Blown engine. How did this happen?! I'm sad...

[04allstock]

I got a mechanic telling me I need a new motor. "Deep rod bearing" were his exact words. He said a rebuild isn't an option because there's no good machine shops, or something...

Somehow I ran it dry just about a month before my oil change. I noticed a clicking sound coming from the motor and then noticed my oil pressure gauge was on zero and immediately pulled over and called someone to bring me oil. I drove it home and looked for a leak. It's completely dry underneath. No spots on the driveway. Mechanic said no leaks found. He said it gets hot here and the oil just vaporizes. This is some bull. So for the last 18 years the oil stayed in the motor, but now it just turns 3 qts into vapor? I don't understand. Only thing I can think is I used a new oil on my last oil change. I put amsoil in it because my damned shade tree mechanic neighbor insisted it was the best. DANG IT!

What did I do wrong? Just lay it on me, I can take it.

Also, any ideas? Where do I get a new engine? Is my mechanic correct about a rebuild not being possible?

[RacerX]

Oil doesn’t just vaporize. If there’s no leaks, it’s likely getting into the cylinders and burning up. Bearings are replaceable/disposable parts. The hard/expensive part is pulling the engine, finding out where all the oil went, if everything else is solid, light hone, new rod and engine bearings and rings. Lookup engine rebuild, block honing in your area. Others will pop in here with ideas too.

[04allstock]

Thank you RacerX. Why would the shop tell me they can't rebuild it?

[crouse]

How many miles on your car? What interval do you change oil? When was the date and mileage of your last oil change?

I'm extremely hard on my Marauder and I check my oil a lot. I sometimes have to add a half quart after a hard weekend of Auto-X events. I have 130K on the clock though.

[04allstock]

I think I'm around 160k. I change the oil once a year. I just changed it last week, but that was a bit early. I typically change the oils in my cars in the fall once it cools off a bit. The clicking sound was minor at first, and I thought it might be fixed with some new oil, but the sound got much worse after the oil change.

[crouse]

How many mile per month/year do you put on your Marauder? I'm not a fan of these 10,000 and 15,000 mile oils. My dad always told me 3000 miles or three months which ever comes first. Oil changes are cheap.

[RubberCtyRauder]

If you can live without the car for quite a while. Send it to Dallas,GA..MO's Speed Shop..Marty Ochs. He doesn't frequent here, but is the go to shop for Marauder. They know them inside and out. Mine has been there twice and I'm 680 miles away.

[04allstock]

I was wrong. It's got 138k on it now. So that means I've put about 13k/yr on it. I probably should change the oil more often, huh?

[04allstock]

Rubber, thanks for the tip. I just left a message for Marty. Hopefully he'll call me back soon.

[SilverPhoenix]

I was wrong. It's got 138k on it now. So that means I've put about 13k/yr on it. I probably should change the oil more often, huh?

So, you've averaged 13k a year and now have 138k..that's approx 10 years of driving on an 18 year old car...did it sit for 8 years? Since the owners manual recommends oil changes every 5k miles, yeah, you should have changed it more often. Wonder what the transmission fluid looks like...

I lived in Asheville from 2012 until 2019 and only once did see another Marauder (a SB like mine) when driving around; it was on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The owner came back to his car while I was looking at it and I told him about this website...this was in 2013, I think. There was a Marauder owner in the Burnsville area, but I never met or ran into him.

I took my Marauder to Curtis Hi-Tech on the east side of town whenever I needed something done...it's right across the street from the VA hospital; that's the area I lived in when there (off Riceville Rd). If they can't work on it, they should know someone reputable who can...they pointed me in the right direction when I wanted to do the 3.55/4.10 gear swap.

[RubberCtyRauder]

Rubber, thanks for the tip. I just left a message for Marty. Hopefully he'll call me back soon.

If you need his shop number or cell, message me. He does not really come here any longer.

[04allstock]

Silver, I bought it used with very low miles in 2015 or 16. I put 90k on it since then, so yeah pretty much. I actually decided to change the trans fluid shortly after I got it after reading some stuff on here. Not sure I needed to though.

I tried going to xpertech right up the road from there but they were always way too busy with long turnaround times. I ended up settling on Pates on Leicester closer to where I lived. They were usually pretty good, but I never needed anything major. The Marauder you saw on the parkway, was the owner on crutches?

I'm actually living South of Austin now, so if anyone knows a good place around here, lmk. Right now, my car is at Master-Tech in Kyle. Haven't used them much, but their shop is clean and they seem nice. They're looking for a replacement engine right now. I'm still hoping there's a better solution than a damned heart transplant. Idunno, maybe I'm just in The Nile.

[04allstock]

Rubber, I think I was able to find it by searching. Thank you, though.

[04allstock]

So I just got back from the shop. They gave me an estimate of about 8 grand including crate engine, new oil cooler and radiator and labor. This is getting ridiculous. Anyone got any better ideas?

[justbob]

Gotta love public forums. Now a good percentage of perspective buyers will know what not to buy.

