need some advice on an 04

[Todd T]

My buddy is looking at an 04 6spd 4wd mileage I'm not sure of. the dealer near him bought this truck and on the way from the auction the oil drain plug fell out. they ran it without oil and the motor is now shot. They have made no attempt to even fill it back up and see if it will run again. they didnt run it until i locked up they took it to thier lot and was investigating and it wouldnt restart.



He can buy this thing for $8500 as is. What would be the worse case to get a junk yard motor cost wise (ill install it) and then what do you think it would cost to rebuild the engine thats in it parts wise?

 

[KBennett]

I have seen motors on Ebay from $4-8K

Here is a used motor in Canada that is currently going for 5K OBO: Cummins on Ebay

The price seems fair and if he is interested in more power there are companies that could go through the motor he has with some upgrades.

 

[jelag]

There is no way to tell what kind of damage was done..... However if the engine cranks over and won't start..... there is at least a second fault... .



1 - lack of oil will cause damage to the bearing surfaces of the crank, rods, camshaft, and other moving parts... . but has nothing to do with it starting, unless there is a no oil pressure control that won't let it start if no oil pressure is seen... .



2 - usually what happens is that when someone drives it out of oil, the engine will seize and moving parts weld together... ... and it can't crank... . I've seen some engines that you have to take it apart with a cutting torch to seperate the parts...

 

[Todd T]

I'm aware of what has happened to engine I am trying to determine the cheaper route to fixing it. New engine or rebuild?



he went ahead and bought the truck for $9500 as is. anyone know where we can get a bone yard or take out for a good price?

 

[TCDiesel]

He will need corresponding parts and component's, Auto, sentry Key,Etc,Or new ECM and Dealer Flash,on the replacement if he goes that way.

 

[Todd T]

thanks Twest all good points. I have a friend that's a diesel tech for a local Dodge dealer so I can get a out the back door reflash and sentry's programmed if needed.



I've found 8 engines so far the best being an 05 HO (same as the truck he bought) with 32K on it for $3600 up in Michigan. I think I will pull the engine and dismantle it first and have a look at what's damaged before deciding to swap or rebuild it. If he decides to swap it I'm going to buy the core from him and rebuild it for myself.

 

[Not_Agn]

Precision automotive diesel in Rockford did my rotating assembly. Honed, bearings, decked the block, rings, and assembled( short block ) with complete gaskets was just over $2200. There number is 815-874-7979, or Precisionautomotivediesel.com. Lee.

 

[Todd T]

duely noted Lee. Right now we have a complete '05 engine minus ECM and turbo on its way from Michigan (not sure of the name of the place) for $2700 which has 34K on it and they gave him a 6 mo warranty.



Plus no core charge and I'm getting his take out for my time and use of my shop. Now I really hope its not harmed and can be put together again cheap.

 

[Todd T]

UPDATE: I got the truck home last night and on initial inspection it appears the truck huffed a turbo. It has a brand new turbo on it with not a speck of dirt on it. I pulled the pan and things look fine from below so I tried barring the engine over and it has a catch in it. I'm going to pull the head and see if there is maybe some debris that has worked its way into a cylinder that is keeping the engine from turning over.



At this point we were counting on an engine swap anyway so if I can just pull the head, maybe replace a piston or better yet just clear the obsticle my buddy will be dollars ahead. It might be a valve hung open or a chunk of whatever wedged on the top of a piston. At any rate, the idiots didnt even bother to flush the intake track and more than likely more debris and oil would come pooring in the first time it fired anyway. So I have that to do too. He's lucky I found a sale on 134 at Sams too.



I'll pull the head tonight and let ya'll know what we find.

 

[jwilliams3]

Theres a new on crate 325hp motor on ebay for 6:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...tegoryZ33615QQihZ006QQitemZ160032728486QQrdZ1

 

[Todd T]

yes, I've seen those but 6K is a little steep. we've got a line on the $2700 one I mentioned but at this point I told him to hold off on buying it. If needed I'll pull this engine and rebuild it. We were told it was "locked up" its far from locked, it just has something hanging it up. locked up to me is run without oil and parts welded together. I can bar it over with a 1/2' ratchet on the alternator.



worse case as of now would be a sleeve or two and some pistons along with the regular master rebuild kit and machine work on block and head. 2k should cover that.

 

[jwilliams3]

Its probably really not even hung up. Its more likely the 6 speed transmission that hangs up when you are trying to turn it over.

 

[KBennett]

Todd, what's the diagnosis?