Have you noticed a loss in fuel economy? Are you consuming a lot of oil? Is there coolant in your crankcase? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to evaluate your engine to see the extent of the damage. It might be time for an engine rebuild kit.
While rebuild kits can be expensive and shopping for one might seem an overwhelming task, they are vital to extending the life of your engine. A rebuild kit allows you to replace many of the components in the engine to fix any issues that might arise, from leaks throughout the engine to large-scale failure. The type of kit you need will depend both on the type of engine you have and the amount of damage sustained. Here at HHP we’re ready to help make the rebuild kit buying process easier and to find the right kit for you! We offer a wide variety of kits—click here to take a look.
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There are a large number of things that could make it necessary for you to rebuild your engine. Here a just a few things that might be causing you problems a rebuild kit could fix:
An engine rebuild kit is one of the biggest purchases you can make for your engine, and there are some things you want to think about as you move toward your purchase.
First, it’s important to make sure you’re getting a kit that’s right for your engine. Different engine models have different needs, so be sure you’re getting a kit whose parts are compatible with your particular engine. Having your engine serial number handy as you shop can help to ensure you’re purchasing the right kit for the job.
It’s also good to understand that there are different types of rebuild kits at different price points, and you’ll want to make sure you’re purchasing the right type of kit to help with whatever damage your engine has incurred. We offer three main levels of rebuild kits:
A re-ring kit is the most basic level rebuild kit. It assumes that your pistons are still in good shape and reusable. It comes with a new head gasket set, a pan gasket set, a new set of liners, a new set of rings, and new main thrust bearings.
The next level of kit is the inframe rebuild kit. You would want this type of kit when there’s obvious piston damage, or your pistons just aren’t in good enough shape to reuse. It comes with everything from the re-ring kit, but also usually includes an upper engine gasket set and piston crowns and skirts or pistons, depending on the type of engine.
The most involved kit is the out-of-frame rebuild kit. This is typically required when you’ve experienced a catastrophic engine failure that calls for the removal of the crank or an engine block change. You might also want this type of kit if you’re just looking to reseal all the leaks in your engine. An out-of-frame kit comes with everything from the inframe kit, but also comes with the additional gaskets needed for you to get the job done.
A lot of people think that when it comes to something as expensive and important as a rebuild kit, buying OEM is the only real option. Aftermarket kits have gotten a bad rep for having cheaply made, low quality parts—something that may be true for some aftermarket brands, but not HHP. You just have to be careful where you buy from, and that includes the OEM. There are some things about OEM kits you may not realize.
Ever wondered why your OEM rebuild kit has a core charge? It’s because that OEM rebuild kit has used parts in it. Replacing worn out parts with used parts doesn’t make sense to us, which is why all the rebuild kits at Highway and Heavy Parts include brand new, never used parts with zero core charges. To top it off, the components of the rebuild kits at Highway and Heavy Parts come from the same manufacturers as the OEM. Simply stated, it’s the same kit (minus the used parts), in a different box.
There’s no doubt about it, OEMs are more expensive than aftermarket parts, often for no other reason than their “name brand” status and reputation. Highway and Heavy Parts is proud to offer quality aftermarket engine parts at 30%-50% below OEM prices.
While they may be great at stocking parts for their newer engine models, you can run into difficulties if you need parts for an older engine. You might have to wait a while to get the parts you need, if they still carry them at all. With a quality aftermarket provider, you can get the exact parts to fit your engine quickly. The majority of HHP parts are delivered in two days or less to most areas.
You might even think that with an OEM comes a guarantee of quality—but they often don’t back that up with a matching warranty. The standard OEM warranty is usually between 6 months and a year. But wouldn’t it be nice to get the same or better quality parts with a longer warranty for less money? The majority of Highway and Heavy Parts rebuild kits include a 2-year warranty—that’s double what the OEM offers! This way, not only are you getting the best quality parts, you can also rest easy knowing that if something were to go wrong, we’ve got you covered!
When you’re doing an engine rebuild, you want new parts in your engine, right? We agree, but OEMs don’t always feel the same way. Often, they will market the cylinder kits as pre-assembled to save time during the rebuild, but that can hide the fact that they might be including used parts. It’s harder to identify them if they’re already assembled. Pretty sneaky, huh?
