V10 swap or 460?

[Uncle Gump]

FYI... moved this to the Other Truck forum.

I worked for a couple years with a fella that did EVERYTHING with an air ratchet. Was a trim guy... and his trusty air ratchet or two screamed EVERYDAY... ALL DAY.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I still think i suffer PTSD from it...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

V10's had longer spark plug threads. OEM plugs didn't blow out of 5.4's, improperly torqued replacement plugs did. We had one 5.4 blow out a replacement plug and I had a "discussion" with the tech about his air ratchet.

There is that issue too. Too tight or too loose.

I bought mine at 25k and never had a problem.

Dad got his a little farther down the line and it could have had the plugs replaced.

But I hear stories that contradict that too.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I didn't see a 460 with valve guide problems between 1975 and 2017 at the dealer.

Maybe because Ford denied there was a problem. Dad’s 89 that he bought brand new had a problem from day 1 and Ford refused to do anything about it for 30k, then quietly fixed the truck. 80k later it was back to the same problem. The 94 made it about 100k before it became an issue. Despite 3k mile oil changes. I should make a video on how bad these guides are, the valves rattle around and you almost can’t pump air in the cylinder fast enough to hold the valve up to check it without pulling the head.

I’ve talked to a number of other people that have had 460’s with an oil consumption problem that is typically the valve guides

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Maybe because Ford denied there was a problem. Dad’s 89 that he bought brand new had a problem from day 1 and Ford refused to do anything about it for 30k, then quietly fixed the truck. 80k later it was back to the same problem. The 94 made it about 100k before it became an issue. Despite 3k mile oil changes. I should make a video on how bad these guides are, the valves rattle around and you almost can’t pump air in the cylinder fast enough to hold the valve up to check it without pulling the head.

I’ve talked to a number of other people that have had 460’s with an oil consumption problem that is typically the valve guides

So because Ford denied there was a problem the techs at the dealer level never seen any with issues?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The 4.6 somehow kinda flew under the radar, Ford was rather stingy with the 5.4 at first. There just are not as many out there.

Not as many 5.4s?

To me they seemed way more common then the 4.6....maybe a regional thing?

I didnt even know 4.6s of any style shot plugs till i started reading the vic forums

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So because Ford denied there was a problem the techs at the dealer level never seen any with issues?

I have heard stories of guys being told a quart every 5-800mi was "normal" by the dealer on a 460.

Both of mine burned it. My 97 ate about a quart every 1500mi which i thought was pretty average...the 89 (79 motor) drank over a qt every 1000mi. Never looked into the cause though

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not as many 5.4s?

To me they seemed way more common then the 4.6....maybe a regional thing?

I didnt even know 4.6s of any style shot plugs till i started reading the vic forums

The 5.4 was a midyear thing for 97, a 97 5.4 is not super common. Then you only really have a year and a half vs 5+ years.

I think the 2v ended in '05 for the SD, I know they ran way longer in Econoline.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So because Ford denied there was a problem the techs at the dealer level never seen any with issues?

I have heard stories of guys being told a quart every 5-800mi was "normal" by the dealer on a 460.

Both of mine burned it. My 97 ate about a quart every 1500mi which i thought was pretty average...the 89 (79 motor) drank over a qt every 1000mi. Never looked into the cause though

This. Ford insisted that a quart of oil consumed every 500 miles was “normal” and even when it got to a quart every 100 miles it was still “within spec”…

There’s nothing normal or within spec about that level of oil consumption. Especially when the valve guides have more slop than… well, use your imagination. My suspicion is that they had a stockpile of soft valve guides from the leaded gas era and just used them up rather than getting harder valve guides.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This. Ford insisted that a quart of oil consumed every 500 miles was “normal” and even when it got to a quart every 100 miles it was still “within spec”…

There’s nothing normal or within spec about that level of oil consumption. Especially when the valve guides have more slop than… well, use your imagination. My suspicion is that they had a stockpile of soft valve guides from the leaded gas era and just used them up rather than getting harder valve guides.

Guides are guides, unleaded engines received hardened valve seats.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Guides are guides, unleaded engines received hardened valve seats.

I’m going by what some old timers at a couple local machine shops told me

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I’m going by what some old timers at a couple local machine shops told me

I think your options are pretty much cast iron or bronze...

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

newer 6.2L might be a better all around option. Performance is probably better then the V10.

Probably easier to find too since the V10 is getting a bit long in the tooth.

The 6R110, i think it is, seems pretty reliable.

+1 on the 6.2.

It's a sled, but 205k trouble free miles and counting...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

+1 on the 6.2.

It's a sled, but 205k trouble free miles and counting...

I love mine.

I was expecting to be a bit disappointed coming from a 460 but i wasnt.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The 5.4 was a midyear thing for 97, a 97 5.4 is not super common. Then you only really have a year and a half vs 5+ years.

I think the 2v ended in '05 for the SD, I know they ran way longer in Econoline.

Hmm...my 97 Expedition was a 5.3.

The 3V ones id avoid at all costs but the 2V ones always seemed good to me. The 4.6 seemed to be good regardless of version.

Supposdly the 3V V10s run hard...ive never driven one.