Learn me: reman engines

While the ex-GRM E250 is still doing awesome, it does have over 270,000 miles on it & uses a little bit of oil. So I want to plan for the future & have a new engine ready to swap in before this one suffers any serious failures. 
 

It looks like Ford doesn't have any new crate 4.6 2v engines, which would be my first choice. So I guess I'm looking for a reman engine. I definitely do not want a junkyard/used engine. I'll be paying a shop to install it & plan on getting at least another couple hundred thousand miles out of the van. 
 

I did some searching today & I see Jasper offers them, but you apparently have to call to get a price. I also found a bunch of other companies I've never heard of that showed them available. 
 

1. Does anyone know of a new OE Ford 4.6 2v available anywhere?
2. If not, are Jasper engines still considered good?
3. Are there any other remanufacturers I should check out?

In reply to Pete Gossett (Forum Supporter) :

What about the transmission? It's got the same miles on it?  And then there is the whole accessories package, alternator, starter, A/C compressor, power sterering pump,  sensors and etc. 

    Plus  suspension pieces and wiring etc etc etc. 

Total everything up and how far from new are you?    If you're at 250,000 and have changed oil regularly every 3,000 miles etc. I'd just start putting money away so that when it does go Ca-Bang you can walk in and get a new one.  In all likelihood that's more than 150,000 miles from now. 
 But that's just how I approach things. 

A reman engine can be anywhere from crap to better than OEM.

I can't afford Jasper's prices, but I have toured their facilities.  Top notch facilities, but haven't used their engines.  If anyone can get you a good reman, it's Jasper.  We did install some Jasper remans in customer vehicles and none of them came back for any issues except maybe something we did, like didn't properly tighten a radiator hose and it leaked.

I won't buy a new motor ever again.  First, they are not the same as the engine that came in your van.  The assembly line for production engines is a multi-billion dollar line with super top-notch equipment, and staffed with people who do nothing but assemble engines all day every day.  The pneumatic head torquing wrench in that tech's hands probably cost somewhere north of $40,000 and has more software and hardware controlling it than Amazon.  (ok, not really, but a lot)   As for the new ones on the parts shelf, some of the engine parts are shipped to a separate assembly line where some people put a few engines together.  So even if you bought a brand new engine from Ford, it's not the same as the OEM engine that came in it, and I would argue that it is no better than a good reman.

In all my years of building engines and buying remans, I've had one bad reman.  It was a BBC from Blueprint.  I hear that Blueprint has a good rep, but this one was egregiously awful... as in it lasted for 100 miles before it completely imploded, then they refused to honor the warranty.  It was stuffed full of mismatched parts, including about 6 non-hardened pushrods from a Mopar application that got lathed down in the guideplates, lifters that were re-used and full of coked oil, one head that had been milled so far that the intake never seated or sealed properly sending water into the lifter valley, and an aluminum dowel pin in the distributor gear that sheared off.  It was just comically bad.

IMO, if you really want the best option... buy a low-mileage used engine.  Tons of them out there.  Sure, it may have 50k on it, but it will be an OEM-assembled piece and it will cost a tiny fraction of buying a new engine that may not be assembled with the same care as one from the production line.  I know you said it would be your last choice, but it would actually be my first choice.  Best possible assembly, fraction of the price, and you'll still get 3/4 or more of its lifespan.

Just found 6 on car-part.com with around 60k miles for anywhere from $700 to $1200.  Found plenty of remans for $2000-2750.  Reman from Ford is $4000.  I can't imagine a $3000+ premium to get an additional 60k miles worth of engine, even assuming they're all built the same.

I'm also always thinking about bottom line... meaning resale value.  You have a 270k van which will have 500k when you're done.  I'm just thinking you could buy another 150k miles for $1000, or an additional 200k miles for $4000

In reply to frenchyd :

The trans & rear end will also be on the list. The suspension & steering were completely gone through by Tom before I bought it. I know Tom gave me receipts for other repairs too. The front brakes, serpentine belt & pulleys, fuel pump & filter are new since I've owned it. 

This van is a keeper. 

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Thanks for the insight on Jasper & Ford replacement engines vs. the ones in their vehicles. 

My problem with used engines - especially since I won't be the one pulling it - is that I really don't have a good way to judge how the vehicle was maintained & treated. That can be way more important than the miles. Especially considering most 4.6 2v's were probably in cargo vans like mine, and they're often not cared for very well. 

While that is true and always a concern, you can tell a lot about an engine by pulling valve covers, testing compression, and running it to test oil pressure.  The main concerns are with lube/changes.  There is nothing to worry about with coolant in a 60k engine as it's not even due for a change until 100k.  Not much else to really worry about.  If they ran crap gas in it, you're leaving the filter with the donor, and injectors are easy to get to.  Water pump probably has another 100k on it.

