I bought a '97 F150 4X4 with a bad engine (4.6 Romeo) thinking I could repair it. Turned out to be worse than I thought. Found a used engine on Craigslist, advertised as a 2001 Romeo. Went to check it out, guy says " I screwed up, it's actually a 1998." Perfect I thought, same as a 1997. I never checked any further, bought it, went home and discovered it is a Windsor.I asked around, but got so many conflicting answers as to if it would work, I decided to install it and find out. Engine was complete and unmolested as wrecked cab had been cut from around it. I removed my cab to keep it that way. Engine now runs,idles good, but above idle is bad. I'm guessing it needs a PCM that is calibrated for the Windsor engine. Local dealer has not been too helpful up to this point. Can anybody tell me how to find the right PCM, or steer me to whatever else I may need. Thanks

 

Running bad is a very broad description.
What does it do?
Vibrate, misfire, low on power?
Is there a CEL on, any code set etc.
Let's get something to work with.
Good luck.

 

Sorry I didn't go into detail, wanted to see if anybody would respond to it. (I'm also a newbie here, my first post)
Truck idles ok, upon acceleration it acts like timing is way retarded. starts making strange rapping sound from exhaust (can't really say misfire, it doesn't really sound like a true misfire) It drives, but barely, I took it down our dead end street, but wouldn't dare venture any farther. I'm sure it's a case of the wrong PCM, just need to find the right one. (Car-Part.com lists 11 modules for the 4.6 in '97, after you eliminate the California models, and manual trans models) I know nothing about these modules (and the two dealers I have talked to don't seem to either) I gave the dealer a picture of the engine tag, complete with all #'s and barcode, in hope of them being able to figure out what PCM the engine needs. They say no, I need the calibration code off the original truck, which, by now is probably been made into beer cans or some such thing. Is an aftermarket unit the answer? If so who makes one etc. I'm completely out of my realm & comfort zone on this one, but I'm too dang stubborn to give up.
PS, there are no codes now, but... there is also no check engine light (ever) somebody has removed the catalytic converters, did they somehow flash the light out of the system?? I scanned the system and I did get one code, I accidently forgot to plug in the cyl head temp sensor after I had it loose to gain access to the spark plugs , which I changed before installing engine.Hooked it up, and no codes.( the fact that I cleared that code tells me that the system is working somewhat)( I only have access to a scanner by borrowing one from work, so I can't scan it whenever I'd like to)

 

I would not be trying to guess what's wrong over doing some diagnostics and verifying.
If you feel the timing is late use a Scanner to look at the live data to see what's happening with timing..
If you don't take this route it will become very expensive buying parts in hopes of just hitting on the issue.
Honestly, the motor is not that great a difference from the original.
Both 4.6L with same bore and stroke and same power specs.
Some owners have replaced a 4.6 with a 5.4 using the 4.6 PCM and still had a reasonable running motor.
As comment; any dealer will not go out on a limb with this change and assume a responsibility for your request. Besides it's not a job they would even do normally or have any 'official' knowledge to support.
.
A case in point; on one board an owner hired a spare timer to replace gaskets on a 5.4. After the job was done there were issues. He refused to return and work the issues out. One can only guess he is a wrench turner and knows little about system operation. So you see there is more to all this that just mechanics of replacing parts.
I wish you good luck.