New 4.6 Engine Advice Needed

[Sparks717]

I have an 01 GT with the 4.6 that is now showing serious signs of needing to be rebuilt. It has about 160K and have heard from more than one source that it would be better from a cost standpoint to just swap the engine vs rebuilding the existing.

I've stumbled on a few different places offering brand new, never used, never installed, Ford Built 4.6L engines with the PI upgrades for the 99 - 04 GT's. These motors are advertised and pictured as having all of the bolt ons included, again all new and never used sensors, alternator, power steering pump, throttle body, wiring harness, coil packs, etc. The prices I've seen range from $2900 to $3300. These were found on eBay and each Seller has great feedback and appear to be reputable.

The only thing that sets me back a little is that no warantees are offered. Does anyone have any experience with these brand new complete Ford engines that you could forward my way? Did Ford build many of these motors as complete crate engines? I'm curious to also know why they do not include any sort of Ford warantee. They just seem a little too good to be true and I wanted to run it by some of the experts here. Thanks in advance!!

 

[trombonedemon]

O.k., life is about chances so go for it but, use Pay Pal, I repeat use Pay Pal, if the motor is not what you think it is, does what you think it should do, you can get your money out immediately through Pay Pal once you file a claim but,they decide if your claim is worthy of getting your money back, you have a limited amount of time. Get a Pay Pal account, I can't stress that enough. Thats your warranty. I've had to file a claim or two to get my money back and pay pal were happy to serve. Hope this helps. Oh yea, make sure you question the hell out of whom ever you are buying from and save your reciept and email answers from them just in case.

 

[Sparks717]

You are absolutely correct. I have done a lot with eBay, but just never anything that high in price. I was mainly looking to see if anyone had ever purchased one of these and what their experiences were out of it. eBay is a great place to find stuff, but like you said, you really have to question everything up front unless you are lucky enough to be within driving distance of the Seller to where you can physically make the trip.
Thanks very much for the advice. It is really appreciated. I think that I am leaning in favor of grabbing one of these but still have a little time left before actually having to pull the trigger. Thanks again for the reply!

 

[wmburns]

First, let's assume that you are interested in a stock 4.6 SOHC motor. There are TONS of places that will REBUILD your current motor for 2,000 -2,500. This will give you a ZERO mile motor with a warrantee. Because your motor is still running, the core will be rebuildable.

So in that regard, 3,300 doesn't seam like a huge bargain to me.

The exception to that would be if you had to have all of the sensors and such (for example after a fire).

I have just finished a motor swap in my 2000 Mustang GT. Purchased a salvage motor from a 2004 Crown Vic with 38k miles. The price paid was $830. Greanleaf included a 6 month warrantee.

Your 2001 should have a Romeo block. Which means that late model Crown Vics and Grand Marquis will work. Obviously, you will have to swap some parts (upper intake, injectors, PCV, exhaust manifold, pulleys, heater tube, oil pan, dip stick). But not a lot of work to save almost 2500. Certainly, not too much work if you are planning to swap the engine yourself.

For salvage motors try Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

For rebuilt (sample) Rebuilt Ford Engines, Remanufactured Ford Engines

For a local rebuilder, try your Yellow pages.

 

[Sparks717]

Yeah, it was all of the bolt ons that was, and is, making it so attractive. I can definately get the block rebuilt for much less, but my concern is that everything else on the engine is about 160K miles old. I don't want to get into a situation where I rebuild the engine and in 15 or 20K miles down the road, I have to start replacing many of the bolt ons. So in that case, the high end that I found of 3300 looked to be a great deal. Everything is new and unused and would be a direct drop in saving all of the teardown, rebuild and reassembly labor time. Also, since there is no core required, I could either part the existing engine out, or sell it as a whole and help to offset the price of the new engine. The thought of having all of my 8 year old, high mileage bolt ons placed back onto a rebuilt block just doesn't sit too well knowing that they are not too far from giving up the ghost themselves.
I'll check out the links that you sent as well and will continue looking at the options.
If anyone has any experiences either good or bad with these complete engines, I'd love to hear.

 

[wmburns]

another point of view

With regards to the “other” bolt on accessories, are you referring to the power steering pump, AC compressor, water pump? Or are you referring to engine support pieces such as fuel injectors, COP, sensors, intake manifold, exhaust manifold, EGR valve and such?

If the first, then assuming the new crate motor comes with those things, then your logic holds.

If the second, then IMO, the argument can be made that most of the sensors are just fine to re-use (TPS, Crank case position, Cam position, COP, ect).

Certain pieces such as exhaust manifold, intake manifolds, and such have life expectancies that greatly exceed the internals of the motor.

The exception could be the Fuel injectors.

For less than $175, there are places that will clean and flow test the fuel injectors. Once this service is done, the injectors are as good as new (if not better). Check out:

Cleaning and Flow Testing Service

I have used them twice with very good results. It does buy piece of mind knowing that the injectors are working is well worth the price.

If the other sensors are concern, a salvage engine normally comes complete from the oil pan to the intake. This includes the sensors, injectors, and COP. If using a low mileage engine, it would make sense to keep those sensors from the donor engine.

None of the options is going to include the most critical sensors (MAF and O2). So in that regard, all of the options are equal.

My rational behind using a salvage engine was my Mustang was already high mileage (145K). Nothing would change that. Therefore, the question becomes, is it worth spending more $$ to have a low mile/zero mile motor in a high mileage car? I felt that a 38k salvage engine would last more than to foreseeable life of the whole car (just like your original argument, something new while everything else is old).

Anyway, this is just my opinion. Will drop off this thread as I have nothing more to add.