REALLY REALLY bad day today.

[RICH MUISE]

I have to assume it's accurate. I borrowed it from my mechanic friend. It's a Mac Tools. $400 he told me when he said to be careful with it. I hate borrowing tools and would never ask. He just went and grabbed it for me.
Going to pull that valve cover later, I'm particularly curious about the timing chain on this bank. I have to move the hydroboost to get the valve cover off.

[junior58]

Hi Rich, due to the time difference between USA and NZ it makes it a bit difficult to have a cohesive conversation but we?ll do the best we can.
Now that you have done the compression test on the other bank it pretty much confirms the bent valves. Due to theses engines not being free running, anytime the cam timing goes out, you will have valve to piston contact and, as the valves are quite small in the stem it doesn?t take much to ping them over and they don?t have to be off by much for them to leak compression (and it will have multiple bent valves). As someone mentioned earlier, a cylinder leakage test will confirm it, but based on the information you have provided, I think it?s a given.
If you do go for a used engine, as mentioned earlier, you should be able widen your choice of available engines by not worrying about the OBD1 vs 2. I?m also pretty sure all DOHC 4.6?s used the variable intake manifold runner control (IMRC). If not, it?s not that big a job to swap manifolds, as well as all your other stuff off the existing engine to keep your configuration the same.

[Ecode70D]

Rich
    What junior58 says makes a lot of sense to me.  I'm sure that others will chime in also.
Jay

[RICH MUISE]

Great info, Junior, thanks. Sure increases the choices of what I can look for. Wished I had a '96(pre-PATS)OBD II setup, but don't want to have start from scratch with the expensive wiring. I'll spend a few days getting my garage cleaned up, and make room for an orderly disassemble. Got a few changes I want to make to the car while the engine is out. The whole process is going to take me a few months at best.

[fdlrc]

Sorry to hear Rich. I know nothing about these engines; is it not easy to drop the pan to take a look and see what, if anything is there? Or do you have to pull engine because of no room?

[Jeff Norwell]

Rich.. been away from the board and just read all 6 pages.....I have too nothing to offer, but don't beat yourself up.We have all been there in some shape or form..... I really feel there will be a silver lining soon and all will be good....... Take care.

[djfordmanjack]

what if you could pull the oil pan with engine still in car and check for debris and inspect rod caps and bearings. if all looks still good down there it should be possible to just pull heads from car and have them rebuilt the traditional way - cut valve seats and replace damaged valves. No ?

[CobraJoe]

DJ, I would have to think the cylinders probably got scored at this stage of the game...
If it were mine, I would pull it and tear it down.

Just my $0.02

Joe

[djfordmanjack]

You are probably right Joe. Only a full teardown will make this 100% safe. I still hope that major parts of the engines are found well and alive and can be reused with possibly minor repair work needed to the LH head.

[RICH MUISE]

If I haven't found a suitable donor car by the time I get the engine pulled, I'll tear it down for a posible hone/bearing/head rebuild. I checked with Jasper engines. They only do the dohc 4.6s on a custom request only, so would need to ship it to them, BUT 5300.!  Yikes, but I'm told they are the best, it just won't happen with me. When I was talking to my friend this morning returning his compression tester, he was just finishing up a 72 chev pickup......2700. for a new 350 longblock

[rmk57]

Ask your buddy that loaned you the compression tester if he has a bore scope you could borrow. That may tell you something.

[Thor]

Rich,
I found some sources for rebuilt engines (links below). These run $3000 - $3500 for a long block. Might be worth it if your car actually needs one. Piece of mind since you drive your car a lot (with a warranty).   

https://www.jegs.com/i/ATK-Engines/059/DFM6/10002/-1

https://www.supercoupeperformance.com/1993-98-46l-dohc-remanufactured-engine-long-block-410

https://www.autozone.com/powertrain/engine

[RICH MUISE]

RMK..won't need the borescope, the engine is being pulled anyway, then the heads.
Thor... a big thanks for the leads. I particularly like the Jegs, as far as I can tell by their description anyway, but the supercoupe place says they use the same re-manufacturer as Ford. 3k is a lot more doable than 5.3k. I've heard Jasper is the best, in fact that's who the Ford senior technician that was looking at my car 5 or 6 months ago uses, but as I mentioned, out of my price range.
I did go over and talk to the FordMan I mentioned today. I was hoping he might have known about an engine. He did confirm what Junior told me about being able to use an OBD II engine with the older controls. As soon as he gets his computer fixed, he is going to double check on something about a possible issue with the obd II crankcase sensor setup and let me know

[Thor]

Rich,
My bet (based on them advertising "factory rebuilt for Ford" comment that they may be getting them
from AER Remanufactured Engines. I think they are in Carrollton TX. Looks like they have a cool car museum too. Link Below.

https://www.aermanufacturing.com/manufacturing/remanufactured-engines/

Cool video from their site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=449&v=9nLnauiVXiU

 

[RICH MUISE]

I'm going to make some phone calls tomorrow to see if AER has distributors other than Ford dealers, and hopefully one in this area, or if in fact that is Supercoupes supplier. Supercoupes doesn't list an address that I can see. They may only be an internet company?
That's a heck of an operation that AER has