[99 BLUE V6]

Originally Posted by dreslion No, I'm not sure about the tune at all. I was scheduling it to be tuned at MustangMagic in a couple of months. The last mechanic did an engine flush and said I should be ok until then as long as I drove the car carefully and not over 60 mph or high rpms. I appreciate your thoughts: What is the danger in driving it carefully for the next couple of months? Can't afford the engine work until Jan, which now looks like I will be oing both engine and dyno... (thanks for the reply tip, but the "Quote message in reply?" option is grayed out for me

If you are lifting a ring land stop driving it.You obliously have a bad tuning issue. You will only make things worse $$$ wise. What does a engine flush have to to with this?

[dreslion]

The mechanic was under the impression from what he saw in the scope, that something fell into the 5th cylinder. Out of curiosity and not to sound too much like a newb: How much damage could be caused if, according to my mechanic, I am already facing the strong possibility of replacing the top half of the engine?

Thanks

[9986paulk]

your could ruin your entire bottom end and heads. the more you drive it, the more money you're going to cost yourself. I mean it's up to you.

[dreslion]

@9986paulk: I hear you, but if I don't know what damage was done to the engine from the previous owner, plus I getting estimates as low as $1500k to rework the current engine. In my newb state of mind (with some common sense) it would cost about $1k (with shipping) to get an in place replacement 4.0 NA engine with 1/4 of the miles of this current FI engine, I can then do the compression right with forged pistons (~$400 for a set). Then figure about $1k for the labor.

So my thoughts are that I would spend $1k more, but get have an engine that is properly set up and ready to be dynoed. Am I way off here, or is there some method to my madness?

Again, I appreciate everyone's time and talents in helping make the best informed decision. I was previously and Olds 442 guy (passed down from my dad) but switched to Ford when they folded and have been every since (this is my 3rd Ford vehicle). So I have a special place in my heart for American Muscle. Want to keep this car for a long time...

[dreslion]

Correction, my mechanics quote was to machine the 1 side at that time (5ht Cyl, driver's side). So I would imagine that it would probably be closer to the same cost to rework both sides of the current engine, than to rip and replace with a rebuilt, set up engine. Yes, No, Maybe, or WTF? Are you out of your mind?

Thanks

[99 BLUE V6]

Originally Posted by dreslion The mechanic was under the impression from what he saw in the scope, that something fell into the 5th cylinder. Out of curiosity and not to sound too much like a newb: How much damage could be caused if, according to my mechanic, I am already facing the strong possibility of replacing the top half of the engine? Thanks

its possable something fell into #5 but you also stated other cyl showing signs of trouble, and you never tuned your setup. its also possable that a small pice of your piston land broke off and bounced around it there and just appears that something fell in. somtimes its hard to get a good look with bore scope with engine in car. you need to get to the bottom of this issue before driving and guessing wishing and hoping dont count.

[ESG-642T]

Originally Posted by slater sounds like everyones claim that FI is perfecrtly safe for these engines is wrong

Originally Posted by dreslion No, I'm not sure about the tune at all. I was scheduling it to be tuned at MustangMagic in a couple of months. The last mechanic did an engine flush and said I should be ok until then as long as I drove the car carefully and not over 60 mph or high rpms. I appreciate your thoughts: What is the danger in driving it carefully for the next couple of months? Can't afford the engine work until Jan, which now looks like I will be oing both engine and dyno... (thanks for the reply tip, but the "Quote message in reply?" option is grayed out for me

Well... Running a boosted car with no tune is no good sir. I'm curious now what type of fuel mods do you have done to the car??

In any case you should park this car until you figure out exactly whats going on. If something has broken and is in the cylinder your already looking at honing a cylinder wall at the least.

[dreslion]

Originally Posted by 99 BLUE V6 its possable something fell into #5 but you also stated other cyl showing signs of trouble, and you never tuned your setup. its also possable that a small pice of your piston land broke off and bounced around it there and just appears that something fell in. somtimes its hard to get a good look with bore scope with engine in car. you need to get to the bottom of this issue before driving and guessing wishing and hoping dont count.

I hear you, but I guess for a point of reference - what do you think would be the approximate difference between redoing the heads and possibly refinishing the cylinder walls vs a swap? Especially now that I have signs of detonation on Cyl 2 and 3 (and maybe others)

Actually now that I remember, when I changed the plugs in July after the first 3k miles (bought the car in May) I did see evidence of MMT on the plugs. Maybe the dealer was using an additive... I want to avoid fixing this problem only to uncover something else. This car wasn't exactly the best purchase, but I'm stuck with the repair and I'm not the kind of guy that would make it someone else's problem.

[dreslion]

Originally Posted by ESG-642T Well... Running a boosted car with no tune is no good sir. I'm curious now what type of fuel mods do you have done to the car?? In any case you should park this car until you figure out exactly whats going on. If something has broken and is in the cylinder your already looking at honing a cylinder wall at the least.

As far as I can tell (bought the vehicle as someone else's project) I KNOW I KNOW Lol!!! -- it is not using the stock injectors, I replaced the dual Cats with Highflows, and has a V2 Vortech HO SC (cooler, blowout valve). That is all that I can tell from work I have done and from looking. I was told that it was tuned, but by whom??? The reason I had an appointment with Mustang Magic for the Dyno this January

[dreslion]

My eBay options for worst case (the 4.0 engine is about a third of the price of the 8):

2006 2007 08 2009 FORD MUSTANG ENGINE 4.0L SOHC 19K US $699.00

[99 BLUE V6]

Originally Posted by dreslion My eBay options for worst case (the 4.0 engine is about a third of the price of the 8): 2006 2007 08 2009 FORD MUSTANG ENGINE 4.0L SOHC 19K US $699.00

$699.00 Is a hole lot cheaper than a rebuild. because it looks like you cant even afford a tune LOL

[dreslion]

Originally Posted by 99 BLUE V6 $699.00 Is a hole lot cheaper than a rebuild. because it looks like you cant even afford a tune LOL

Ouch!!!

Btw, The tune is $750....

[dreslion]

Originally Posted by dreslion Ouch!!! Btw, The tune is $750....

... includes device with stored tunes. Besides, $25k in purchase and repair in a 6 month period is alot for me anyway. Need to wait on that IRS give back...