When to rebuild the bottom end?

[dz187]

The car has 155k mostly stock miles on the odometer and runs great! Gets about 18mpg city and 28mpg highway when I'm easy on the gas. Oil pressure is between the O and the R... idles right at the M. Doesnt burn any oil at all, but leaks 1/2 qt every 3k miles, think its coming from the valve covers. Top end clicks and taps a bit, but nothing extreme. The only thing that concerns me is after changing my oil i noticed a trace amount of gold/copper-ish material, about the size of grains of fine dirt, on the top of my drain pan. I'd like start driving this car on open track days at a local road course... but I dont want to spin a bearing or anything like that anytime soon

Am i being overly paranoid?

 

[Fast63]

I would say your short block still has a lot of miles left in it. Keep running it man.

 

[bloopbloob]

if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it! start savin up for a sweet combo right now if you're worried, and just drive! if it craters, you'll be ready! you probably have a lot of miles left in that engine! there were no warnings when my bearings went, maybe 5 min of engine troubles and then it needed a tow and a rebuild.... start saving, keep drivin, and if something happens you can be ready to throw a built engine in there! wish i had done that, i didn't expect it, didn't have the funds, and ended up with a lot of down time and expenses, and only a rebuilt to show for it.....

 

[2000xp8]

You sure it's leaking a quart every 3k? That's alot of oil on the ground or buring off the engine.
To me it sounds like you found parts of the bearings in the oil.
Mine did the same, oil pressure got worse and worse until i was losing about a quart every 700 miles.
You do have some time left, but i'd start preparing now, so when it goes you aren't left with one huge bill to fix it.

 

[347HO]

Gold, coppery flakes "could" be associated to the bearings. Since your bottom end isn't making any noise, I would suspect the thrust bearing.

Depending on "Tech", they may frown on that oil leak at the track. Maybe they'd pass you... maybe not.

 

[5spd GT]

If you can swing it, start saving for a new bottomend.

Gold flaky stuff is not a good things, and as mentioned that is a fairly significant amount in my opinion.

I went 163k before a rebuild and it was doing fine when I had it done.

 

[dz187]

You sure it's leaking a quart every 3k? That's alot of oil on the ground or buring off the engine.
To me it sounds like you found parts of the bearings in the oil.
Mine did the same, oil pressure got worse and worse until i was losing about a quart every 700 miles.
You do have some time left, but i'd start preparing now, so when it goes you aren't left with one huge bill to fix it.

half a quart every 3k, the bottom of the engine is coated in a rust preventive slime Need to get those gaskets replaced one of these days...
Is it possible to replace the bearings with the engine in the car? I dont have the time or money to completely rebuild right now, but I dont want things to get any worse.

 

[irish]

Can't do those in the car, if I were in your shoes I would pick up a used roller motor(they are cheap used) and go through it completely so when the time comes, you can drop a nice stroker motor in there over a weekend. You could also buy a shortblcok ready to go from fordstrokers.com or someplace like that.

Matt

 

[5spd GT]

Your best bet is to take it easy on the engine, until you can save up enough if that is the only vehicle you have.

 

[347HO]

Your best bet is to take it easy on the engine, until you can save up enough if that is the only vehicle you have.

Amen!

 

[ninety15.0]

I agree with the last two statements. I dont think open tracking the car right now would be the best idea. Have the heads been touched at all during those 155k miles? If you are starting to see trace elements of the bearings, thats a sign of problems to come. If the heads havent been touched , my guess is that the springs are tired and the stem seals and guides are probably worn a bit too.

An engine in that condition can still run very well. The question is how long will it continue to run well once you start beating it in open track events. losing 1/2 quart in an oil change interval is perfectly fine. That is nothing to worry about. I would be more concerned with the bearing mat'l in the oil.

Perhaps your next investment should be a good mechanical oil pressure gauge to accurately monitor your OP...and see if it starts to drop over time.

Start saving your pennies for a rebuild kit....but 5.0L motors have been known to go well over 200k miles without being rebuilt. Take it easy on the old girl while you put together a track worthy combo. good luck man.

 

[MadRed92GT]

I'm a witness they can go well over 200k, I have over 226k on mine. Never been rebuilt, just only a water pump in 12 years.