Even more than that, many mechanics prefer to assemble their own to make sure it’s done correctly, rather than just trusting the manufacturer to do it for them. With a kit from HHP, know that you’re getting all new, never used parts that will meet your exacting specifications (they meet or exceed the OEMs!).There’s also no core charge, where an OEM would charge you for cores and then give you used parts.
Believe it or not, the OEM doesn’t always manufacturer their own parts. They’ll use a third-party company to make the parts, and oftentimes these same companies supply the aftermarket sellers as well. It’s the exact same product, just without the OEM label on it, or the OEM price. And even when aftermarket suppliers use different manufacturers, it’s often because they are an even better quality part.
So don’t just trust that the OEM has your best interest at heart, choose an aftermarket parts supplier you can trust. Chances are, you’ll find that a quality aftermarket supplier like HHP can get you superior parts for lower prices after all.
If you’re noticing a loss of fuel economy, loss of power, excessive oil consumption, coolant in your crankcase, or even catastrophic engine failure, it might be a good time to talk to your mechanic about an engine rebuild. They might be able to help you with the following questions:
As always, our certified techs would be happy to help you through any questions you might have. Feel free to give us a call at 844-304-.
Click here to download a PDF of this buying guide.
Listed below are a few of our best-selling rebuild kits, or you can visit our product page to take a look at our other kits.
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About This Rebuild Kit
It only makes sense that you’d want to rebuild your engine with new parts. With this kit, that’s what you’ll get—all new parts, zero core charge, and a 2-year warranty. The lightweight, high-strength, forged steel pistons give you lower emissions and soot saturation prevention. Not only that, but they have a longer life than your traditional piston. Combine that with oil control rings with precise tangential tension and you have a kit that will keep you going for another million miles.
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About This Rebuild Kit
We know what you want for your engine—all new parts, no core charges, and a 2-year warranty. That’s that you get with this rebuild kit. Featuring a patented top liner cooling design for decreased heat retention and a coated Top Fire Ring for longevity, you know these parts are made to last. You’ll also be reducing oil consumption and blow-by with the included rectangular groove compression ring. This rebuild kit means business!
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About This Rebuild Kit
Have you dreamt of a smooth ride? This kit can help! Its Ferroheme pistons, a hybrid with an aluminum skirt and steel crown are designed for a smooth ride and a balanced engine. Know your piston pin and crown are made to last with a profiled bore design. And with a piston crown designed to withstand pressure of more than 2,150 PSI, you can rest assured that these parts can take whatever’s thrown at them.
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About This Rebuild Kit
We know you want the best quality parts for your engine. That’s what makes this rebuild kit so great. Built to OEM specifications with state of the art CNC machines and intense quality control, every part in this kit is made to last. Each part in this kit is brand new, and you’ll save up to 50% off the OEM prices. That’s quality at every turn.
The -to-current Ford Super Duty ¾- and 1-ton truck lineup are some of the bestselling fullsize trucks in America. One of the biggest draws of the heavy-duty trucks is the optional Power Stroke diesel engine. From the venerable 7.3L to the problematic 6.0L, with the compound turbo 6.4L in between, and the current high-tech 6.7L, millions of Ford trucks have worn the Power Stroke badge over the last 22 years.
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During that time frame, the Super Duty platform was introduced and effectively dominated the towing segment for more than a decade. With a huge percentage of Ford truck owners towing on a regular basis, it’s easy to see why these trucks are so popular with America’s working class.
If you’re in the market for a used Power Stroke, we’ll help explain the pros and cons of each generation:
Debuting in mid ’94, the early bird 7.3L Power Stroke powered Fords are based on the same basic line of trucks produced for nearly two decades (’80-‘97). They’re known for their reliability, simplicity, ruggedness, and thanks to large sales volumes, vast parts availability. The 7.3L’s direct injection stup combined with its HEUI injection system, definitely makes it one of the more audible diesel engines to ever grace the pickup segment.
But, it’s a day-in, day-out reliable workhorse that can last well beyond 400,000 miles if properly maintained. Rust issues due to a lack of factory undercoating protection, sporadic camshaft position sensor failure, and a wear-prone TTB Dana 50 (F-250 4x4 models only) are the only notable cosmetic and mechanical shortcomings associated with these trucks.
