Pics: fastcar dropped exhaust valve seat

[fastcar]

Eric at Century Automotive Machine was right about my head: it dropped an exhaust valve WHILE THE MOTOR COOLED DOWN AT REST. It shrunk faster than the head, and just stinking dropped out. See the shots.

I appreciate your suggestions on a new motor - I even got a more than reasonable offer for a moderate mileage 300B motor from merc.

All said and done, if I go that route I will be into it for about $3500-$4500. If I fix the head, I may get out of it for as little as $1600.

With the extra $2000 in my pocket, I'm seriously considering BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. Who's to say this won't happen to another Marauder motor I put in, less mileage or not. If the second one fails I would be cleaned out TWICE.

BTW, the amount of metal these guys want to take off the head will create a negligible increase in compression - he wants to take just 3 to 6 thousands off, not really a concern. If I was going 20 or 30, that might be an issue.

I have to admit, I'm sick that this seat just fell out. Eric says he can't tell me how often he sees this on 4.6 and 5.4s. Also, Toyotas and Chryslers. It's unbelievable, and wreaks total havoc on the motor with a concomitant charge card statement. It's a disgusting lack of quality control.

This is the first Ford motor I've ever had come undone on me, and I've had plenty: 2.3s, 5.0s, 5.8s, 6.6s, 7.5s. I'm sad it happened in one of my favorites.:shake:

Well, thank God for my health, the roof over my head and work. The head goes into the shop on Tuesday. Hope to get it back quickly.

fastcar:burnout:

[ImpalaSlayer]

so wheres the pics?

[sd8683]

No pics for me either??

[Blackmobile]

^^^^^^^^^^+1^^^^^^^^ What he said ?????????

[fastcar]

pics up. :o

First shows normal chamber. Compare to second. :(

fastcar:burnout:

[Zack]

You got 100k out of it and this is very uncommon.
Nothing to blame quality control over.

[High-C]

Well, thank God for my health, the roof over my head and work. The head goes into the shop on Tuesday. Hope to get it back quickly.

You have a great attitude and it's too bad this is slowing you down... Best of luck with everything. :beer:

[Rocknthehawk]

Had a simlar issue on my Ranger. I'm pretty sure mine was due to overheating...the previous owner had the motor rebuilt, and the headgaskets were backwards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/bpdydrophead-1.jpg

[Marauderjack]

Which cylinder is it and did it booger up the piston??:confused:

I'd suspect #7 or #8 with all the fear of overheating I have heard about due to poor coolant flow!!:shake:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack:burnout:

[Pat]

Most enlightening, thanks for the pics and your refurbished head should have your car running in minimum time.

Regards,

[Bradley G]

Good luck on the repair Fastcar, hope you're back on the road soon.
Thanks for the pics

[Spectragod]

Had a simlar issue on my Ranger. I'm pretty sure mine was due to overheating...the previous owner had the motor rebuilt, and the headgaskets were backwards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/rocknthehawk/bpdydrophead-1.jpg

Uhhhhhhh, just WOW!

[fastcar]

You got 100k out of it and this is very uncommon.
Nothing to blame quality control over.

I disagree, Zack. If your family has no heart disease, it doesn't mean it's not epidemic. If you want to find out how widespread heart disease is, go to the hospital. My 'doctor' guessed what happened to the motor before it was even apart - that's how often he's seen this happen. I believe that indicates a widespread design/manufacturing/tolerance issue.

In my book 100K miles is just getting warmed up. I don't think people should expect major engine trouble that early. I had multiple Fords hit 150-250K with no major mechanical failures.


You have a great attitude and it's too bad this is slowing you down... Best of luck with everything. :beer:

Thanks man;)


Had a simlar issue on my Ranger. I'm pretty sure mine was due to overheating...the previous owner had the motor rebuilt, and the headgaskets were backwards.

Hey Thunderbolt! Great pic. Sorry this happened to you. At least you had a good excuse. Mine fell out while it was parked. :shake:



Which cylinder is it and did it booger up the piston??:confused:

I'd suspect #7 or #8 with all the fear of overheating I have heard about due to poor coolant flow!!:shake:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack


Actually, it was #3. IF IT HAD BEEN NUMBER 7 OR 8 AND THAT HEAD HAD COME OFF, I WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED BUYING THE REVISED HEAD. That would have made some sense to me. Alas, it was the 'good' head that went.

The valve kissed the piston, but, it's no biggie. Just file the nick off, and get back to business...


Most enlightening, thanks for the pics and your refurbished head should have your car running in minimum time.

