This is getting ugly, The FINISH!

[macmcintire]

I'm staying tuned to this discussion to hear the final verdict -- the price tag. I'm thinking expensive!!!!! That's what could get really ugly.

[Gnarvan]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

Please don't take this into a gas vs. diesel thread.
Herb

Herb

I'm all for diesel engines. I do think it's a shame Ford put out an engine that has so many issues. Especially following the excellent 7.3. As this thread points out there are fixes available. I tip my hat to anyone who takes the time to understand the issues and fixes. And then makes the effort to be proactive to remove the known issues to turn the 6.0 into the fine engine it should have been from the start. It's threads like this one that help people have a better understanding of what may be happening to their engine if they don't pay attention.

I drive a gasser because that was the engine that came with the used van I found that was in my price range. I was looking for a diesel E350 for a long time before I decided to buy one with the 5.8L.

No offense.....I was just poking a little fun at ya.

[Fulthrotl]

Originally Posted by jwintersteller

Ditto!



In an odd way I'm looking forward to being in your shoes Jeffrey,
I know that some day I will have to do those upgrades and I know that once I do, I'll never have to worry about all these 6.0 issues again. As long as I can find the right shop to do it.

John

i'm in huntington beach, and i've found two diesel shops that are a solid YES, one that
you should avoid, and one that you should roll up your windows and lock your doors
as you drive by quickly, not making eye contact.

naturally, that one is a mile from my house.... the owner drives past my tract
daily on his way to and from work to his house.

i've got training wheels on on this forum, and can't PM, so send me a PM if you want
the "kiss and tell" report on so calif, and who i'd trust with my money.

[JoeH]

Originally Posted by Fulthrotl

what part of the bpd oil cooler does not fit, the fitment of the cooler itself, or the
hoses, or the oil filter block? BPD just came out with the E series cooler a few
months ago, and i'd bet a cheeseburger that if you contacted them, they'd work
with you for a solution.

That's the word I got when I stood in their office in Mesa, AZ last February and talked at length with Andrew Presley. They were interested in having a 4x4 van for a couple of weeks to see what modifications were needed to implement the oil cooler system. Their existing E-series kit will not fit because of the 4x4 conversion and also the aftermarket bumpers block airflow.

As far as the issue with the heads, gaskets, or bolts the F-Series trucks have had far more problems with heads. The vans could potentially have head or gasket problems as well but as stated already and in numerous other threads here and on the diesel forums, head problems usually are associated with a failed egr cooler. That's the main weak spot with the 6.0 PSD. Nip it in the bud and use the coolant of your choice=non-issue.

Even though I live only 2 hours away from BPD HQ after doing more research I came to the conclusion that I don't need a $2000 external oil cooler. Now if I had a studded truck tuned for 500 HP then I might think different.

[Jeffrey]

Joe, I fully agree. A lot of the stuff BPD makes is for vehicles that do a lot of towing and strenuous work that generates more heat (our enemy), and for owners that just like power, reliability, and wrenching. Not saying that is bad, as those upgrades serve us all well. I could have surely made the right oil lines and found a good location for the external cooler, but my needs simply don't require it.

[Jeffrey]

TODAY'S UPDATE:

Visited the dealer today. Engine is on stand, only job left is the bedplate removal and replacement with new gasket/sealer. Not counting the engine reassembly and van reassembly.

Some pics:

Engine upside down. The upper section in this pic is the bedplate, which is actually an integral part of the block that contains the crankshaft. You can see where it will separate, and where the 'leaks' typically are.




Other pics of the engine bottom,ends, and crankshaft with most all the covers off it:







And, the front cover casting needs to be replaced because of that little radial scoring line in the well for the high pressure oil pump. You can barely see it between the dark oil inlets in the cavity. Fortunately, also a warranty repair:

[macmcintire]

Oh, gory sight,
a dissected engine
dripping oil, lubricant and blood-red fluids.
An auto mechanic,
with greasy hands and socket wrenches,
healing Sportsmobiles.

[twogone]

There is something troubling about that upside down perspective


we're all rootin' for ya'

[Jeffrey]

Thanks for your support!

Yeah, it's a bit unsettling but now after a few weeks of becoming intimate with the innards, I feel OK knowing what is being done and anticipating a good outcome. Being quite mechanically inclined (a machinist, mechanical design engineer and owner of a high tech manufacturing company), I find this truly fascinating and admire the work that went into designing and building this powerplant. While nothing is perfect, I'll be a bit closer to it soon.

[BIGVANS]

Well put!