Need Help

[MachineAddict]

This is the post from nloc.


For those you that don't remember or haven't heard you can find part one of this story here ------> http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=446224

My insurance requested that the truck be taken to a dealership that does both mechanical and body work so it's all one claim. I had it towed yesterday and took the block today. I spoke with my friend that works at this dealership and he said they'd take good care of it blah blah blah. We unload the engine and I drive off (wasn't exactly that easy convincing his service writer to deal with but to keep it short). I'm on my way back to work and get a text from my friend saying "A guy that used to work where you had your engine installed works here now. He recognized your truck and he worked there during the time your truck was there and is saying they put a regular F150 motor in it". I saw RED.

I can't for the life of my find the warranty papers for the engine, but that's only assuming they gave me the correct paperwork. Is there a way to track down if the motor is in fact a Lightning motor by any of the numbers on the block? I'm in absolute shock right now and have no clue what to do. I want the truck back, but on the other hand......I need a vehicle asap.

Any suggestions?

so far 2000-HATE is off to a bad start.









Can anybody tell me what the difference between OUR pistons and regular F150's are? I know ours are dished, but how much......and are regular F150's dished at all or flat?

And are there any other tell tell signs between the two?

[L8 APEX]

The biggest difference is the forged crank, 02-up heavy metal block, rods are different and pistons are forged and dished. You can call AER and give them the build number and they will tell you what is in it. There should be a silver and blue rebuild tag on the side of the engine.

[MachineAddict]

There are no tags on the engine....I'm not sure that this came from AER. Up until a few seconds ago I didn't know what AER was, so I'm fairly certain I hadn't heard the name til this post. The dealership found a few numbers on the block but since they weren't Ford numbers it meant nothing to them. I have a piston out and it's dished, but I'm not sure if it's the 18cc that Lightnings were yet. I've been trying to find regular factory F150 pistons to see if they're dished or flat but have had no luck online....anyone here know?

I'll get the crank out and search for any casting numbers.

luckily up to this point I've never been through anything like this......so unfortunately I'm learning as I'm going along.

Thanks for the patience.

[Sandman]

So was it a dealership that you think might have put a regular f150 engine in you L?

[L8 APEX]

So did you blow up your new engine? There should be a metal tag on the bottom of the block near the oil pan. There are no unmarked rebuilt engines. Only new vehicles get engines off the assy line, everything else is a service part. There is also a visual difference in the sides of the block. There are two continuous casting lines between the X's front to back. The 02-up blocks are 15 lbs heavier than older blocks.

[MachineAddict]

The first shop that it was at is the one that's suspected of installing the regular F150 motor. That motor that they installed (whether an F150 or Lightning motor) was a re-man and blew up after 2 months.....with the exact same mods that ran just fine for 2 years on my original stock block.

The difference between the 2 blocks as far as the casting lines go are between regular F150 motors and Lightning motors? or older and '02+ Lightning blocks?

I'll look for more tags tomorrow, but if its gone then the original shop must have removed it. Which wouldnt surprise me......for those not wanting to read through the posts, the shops security cameras were "blown in another direction in a wind storm" shortly before the vandalism and theft took place. So with their credibility decreasing by the hour....I wouldnt put it passed them to try and remove all indications that its a regular F150 motor, but now I need proof.

[MachineAddict]

Sorry, I dont think I answered that question very well......it wasnt at a dealership originally. It was a shop here in Odessa that does high hp cars all the time called "Premiere Car Care".

[L8 APEX]

a re-man and blew up after 2 months.....with the exact same mods that ran just fine for 2 years on my original stock block.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result:tex. All 02 up 5.4 blocks are heavy. At least that way you know if you got a pre 02 engine.

[L8 APEX]

Light block.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/15Blown_motor1.jpg
I'll try and find some of my old engine pics.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/15CIMG2107.JPG
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG2387.JPG
Lightning guts

http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/CIMG2390.JPG


http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG3244.JPG
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/14000/size/big/cat//ppuser/15/sortby/d/sorttime/9999/way/asc

[MachineAddict]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result:tex.

ouch!!! LOL

The reason I blew the original one was totally different. This re-man, downshifted and she popped. My major mods were mild....pretty much 6lb crank, ported eaton, safely tuned locally by Joe Lynch.


Thanks for the pics, but if I got an '01 re-man they won't match???

[L8 APEX]

I am just posting pics of stock pistons and parts for you to compare yours to. Safely tuned is just an assumption on your part unless you wrote the tune and know exactly what is in it.
Stock piston.
If a private shop did the repair you could have gotten a used pull out motor from an L or regular F150, a local shop rebuild, or a AER Ford reman. ALL AER engines have tags bonded to them.
http://www.svtgalleries.net/gallery/data/500/medium/CIMG5439.JPG

[MachineAddict]

Thanks Terry.

I'll keep researching and posting anything I can find. If they charged me for a re-man and dropped a pull out motor I'll be pissed. :flaming: So that's why I'm trying to see where they got it from and make damn sure it's what I was charged for.

Thanks guys.

[L8 APEX]

Have them show the ticket or payment for the motor. AER engines are well documented and come in triplicate forms. Any legit engine cost s few grand and has paperwork. Most register the warranty with the VIN and mileage. You may be able to call Ford or AER and give them your VIN and check for status. I know one guy that dropped a $600 5.4 out of a burned out Expy in his Lightning before selling it. A little semi gloss and it looked new..:tex

[tiffo60]

Have them show the ticket for the motor. AER engines are well documented and come in triplicate forms. I know one guy that dropped a $600 5.4 out of a burned out Expy in his Lightning before selling it. A little semi gloss and it looked new..:tex

dejavu :evil