Engine: 7.3L Power Stroke V-8 with HEUI injection system
Transmission(s): E4OD 4-speed automatic, ZF-5 5-speed manual
Best Year(s): ’97 due to a meatier block (thicker walls in the valley area), F-350 4x4 model to get the solid front axle (Dana 60)
Price Range: $3,500 to $18,000
This platform, along with a revamped version of the 7.3L Power Stroke, effectively ignited the payload and horsepower numbers war that’s still raging in Detroit. The Super Duty line of trucks were built separately from the 8,500-pound GVW and under lineup (namely the F-150), and were geared toward the commercial use market. The result was a truck that set the industry standard for the modern heavy-duty diesel pickup. With more than 1.7 million 7.3L Power Strokes produced, replacement part availability remains high and they can still be readily found in western and southern regions.
However, rust-free, straight-bodied versions carry a hefty premium, so it’s important to keep that in mind when searching for a first generation Super Duty.
Engine: 7.3L Power Stroke V-8 with HEUI injection system
Transmission(s): 4R100 4-speed automatic, ZF-6 6-speed manual
Best Year(s): ’99½ (late ‘99) to ’00 F-250 or F-350 due to these engines having forged steel connecting rods, the later style turbocharger (with 3-inch piping), and higher volume high-pressure oil pump
Price Range: $7,000 to $22,000
The U.S. marketplace has a unique way of setting the price of goods. Case in point, while most diesel GM and Dodge trucks from the ’03-’07 era are desirable due to their lack of emissions-related components, a 6.0L powered Super Duty can typically be had for $10,000 less. However, by the time the engine’s head gasket, EGR, oil cooler, turbo, and injection system issues are addressed, that 10-grand saved at the time of purchase is in fact needed.
With that said, thanks to a variable geometry turbo, higher pressure HEUI injection system, and a well-matched 5R110 automatic, the 6.0L Power Stroke is light-years ahead of the 7.3L it replaced in terms of drivability and out-of-the-box giddy up. You just have to know what you’re getting yourself into (financially) with this generation Super Duty.
Engine: 6.0L Power Stroke V-8 with HEUI injection system
Transmission(s): 5R110 5-speed automatic, ZF-6 6-speed manual
Best Year(s): ’06-’07 later models, as some of (not all) mechanical engine issues were ironed out
Price Range: $8,000 to $22,000
If you’re looking for the best example of how to make big plug-and-play horsepower, look no further than the 6.4L Power Stroke. With a programmer and free-flowing exhaust the ’08-’10 trucks can produce 550 to 600 horsepower at the wheels and still tow just about anything you need them to. These trucks continue the Super Duty platform’s tradition of above average towing and hauling manners as well.
However, as they begin to age, shops have determined that most of them won’t last hundreds of thousands of miles without requiring major repair(s). Failed injectors, high-pressure fuel pumps, and cracked pistons are all becoming more and more common before, near, or just past the 200,000-mile mark.
Engine: 6.4L Power Stroke V-8 with Siemens common-rail injection system
Transmission(s): 5R110 5-speed automatic, ZF-6 6-speed manual
Best Year(s): Any year but with lower miles and detailed service records (lack of maintenance can wreck the common-rail system)
Price Range: $12,000 to $32,000
Pros:
Cons:
The ’11-’16 trucks represent the most capable Super Duty’s ever assembled. Their tremendous ability to lug gives them a low-end torque feel reminiscent of a Cummins, and the combination of a quick-spooling variable geometry turbocharger, standard exhaust brake, and integrated trailer brake controller makes for a very smooth and uneventful towing experience. The 6.7L Power Stroke is built in-house by Ford Motor Company and in conjunction with a Bosch common-rail injection system (and piezoelectric injectors) is the most powerful yet quietest Power Stroke ever produced.
Turbo failure is common on ’11-’14 trucks, and EGR problems can surface around the time the factory powertrain warranty ends, but other than that the 6.7L has earned a reputation for stellar reliability so far.
Engine: 6.7L Power Stroke V-8 with Bosch common-rail injection system
Transmission(s): 6R140 6-speed automatic
Best Year(s): ’15 or newer due to an updated turbocharger and 440hp, 860 lb-ft offered from the factory
Price Range: $25,000 to $70,000
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