I think they would basically have to have never changed the oil for it to be an issue, and you'll see that instantly when you pull a valve cover.

The LQ9 I yanked for a project had 60k on it.  I didn't even pull a rod or main bearing to check it.  I slapped on monster CNC ported heads and stabbed a 243-duration cam in it.  I'll be making somewhere north of 550 hp and I won't lose any sleep over it.

What I might do is start burning up phones and googles.  I know that somewhere out there in the world is an E250 that got T-boned at 10k miles, or an F150 that had a tree fall on it.  LKQ might be a good source.  They have a huge network, and their job is to find what you need.  Copart might help, although anything they have like that probably sold 10 years ago.  They turn over pretty fast.  car-part.com is a good source.

But, again... that's just what I would do.  Keep in mind that I'm a cheap bastard.

If you're looking for trans and rear end as well, I'd be looking for a full van or truck to strip down.

I mean....if you are gonna swap engines.....

Mmmmm displacement....

2 cents worth of second (or third) hand info . . . do some research on Jasper I've heard kinda meh to yuck on them. 

In reply to logdog (Forum Supporter) :

This is the level of enablement I have come to expect from this board.   I regret I have only one up vote to give. 

In reply to logdog (Forum Supporter) :

I mean, don't think I didn't click the link while I was on Ford's site earlier...

In reply to L5wolvesf :

Thanks, that's the type of feedback I'm looking for. 

I wouldn't worry about the rear end.  It's likely a 10.25" which was used in millions of trucks and vans.  Just repair as needed.  Pinion bearing will start whining soon so just do a bearing kit.  Otherwise, they're bulletproof.

Trans I would treat the same way.  You'll get a flare and late 1-2 shift which is the accumulator spring that likes to weaken.  You'll get a hard shift into third which is a stuck piston in the valve body.  Both of those are fixed with a new valve body.  Once you get slipping, it's time for a rebuild.  Transmissions are one of those things that if it ain't broke....

But it's also one of those things that when you first sense that it's broke, fix it ASAP.  A small issue like a valve or solenoid is $200 now or $5000 later after it has damaged all the things that it controls.

Out of the box idea....

What about finding a local performance shop and have them build you one?  They could apply the same things they would for a performance motor like upgraded studs, balancing, blueprinting, etc. but do a stock build.
I assume it would have a little more care put into it than a business that just pumps out rebuilds and to Curtis's point above, maybe better than a factory crate. 
Plus, you could get updates or drop by to check on progress so you know exactly what's done without a big time investment. And, since it's not an immediate need, give them room to breathe to do it carefully. Heck, they could probably do the install when the time comes. 

One downside is you're probably committing to replacing it when they're done as opposed to when it finally pops, but it sounds like you might almost be there anyway.

-Rob

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Thanks for the trans info! 

I want to get an electric locker for the rear anyway, so at that point I figure I have the whole axle rebuilt. 

In reply to rob_lewis :

I'd be really surprised if anyplace around here has much 4.6 experience. Most of the Mustangs at the local strip are LS swapped. 

Until recently, I worked in the auto parts world (selling parts to the shops who repaired the vehicles).  

A reman engine is definitely a case where you want to *consider* having your shop (you said you were going to have a shop install it) source the engine from their trusted supplier.

The reason for this is that they (should) know what to do to ensure the warranty stays in tact.  If something goes wrong with the engine...the shop handles it.  They diagnose it.  They deal with the reman company. They have dealt with the supplier before and have confidence in them.  If there's a problem with a part the shop purchased, sold to you, and installed...The shop will make it right (and you shouldn't see any additional expense).

If your shop doesn't have a supplier they have confidence in...there are plenty of shops out there that do.

The alternative is this.  You buy an engine from a company you have no experience with (meaning you don't know their quality and you don't have a history with them) and pay someone else to install it.  If there's a problem with the engine, the shop is going to have ZERO ownership of any problem.  "You brought us the part, we put it on.  If you bring us another part, we'll be happy to put it on again for book time at $100/hour."    When you (the vehicle owner) try to talk to the engine company about warranty issues, you're an outlier.  Not saying they won't work with you...but it's definitely not going to be an easy process (not as easy as if the shop bought the engine).

I'll echo what Clem said.  It's a strange dynamic, but very true.  Even with my close relationship with the suppliers for our shop, if I have to warranty a part, the receipt for the part had to be attached to the RO for the job.

Our warranty exists because we made profit on the whole job.  We made a small profit on the part and on the labor.  If you bring us the part and have us replace it, we have no profit to cover our butts if the part fails.  Hence no warranty.

Good point on the warranty. I'm going to ask him about it the next time I'm there, but wanted to go in pre-educated by all of you.