Regards,


Good luck on the repair Fastcar, hope you're back on the road soon.
Thanks for the pics

Thanks, guys! :)

fastcar:burnout:

[Mongoose]

My 'doctor' guessed what happened to the motor before it was even apart - that's how often he's seen this happen. I believe that indicates a widespread design/manufacturing/tolerance issue.
Yeah, but I "guessed" it first.:shake: (post #23 http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45745)
It was #5 in mine. I'm thinking this was a problem that FOMOCO knew about well before the 1st MM hit the sales floor.

Good luck with your repair. Be sure to have a rear cool kit installed while the engine is down. I bought a replacement head assembly for $975 and that included a $150 core charge.:mad2:

[MinnesotaMuscle]

OK, so I read this and have to wonder, is there anything a guy can do to prevent this? Maybe change retainers?????

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

In my book 100K miles is just getting warmed up. I don't think people should expect major engine trouble that early. I had multiple Fords hit 150-250K with no major mechanical failures.

I think that is getting a little carried away... 100k is high mileage with a performance engine no matter how you slice it. A detuned SOHC 4.6 will go 200k because it doesn't make enough power to hurt itself.

[Zack]

Bottom Line, ***** happens.

..or Poop Occurs.
Whichever!

[sailsmen]

In my book 100K miles is just getting warmed up. I don't think people should expect major engine trouble that early. I had multiple Fords hit 150-250K with no major mechanical failures.
fastcar:burnout:

Hold on to your "book" it's very rare.

I remember BMW V-8 needing new blocks every 25K and the straight 6 new Head every 15K.

I suggest you look at the specs in the "owner's book", you bought a higher performance car.

[fastcar]

You got 100k out of it and this is very uncommon.
Nothing to blame quality control over.

I spoke with the machinist today and it ends up that this is very unusual in a mod motor...

When he said he'd seen it 'all the time' ends up he was speaking about Toyota Camry's and certain Dodge products, NOT Fords. I felt a lot better after learning this. So Zack, you were right (as is often the case;)) this is not typical of a 4.6 Ford.

He said he sees more 5.4 heads in the shop than 4.6, mainly for spark plug issues, and that he's only seen ONE SET of 4V heads ever... Generally the only time he has seen this on a mod motor is if it's been cooked (like Thunderbolt's Ranger head)

Of course, since my head came apart, and no one else's has, there definitely was a problem with the fit on that seat. It SHOULD NOT have come out. But, as Zack stated, 'it' happens...

So, I wanted to pass the happy news along no one else should expect this :)

fastcar:burnout:

[fastcar]

I think that is getting a little carried away... 100k is high mileage with a performance engine no matter how you slice it. A detuned SOHC 4.6 will go 200k because it doesn't make enough power to hurt itself.

I couldn't disagree more. These 'high performance' motors don't turn high RPMs, they have extremely sedate came lift, they see so little pressure they even have powder metal rods.

There is absolutely no reason for one to come apart as long as lubrication does not fail. Bottom line, if you have a V-8 with regularly changed synthetic lube, that shifts at 6200 RPM occasionally, and has about 400 thousands lift at the valve, you can expect a long, long life if it is not abused, was machined properly and the parts aren't defective.

And it's not horsepower that breaks motors, it's rpm or crazy valve events, both of which have the potential to stress components beyond their limit. Alternately missed shifts, bad nitrous shot with pre-ignition, etc. can do it, too. Absent those things, these motors will go 200-300K miles. We have plenty of members on the board who have gotten there.

The only other thing that breaks motors is bad machining or a part failure, which is what happened to me.


Hold on to your "book" it's very rare.

I remember BMW V-8 needing new blocks every 25K and the straight 6 new Head every 15K.

If I owned a BMW I might expect 25K from the motor...:P

fastcar:burnout:

[sailsmen]

I like your BMW response!;)

[Rocknthehawk]

Well that's good new for other owners that this is a very rare case.

The picture of my head, is from my other ranger, not my thunderbolt, just to clarify. haha.

How soon will you be back on the road?

[fastcar]

Well that's good new for other owners that this is a very rare case.

The picture of my head, is from my other ranger, not my thunderbolt, just to clarify. haha.

How soon will you be back on the road?

God willing, mid week next week.

My machinist didn't have a tool small enough to cut the exhaust valve seat, so he had to order one.

We 2 day aired it, he should have it Thursday, I should have the heads Friday, Dez should have them Monday, I should have me car Wednesdayish? We'll see:D

fastcar:burnout: