Looks good to go! The engine number is by the oil filter on a machined area. I't really hard to see but is there. That would give you an idea about the build date. The gray sealant is correct. As far as being rebuilt???????????????

 

Ok, I thought that if the sealant wasn't factory, then there was a chance it had been rebuilt since the intake manifold wouldn't need to be removed otherwise. Does the oil pan use the same sealant? It amazes me that they didn't just design it to have a gasket of some sort.

 

What an awesome project. I only wish I had the guts and determination to do that to mine.

 

Yep. The same stuff. At least I think so. There are a couple of different sealants Ford used. Both gray in color. Again this is off the top of my head from what little research I've done.

 

I'm Lucky I have a place I can work on it slowly and do things right. Its also a project where I don't need the truck for everyday transportation. This allows me to do things as time and money permits. I've always loved working on various projects.

Ok, Its most likely the original motor then. It also has a solid flywheel and I thought most 1997 had the dual mass. The F-Super Duty/F450 must have been the exception. Thanks for the help and information.

 

I did a little more this weekend but unfortunately I dropped a valve cover bolt down the intake. took me forever to get it out. Magnets or vacuum wouldn't get it so turned the engine upside down and it still didn't fall out. Finally blew some air in there and it fell. Other than that I spent time prepping for paint. Picked up the primer and hardener but I'm still undecided on a color. Most likely a dark silver or gray.

 

I find it helpful to cover the intakes when they are open. That would be real tough to do if it were in the truck! Turning the engine upside down that is.

 

Thats the thing, I did have everything covered but while prepping it for a little touch up paint, I was straightening out a small bend on the top of the intake manifold and another on the rear of the valve cover. To straighten the valve cover, I had to remove one bolt. I placed the bolt on top of the hoist, fixed the dent, then I removed the tape that was covering the intake on the passenger side to fix it. After a little straitening, I leaned over to get a better look. My hand hit the valve cover bolt and it fell perfectly in the 2" intake hole of all places.

Tell me about it. It would probably be easier and cheaper to pull the whole motor than to remove the head if it had to be flipped. I could have probable gotten it our right side up though if it came down to that.

 

At least you saw it happen and got it out. Can you imagine getting the truck finished, starting it and then hearing an awful noise. Not a good visual if you know what I mean. Glad you got it out.

 

depending on whose car it is, it can be music to your ears....i accidently did that to an ex girlfriends dad one time. well, the dropping of the stuff was accidental, but the not telling him about it..... he just had that coming he was building two almost concourse mustangs. a 1969 mach 1 r code 428 and a 1968 390 fastback. all he lacked on the 69 was the engine. so i GAVE him a 69 model 428 scj out of a wrecked torino i had AND i built the 390 for him(also did a lot of other work for him). he had some 5.0 mustang parts that i wanted and when i asked him about them he quoted me a price about twice what NEW stuff costs. i asked him if he could cut me a deal because i gave him that engine and did work for him for free. he said he wasnt in the business of helping people. that he had to get paid for his stuff.

while the 390 was on the engine stand my ex knocked a nut/bolt tray off a shelf and some of it fell down into the engine. she got all freaked out and didnt know what to do. i assured her it would be fine and she didnt have to tell him about it. once he got the engine put in and fired it up, lets just say it didnt last too long lol. to this day he thinks his cat knocked the stuff off the shelf.

 

Great story! Music to my ears!

 

I know, that would have been terrible. I covered up the intake again after I finally got it out and plan to keep it that way.

Good story phillips91. To funny.

 

its for sure a '96 or '97 engine the 94.5, 95, and some early '96's had the EBP sensor behind the HPOP and higher up, your is down low and in front of the HPOP. also the later engines had 10 bolt intakes the early's had 8. your looks like it has the 10's.

the year is irrelevant, there all internaly the same 94.5-97. the higher HP rating was all done via the PCM.

what is your PCM code by chance? it will be real easy to read with the fenders off.

Good luck on the project. I love the interior of the old ambulance.

Diesel Rod

 

Thanks 444dieselrod. I'll check the pcm this weekend. The intakes are 10 bolt and I'm fairly confident that this is the original motor.

I'm still not sure about the flywheel though. Didn't 98 models and prior have the dual mass flywheel? Was the F450 an exception? Is my flywheel an aftermarket and what clutch to buy?

 

i hated to do that to a brand new engine. especially one that i built. but the look on his face when he started it was well worth my time