Hello all,

I have an idea bouncing around in my head.

Some of you may be aware that I did the 2003 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor front suspension swap, like several other Ford guys on this forum. The idea that I have been kicking around is how well would a 2003-whenever Police Car engine and transmission perform in my truck (1958 F-100 by the way)? I believe the actual size is 4.6 L with ~225 hp. The advantage of this swap would be fuel injection, programmable computer, and possible MPG improvement.

What I am wondering is if it would be worth the trouble of doing this swap. The setup I have now is a 1979 351 W bored .030 over with the modifications listed in my signature. Any and all comments/opinions are welcomed.

Thanks

 

It depends on what you want. If you still have the original mounting points on your CV cross member that should make it easy - at least for that part. I have a 4.6 from a Mark VIII, the 4r70W, and IRS going in my truck along with the CV IFS and possibly the P71 driveshaft. It will be a few weeks before we start the engine part of the swap.

This article shows some pictures of the engine in a '56 1956 Ford F100 - 5.0L V8 DOHC Engine - Truckin' Magazine

 

I have a 2002 4.6 engine in my 54 f100
I bought a complete car and used the front suspension (2002)
engine, trans,radiator.
I have put about 6,000 miles on it this summer,no problems.
22-25 mpg,never gets above 190 degrees ,4 wheel disk
I used a detail zone wiring harness.

I am building a 60 Crew cab and plan on using a crown vic drive train in it also

Check my album for photos

 

With what you have listed on your 351, I think it would be a wash between the two....there is very litle different between a PI & regular 4.6.

 

Would it even be worth the trouble though? I mean it's going to be more money and time to change over, but will it be worth it? But if I am going to go through the trouble of changing over to EFI, should I hunt up a Lightning supercharged motor instead?

 

If you want to convert your existing to EFI & add a blower, do so with a forged crank etc....there are plenty of DIY EFI systems (stand alone) & in reality, you will 1) be $ ahead 2) have much less labor involved including troubleshooting/adapting 3) a crapload of power equal to or better than the 4.6 PI or Lightning and and 4) not having to worry about what hidden dangers lurk in the beat & abused Lightening engine you have just bought for $5k+

 

I wasn't aware they were that expensive. I was thinking more along the lines of finding a cheap wrecked Lightning and buying the whole truck for a couple grand at the most. Then maybe putting $1000 in the engine. By the time I buy a supercharger for my engine it will be $5000, plus the forged pistons and crank $1000, the time of pulling the motor and rebuilding it, and all the headache that goes with it.

I do agree that the Lightning motor will be abused though, thus the plan to rebuild it.

 

Used lightning engines start off at $5k....if you could find a truck for $2k.....there would probably be not much for salvaging....unless you got real lucky.

 

Well that changes the plans a little... I wasn't aware they were so expensive. Maybe the 4.6 doesn't sound so bad after all.