolts, 50 bucks worth of cheap head gaskets at the least, the 200 dollar timing kit, a 150 dollar specialty valve compressing tool. That's all before rework.

 

[JKELLYN13]

So basically its sounding like a complete long block with the entire gasket kit for about 2400$ with an unlimited mile 3 year warranty may be the best option. Also with that rout the timing guides and chains will already be installed so I wouldn't need to worry about timing them or aligning them. Seeming that if I go the rout to do it myself it wont really save me much money at all if any.

 

[2000StreetRod]

entire gasket set

So basically its sounding like a complete long block with the entire gasket kit for about 2400$ with an unlimited mile 3 year warranty may be the best option. . .

I doubt you need to purchase a complete gasket set that includes head gaskets, block cradle gaskets, etc. that you won't need. You may be able to just purchase intake and exhaust manifold gaskets, valve cover gaskets if you don't want to reuse the existing ones (probably a good idea), and a few other miscellaneous gaskets. Find out what comes on the long block.

 

[JKELLYN13]

Oh my bad I mis-typed that I think. The engine that I have looked at all come with a complete instillation gasket set. Only thing that I really would need for them is the essentials that don't come with the engine. Like new plugs and wires. Possibly a new water pump or hoses. New belts. That kind of stuff that would eventually need to be replaced anyway just for maintenance. I could probably do the engine and all that for roughly around 2800$.

 

[rb142]

It very well may be that the long block is the best option. Depends on how the numbers work out. It is definitely faster and easier, especially if your time is limited.

If you are rebuilding, there probably isn't any reason to go into the bottom end unless there is a pre-existing reason (low compression/wear) to do so. As 2000SR suggested, a compression test will tell a lot here. Evaluate what you have now, the costs, your time, etc. and see what the best path is.