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So, after some research on here I've came up with this. I have a 2000 expedition with a bad 4.6 engine. I bought a 4.6 replacement from a 97 expedition before learning these engines have some mild compatability issues.
The most notable are the COP's on the 2000 model. Well immediately one would think just swap intake and be good to go. But, evidently the intake wont match the non PI heads? Correct? Therefore I have came to the conclusion that although I may have a raised CR that I shouldn't have many other issues if I swap both heads and intake from the 2000 over to the donor 97engine.
Put the complete '97 engine in and use your stock '00 harness with COP's. There will be a few sensors that will have to be slightly moved or lines lengthened. Those will probably be knock and temp.
I would just put it in too.
If you do the PI swap ,you may have to run high-test gas all the time or get a custom tune in order to keep it from knocking.
You will gain a little power though.
__________________
( Phil )2003 SuperCrew: JLP Built Lightning block/Stage 3 heads and cams.
L-conversion/Kenne Bell upgrade blower at 16PSI/BTS,4R100 tranny/100 shot nitrous.
594HP/620TQ Without the Nitrous 1.68 60' time/11.76 @ 116.17 with the 100 shot.
Join the the Delaware Chapter, HERE
According to known specs the head swap will take the motor over 10.5 to 1 CR.
This is good for mileage and power but the computer program is written and tabled for the stock motor so if you change, be ready for issues that will end up making the swap less enjoyable.
For example the ignition timing may be to aggressive under the conditions especially under high loads or towing.
The knock sensor will pull timing when detecting spark knock and cause funny drivability at times.
In addition, once the knock sensor retards timiing it does not return it back as quickly as you might think.
This is why a custom program is needed to account for all the parameters that would need to changed.
Another possible issue is shifting. The TPS is used along with road speed and engine RPM to decide on upshifting. If you have to lift the throttle because of spark knock it can affect the shift point.
Other examples using older Fords are the same 5L motor of the 80's and 90s used in averything from the light Mustang to the heavey larger Lincolns etc reguired the parameters be changed for the weight of the car, the converter stall speeds, gear ratios etc. so one program load into the same computer does not fil all applications..
Good luck.
Thanks guys. I was under the impression that my wiring harness would work with that older engine. The cop's from my current engines will just all bolt back up on the older engine. Thats the best way for me to go then. I'm just gonna swap complete engines
How do you use COP's on the 97' engine? The cop bolts to the intake with one screw. Does the 97' intake have the screw holes there to mount the coils?
YOu know I haven't looked but that's the reason I originally asked this question. At first I was thinking just swap intakes then I read that wouldn't work because the 2000 intake doesn't match the 97 non PI heads. That's why i thought about changing both the heads and intake, hence the topic title. I'll go look but I don't recall seeing the one bolt hole needed to bolt down the COP's.
How do I just swap engines? Just let the plugs sit in the hole without being bolted down? Me personal 2001 supercrew has 5 cop's that just sit in there due to plugs blowing them out and breaking them.
Noone has responded to question of putting the 97 into the 2000? It was recommended that I put the 1997 straight into the 2000 with the 2000 wiring and COP's then the question arose about the 1997 intake not having the bolt down hole to hold the COP's.
It is okay to use the 2000 COP's without bolting them down ( just putting the plug wire down into the hole without bolting them down? I know this is not ideal but like I said 5 of my 8 on my 2001 Supercrew just hang free from being broke.
Here is the answer to that question.
You know the 97 4.6 has different coils than a 2000.
The PCM program, wire harness and coils are different besides the intake mounting between the two motors.
One has plug wires, the other seperate coils.
It's not an easy bolt in or work around.
Look at both motors and see this.
The PCM is made to fire seperate coils on the 2000 where as 2 seperate coil packs are driven on the 97.
You have to many items to try to work around and may still have issues afterwards.
For example on the 2000 motor the PCM looks at seperate coils for trouble detection where as on a 97 this is done differently in order to set code so you have an issue there even before there is a problem with the ignition.
IMO at min you would need to use the 97 PCM and harness to start with.
Trying to make it on the cheap brings on to many other problems that makes the job less than worthwhile.
Good luck.
I don't have access to the 97 engine harness and computer wiring but i do have a 98 F150 4.6 sitting in my yard with all the wiring. That should be much close enough to the 97 engine's electronics shouldn't it?
Thanks,
Gerald
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluegrass 7
Here is the answer to that question.
You know the 97 4.6 has different coils than a 2000.
The PCM program, wire harness and coils are different besides the intake mounting between the two motors.
One has plug wires, the other seperate coils.
It's not an easy bolt in or work around.
Look at both motors and see this.
The PCM is made to fire seperate coils on the 2000 where as 2 seperate coil packs are driven on the 97.
You have to many items to try to work around and may still have issues afterwards.
For example on the 2000 motor the PCM looks at seperate coils for trouble detection where as on a 97 this is done differently in order to set code so you have an issue there even before there is a problem with the ignition.
IMO at min you would need to use the 97 PCM and harness to start with.
Trying to make it on the cheap brings on to many other problems that makes the job less than worthwhile.
Good luck.
That might work if there were no changes in the operations of the tranny between 2000 and 1998??
If there was your gonna have to use the current computer that's in the truck and just let the COPs flop around in there witch is not a good idea in my opinion.
But it would run the motor.
I know a guy that put a Lightning motor in a 97 and it ran fine on the old 2 coil setup.
So your doing the revers, just running the older 4.6 on a COP set up.
Only problem I see is the COPs wont bolt down.
__________________
( Phil )2003 SuperCrew: JLP Built Lightning block/Stage 3 heads and cams.
L-conversion/Kenne Bell upgrade blower at 16PSI/BTS,4R100 tranny/100 shot nitrous.
594HP/620TQ Without the Nitrous 1.68 60' time/11.76 @ 116.17 with the 100 shot.
Join the the Delaware Chapter, HERE
That might work if there were no changes in the operations of the tranny between 2000 and 1998??
If there was your gonna have to use the current computer that's in the truck and just let the COPs flop around in there witch is not a good idea in my opinion.
But it would run the motor.
I know a guy that put a Lightning motor in a 97 and it ran fine on the old 2 coil setup.
So your doing the revers, just running the older 4.6 on a COP set up.
Only problem I see is the COPs wont bolt down.
LIke I said futher up in this thread my personal 2001 supercrew 5.4 has 5 out of 8 cop's that just flop around due to plugs blowing out over the years. It's worth a try
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