Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #25 – March 26, 2015, 12:44:46 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151803"we plan to sell the LD in a few weeks (about 100,000 miles). We have friends who want first dibs on it and will list it in April if for some reason they don't follow through. At this mileage, we found it necessary to replace most of the transmission so it works like new. For whatever reasons, it seems that the 450 V10 engine is good for about 100,000 miles or so and then needs a rebuild which costs about $3500 from a good Ford Truck Dealership."DavidI think you have the old Chevy 350 V8 mixed up with the Ford V10.Your observations about the Ford V10 seem to be way off the mark, with the majority of V10 equipped LDs exceeding the 100,000 mile point, still running fine.. Can't say I know of more than one or two V10s that have failed prematurely. With good care, 150,000 miles and beyond is very possible. I come from a fleet service background in the City of LA. LA had and still owns hundreds of V10 Ford equipped trucks. They have held up well in the worse type of service an engine could experience. The occasional pre-2004 spark plug blow out has been the V10's major problem. It's fixable and does not require a new engine to repair, heck I fixed one just a few weeks ago in a of couple hours. My LD has close to 90,000 miles and burns less oil now than when it was 50,000 miles younger and runs well. From a professional point of view, I see no reason to think it is anywhere ready to fail or need a rebuildNow, when shopping for older Chevy-based LDs, it is very common to find that the engine has been replaced, even in lower mileage rigs. The Chevy's marginal cooling system was one of the causes, along with a small engine being spun to death, with the older rigs not having a overdrive gear. This observation about replaced engines was formed twenty years ago when looking at ten year old LDs. Even then, many had replacement engines or heads, after burning up the original. Word to the wise, if you own a Chevy-based LD, make sure you have the best possible cooling system...flushed regularly, clean fins, a bigger radiator and transmission cooler, if necessary. Install a transmission temperature gauge to monitor the oil temp.Now about replacing one of these V10 beast. It is going to cost a lot more than $3500 to have a new motor installed. A remanufactured crate engine, from Ford has a MSRP of $4737. Now add labor.Larry
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #26 – March 26, 2015, 01:34:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151806Larry, Sorry to say that it is indeed a V10 Ford 450 engine. I made sure that we purchased one rather than a Chevy engine or V8.As for the engine...what can I say. I've heard that some fail at 60,000 miles. So...like life...not really predictable. One thing about the 1998 model and a few years on either side, there is a tiny oil reservoir for the auxilary brake. Unfortunately, most Ford service dealers are not even aware of this and fail to check it on routine inspections. As a result, we needed some expensive repairs about the 98,000 mile mark because of this oversight. It's running fine now, but we did plow an extra $6000 into the rig to bring it back to fitness.No complaints, however. It's been a wonderful motorhome for us.David
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #27 – March 26, 2015, 01:40:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151807Larry, One more extra comment. We received our quote for the rebuilt transmission last winter from Sanderson's Ford in Phoenix ($3500). In Oregon the quotes were running less than $3000.David
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #28 – March 26, 2015, 02:47:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151809"One thing about the 1998 model and a few years on either side, there is a tiny oil reservoir for the auxilary brake. Unfortunately, most Ford service dealers are not even aware of this and fail to check it on routine inspections. As a result, we needed some expensive repairs about the 98,000 mile mark because of this oversight." ----- It seems like a good time for a reminder of the existence of past discussions on the E450 "transmission-mounted" parking brake reservoir issue; according to Andy's "Changes by Year" list (http://www.andybaird.com/travels/LD-guide-web/changes.htm#2000), the parking brake was re-designed/re-located in the 2008 models.For earlier model years of the E450, look at:http://lazydazearticles.blogspot.com/search/label/Parking%20Brakeand also see:The "Techsnoz" message board and the "ParkBrake.pdf" in the Files section.A search of the LD message board will bring up many posts on the topic; Yahoo's search function is pretty crude, so finding relevant posts will take a while.Larry also posted several photos of the parking brake fill (on his Flickr site); maybe he will provide the link.And, yes, unfortunately, it's very true that the existence of the parking brake fill is unknown to most Ford techs.Joan
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #29 – March 26, 2015, 03:15:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151811Joan, the link to Larry's Flicker site is in your post above located under "For Earlier Model years of the E450" Thanks for the info here Joan as it was very informative as always..JO
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #30 – March 26, 2015, 03:27:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151812"Larry, One more extra comment. We received our quote for the rebuilt transmission last winter from Sanderson's Ford in Phoenix ($3500). In Oregon the quotes were running less than $3000. "DavidYou stated previously; "For whatever reasons, it seems that the 450 V10 engine is good for about 100,000 miles or so and then needs a rebuild which costs about $3500 from a good Ford Truck Dealership." So, are we now talking about the cost of transmissions, not engines? $3500 for a good quality rebuilt transmission, installed, is a normal price. A Factory remanufactured engine is going to cost twice as much, or more, when installed.There are always a few bad apples but for the most part, the V10 engine/4R100-5R110 transmission combination has been proven in commercial and RV usage to be very durable and dependable. It is certainly a significant improvement over the earlier Chevy 350 V8 and the Ford 460 V8, used in earlier LDs. In the 14 years I have been on this and other RV forums, there have not been very many engine failures reported. Transmissions have failed but that seems to be the exception. Use a transmission oil temp gauge (ScanGauge works well) and install a bigger oil cooler if concerned. Oil changes every 30,000 miles are a must. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157651573514141/showThe transmission-mounted parking brake used on E450s, between 1997 and 2004, has been problematic because no one checks its oil level. It isn't hard to do once you know where to look and what tools to use. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157627503762313/show Visually check the area above the brake, at engine oil changes, for signs of leakage (shown as dark line of oil thrown at the floor and coated in dust). I remove the fill plug and check the oil level every other oil change. If low, replace with transmission fluid. Do this maintenance and you will reduce the parking brake failure rate to near zero. BTW, I have found several parking brakes, on low mileage LDs, that were low on oil right from Ford. Check it!Larry
Re: Prices for older Lazy Daze's Reply #31 – March 27, 2015, 04:40:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 151859Hi David, what is the length of your LD? I think I may keep up with you, as it sounds promising. And as Larry pointed out, did you mean the transmission needed to be fixed and was done so under your watch? Or, does the engine also require replacement, which would need to be fixed by the buyer after purchase? I am confused as to whether you mixed up the price quote for the "engine rebuild" with "transmission rebuild".Thanks! Paul
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