Asheville long block

canyonmann · Dec 26, 2025

I have a ashville long block coming. Its looking like this motor with labor is going to be around 30,000$. Thats crazy! Wondering what route to take for the oil cooler? I'm replacing everything on this motor,FICM, turbo etc. the parts are so costly I'm looking to save anywhere I can. Hate to spend the 2700$ on the bullet proof remote oil cooler. Some say youll be fine with the ford OEM. If I USE OEM is there a way to get the external oil ,cooler without spending the 2700$ on the Bullet proof stuff. I plan to,use the radiator coolant bypass filter.

6.0 Tech · Dec 26, 2025

I any more do not recommend ford oil coolers. They changed a couple years back and blow dirty donkey balls anymore. Can’t tell you how many I’ve put in only to have worse splits than I did before I did the work. Ipr makes a remote cooler that uses a 6.7 oil cooler, I’ve never installed one, but dealt with a few trucks that have had them. Anymore, for the price, I think I’m gonna be throwing Dorman coolers in and using ford gaskets.

bismic · Dec 27, 2025

That is disappointing to hear of your OEM oil cooler experiences. Can you pinpoint an approximate date for the decline in quality/performance?

6.0 Tech · Dec 27, 2025

bismic said:
That is disappointing to hear of your OEM oil cooler experiences. Can you pinpoint an approximate date for the decline in quality/performance?

When the part number changed from the 6a642 number to the 6a810 they’ve got now. My guess would be around 21-22, probably Covid changes. The price also went up substantially when they changed the part number. And according to my boss I guess people on the interwebz are saying they’re just reboxed Dorman coolers, but the Dorman coolers are like 1/3 the price

bismic · Dec 28, 2025

Thanks. That is when the oil coolers began to be sourced from China. Not sure about them truly being "Dorman", but not really crucial information. I agree that quality declined then!! I wasn't sure whether or not you were referring to another decline in quality!!!

Appreciate the response.

When it comes to Ford quality these days, it almost seems like the saying ............ "How low can you go?"!

6.0 Tech · Dec 28, 2025

Yeah, I completely agree. Between oil coolers and stand pipes, I’m about to stop recommending going oem aside from performance stuff. Although, with the stand pipes, I’ve found that buying them individually seems to be better than buying the kit with both pipes and both dummy plugs, although it costs about twice as much to buy them individually

AshevilleEngine.com · Dec 29, 2025

canyonmann said:
I have a ashville long block coming. Its looking like this motor with labor is going to be around 30,000$. Thats crazy! Wondering what route to take for the oil cooler? I'm replacing everything on this motor,FICM, turbo etc. the parts are so costly I'm looking to save anywhere I can. Hate to spend the 2700$ on the bullet proof remote oil cooler. Some say youll be fine with the ford OEM. If I USE OEM is there a way to get the external oil ,cooler without spending the 2700$ on the Bullet proof stuff. I plan to,use the radiator coolant bypass filter.

Even if you bought all new pumps, turbo, injectors, and the Bulletproof stuff, you shouldn't have to be spending $20,000 for somebody to install your long block. To figure out how you are being gouged, just add up the cost of all the parts that you are replacing, then add the cost of labor (amount per hour times 35 hours). The only thing other than the add-on parts that the shop will have to provide is coolant. Add that in, too. The figure shouldn't be anywhere near $20,000. You might have to find a different installer. Let me know if you need a list of shops to call.