13,000 miles? Really?

I did mine once or twice a year depending on mood and it only averaged 900 a year.

About the cheapest thing you could have done and now you’re second guessing a shop? You should be thankful it got you this far.


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[04allstock]

Actually I was wrong again. I found my title, I bought it in 2014, so about 11k a year. Still not good, I know... I f*ed up, what can I say? Good news is, it won't happen again :)!

[Lil Fishie]

lighten up Francis

[massacre]

If i had to spend $8k on a 4.6, i'd spend the extra $$$ and go with a coyote. I'm interested in how the rod bearing diagnosis was done, was the engine removed?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Where is he getting a crate 4.6 DOHC at?. Jasper doesn't show any and it's not a motor that is made into a crate unless building a race or high hp motor. You are looking at $6-7k to rebuild what you have at min.

[04allstock]

They did not remove the engine. Maybe just used a screw driver? They seem confident its in the low end, but it doesnt sound like the low end to me.

The price tag keeps increasing as a crate is becoming less and less likely. Im looking at close to 10 Gs with shipping, now.

[justbob]

LS swap. Done.


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[massacre]

LS swap. Done.


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Def cheaper than Coyote lol

[Lowndex]

If you can live without the car for quite a while. Send it to Dallas,GA..MO's Speed Shop..Marty Ochs. He doesn't frequent here, but is the go to shop for Marauder. They know them inside and out. Mine has been there twice and I'm 680 miles away.

I sent my baby to MOs from California. Best decision in my adult life!

[offroadkarter]

How many miles are on your car? (Edit: just saw on page 1 you're around 160k) Unless its some low mile mint show piece (which I kind of doubt), just find an aviator or mach 1 automatic motor and plunk it in there. I bought a 137k mile 03A on this site with a blown motor (spun rod bearing from blowing 4 quarts of oil out the dipstick tube due to an improperly installed lokar dipstick), dropped in a 130k mile 03 Aviator engine I bought from a JY on ebay for 1800 bucks, did the swaparoo and drove that car to 183k miles before selling it to another member on here. Its still on the road with over 190k on it now.

I actually do have a friend in PA with a Marauder engine he's looking to sell cheap if you're willing to trek up here and pick up.

[Peace2Peep]

Because of Marty's proficiency with these cars, it is still in your best interest to ship her up there. We have other friends in the game (Chris Curless in Michigan) who is also a master in these regards, but it is a bit further from Austin than Dallas, GA.

[8UWITH6]

You have to check the oil on these engines frequently. My wife's 84K mile car uses around 2 quarts in 3000 miles, while my 190K mile junk yard Aviator engine car uses NONE. I would throw a bottle of Lucas or STP additive in it to see if it quiets down for fun (doubtful) and drive the SOB until it lets go. I would also start searching your local junk yard for 03-05 Aviators. Good luck, sorry to hear.

[Agent2006]

You never told us what grade of oil you were using and what the oil pressure is at hot idle if you have a real gauge.

At this point won't hurt to run 5w 30, or 10w 30 or rotella 15w 40 if you get low readings. start with 5w 30 and see if the noises die down....

[Dragcity]

I moved to 5/30 Motorcraft oil with Motorcraft oil filters, always. Changed 2,000 to 4,000 miles, not time dependent.

I am in the process of rebuilding mine. Teksid block is in the shop. Rotating assembly ordered. Trilogy going out to Steigemeir.

I blew mine up due to user error. I freely admit it. old fuel, happy day turned expensive! I broke two rods, bent four more and two looked nearly normal. One piston was in three pieces and made quite a mess. No useable parts on that engine from the deck to pan plug.

Anyway, I have the pistons, rods and crank out of that Teksid engine I got out of a 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII. They are available for sale if you need good internals, I am Going all forged in mine. The block needs only 0.010 over to clean up the ridge, so it was a good engine. Crank journals and bearing are not at all scored, mains and rods. Bearings are barely polished in few areas. I probably could have just dropped that engine in my Marauder and stuck my heads and supercharger on it and been good to go, on borrowed time.......

Let me know if you need some good, cheap, used parts for getting back on the road. The labor part really stinks. These things are not easy to work on. I am NOT looking forward to putting mine back together again, and trying to stuff it back in the car.

[Comin' in Hot]

How many miles are on your car? (Edit: just saw on page 1 you're around 160k) Unless its some low mile mint show piece (which I kind of doubt), just find an aviator or mach 1 automatic motor and plunk it in there. I bought a 137k mile 03A on this site with a blown motor (spun rod bearing from blowing 4 quarts of oil out the dipstick tube due to an improperly installed lokar dipstick), dropped in a 130k mile 03 Aviator engine I bought from a JY on ebay for 1800 bucks, did the swaparoo and drove that car to 183k miles before selling it to another member on here. Its still on the road with over 190k on it now.

I actually do have a friend in PA with a Marauder engine he's looking to sell cheap if you're willing to trek up here and pick up.

Am I that friend?