Believe Motor Is Dead and needing 305 to 350 swap info

[Bunnerrabbit]

I have a 98 with a 305 5-Speed 4x4. It developed a tick yesterday and I put some seafoam in it and drove home and changed the OIL. After changing the oil it had a hard time starting but got it started and its squealed a little. It was like someone was inside tapping the top of the motor with a hammer. I hit the gas a little and it tapped a few times real quick and shut off. Motor will not turn over any longer. Does have 235k miles. Where do I go from here? I am going to go check out the pick and pull today as I am trying to consider all options. What issues am I going to have being a 305, 5 speed, 4x4? My truck is in fair shape looks OK driving by kinda truck. ex cab with minimal rust.

 

[thz71]

Your gona need an engine throw in a 350 and be on your way

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Well, Motor turned over but not much something is binding or something. what would happen if the hydrolic lifters go bad? what are some things I need to do to determine if motor is afford ably fixable or junk? pull plugs? pull intake and covers? Id love to go with a 350 but if I can get it going cheaper i have to go that route. Went back to school minimal income kinda deal

 

[Parentnoia]

Sounds like what happened in my Escort. Seized up from lack of oil. I just scrapped it and moved on with my life.

 

[woody31]

your description leads me to think the 305 is toast,, you could pull it apart,,see if yuou can find a issue that sticks out,,but in the end the motor will most likely have to come out,,based on your budget,,or lack thereof,,if it was mine,,305s are cheap,,is a direct replacement,,you wont have to upgrade your ecm or injectors ect,,put in a junkyard 305,,and save up for a 350 swap later down the road,,just my 2 cents,,

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Went and messed with it and I got it to turn over and start. It still sounds like it coming from the top but not all that positive. It is squealing also at times. I let it idle to normal temp and issues never changed. I cant see how the squealing could be lifters. Whats a bad bearing sound like?

 

[sewlow]

Checked the oil? Look normal or like a choco milkshake? I'm betting on intake manifold gaskets.

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Oil is fine, In fact it idled fine warming up. Changed Intake Gasket about 6 months ago.

 

[great white]

Pull your accessory drive belt and see if the noise/squealing/knocking is still there.

Squealing, ticking, hammering are not noises normally associated with each other.

Pulling the accessory drive belt and running it for 60 seconds or so will at least tell you if it is an engine problem or one of the driven components. That would be consistent with a "squealing" noise.

What is your oil pressure like?

the dash gauge is a poor indicator, but it will at least give a ballpark idea.

If it is low at idle, does it come up with RPM?

Knocking noises can be rod bearings (terminal) and sometimes piston slap (annoying, not immediately terminal, but will be eventually). Main bearings usually don't "knock", the oil pressure usually goes before it gets so bad to knock.

What is the exhaust like?

IE: black, white, blue, clear etc.

Pull the trouble codes from the ECM.

Listen around to try and localize the noise. Up in the cylinder heads, down in the block, left, right front back.

You can use a VERY long screwdriver and touch it to the base of your skull below the ear and touch it around the engine. It will sound louder where the noise is coming from. basically, you're making a "mechanics stethoscope". Make sure you absolutely have no loose clothing while doing this and stay away from any rotating components.

These are all no cost troubleshooting things that will get you at least int he right ballpark.

Based on your current description, there is not enough information to say more than you have a knock/squeal noise somewhere.

Having it lock up and not want to turn is a very bad sign though....

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Pulled belt same noise, The squeal is intermediate. Its no longer a tick more a knock id be scared to drive it at this point. Temp and Oil pressure seemed the same at normal start up. High if anything. It seems to be running as normal but something moving around inside motor.