Hi all,


I'm new here in this forum and this is my first post, hope you guys help me with my issue..






I've 1990 Ford F-350 4WD single rear wheel (non-dually) (7.3 L_ non-turbo I.D.I) 5 speed manual (ZF S5-42) single cab @ long bed.




I want to do an engine swap, instead of the original factory 7.3 I.D.I , I will put a Modular Triton 5.4 (2V or 3V).





* THE QUESTION IS; Will the speedometer/rpm gauges work if I installed a 5.4 engine with its ECU, harness & sensors ???




* NOTE; The stock factory manual transmission (ZF S5-42) will not be swapped, will be kept and attached to the Modular Triton 5.4, the original factory rear end (3.55) will not be swapped as well.. The truck is completely stock with no mods till now.. The speed sensor is located and attached in the transmission not in the rear axle.





Hope you tell me the answer before I do the swap and notice that the speed/rpm gauges aren't work !! That is so bad if gauges aren't work !!!






Thanks


Hussein

 

30 views, no reply !!! Why ??!!

 

Probably because nobody has any answers.

The speedo up to 91 is mechanical and driven from the transfer case so that'll be fine.

The wiring harness is different between gas and diesel trucks of that era and is usually swapped when going gas to diesel or vice-versa. I have no idea what you're into going from diesel to a 5.4 mod motor.

I'm pretty sure the bell houses pattern is different between the two so your probably looking at swapping the transmission too, but the 90's transfer case should work.

The 5.4 computer will need a VSS. Hopefully the rabs sensor will work but you'll need to verify how many pulses you need. What computer are you going to use?

You might be better off getting a similar vintage parts truck (88-91) and swapping a 5.8 or 7.5 in.

You're going to have to figure out mounts too...

 

Do you have a plan on how you will do this? The stock factory transmission will not bolt to a Modular Triton 5.4L.

 

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1. I will convert from diesel 7.3 to gas 5.4 because I need power.. here is my idea; I will put a 5.4 3V (300-310 hp @ 365 torque), I will install camshaft kit + high performance aluminium heads + custom tune + some extra mod parts... that I can raise both hp/torque to be for e.g. (390 hp @ 450 torque)


2. Bellhousing is different, it's OK, I will order a suitable bellhousing that can bolt to the ZF S5-42. Now no problem.


3. You said also that the 5.4 needs a VSS. From where can I get this VSS ?? I mean for which car-model-year ??




4. I will use a stock factory 5.4 ECU, harness & sensors. I mean when I will pull an engine from a wrecked Expedition/F-150 I will pull its ECU, harness & sensors with it as well.


5. The problem with the 7.5 is poor gas mileage. But I like it.

 

Responses in red


With that all said, where you located? If you go through with it I'll scrap that boat anchor IDI for you, no charge

 

Also the zf5 bellhousing is integral, meaning it doesnt unbolt, so would have to build a spacer or cut and weld, or come up with some other ninja trick

 

The bellhousing and case are integrated on a ZF...






It may not have been stated before, but welcome to FTE!

Please do not take our replies as negative, it's okay to come in with an idea but some of your basic homework has not been done in advance. If you can pull this one off without running out of money or paying someone else to do it for you, my hat is off to you!

The Vehicle Speed data usually comes from the transmission output speed sensor located on the tailshaft of the transmission. for automatics. Manuals, no idea. That speed signal is used for transmission control so it would not apply for a manual truck. On the other hand the PCM does typically reply on Vehicle Speed as one of it's inputs. It's effect may be minimal in a manual transmission vehicle.

Your gauges such as Speedometer/Odometer will work with the original cable operated VSS assuming you keep the original transfer case. None of the dash gauges use computer control other than the Check Engine Light function. Later model trucks do more computer/gauge interaction so it could be a challenge to make the newer PCM happy with missing inputs including dashboard/gauge connectivity. Nothing a skilled programmer could not overcome.

 

I would bet that the 5.4 in a F350 won't get much better mileage than a 7.5 or 5.8. I have a friend with a regular cab long bed SD with a 5.4 and he says it gets 12-15. Lots of money to swap for not much benefit. The IDI is known for good mileage, why not stick with it? A turbo kit would be a much better use of the money.

 

Yeah, lots of homework not done...

I'll just assume emissions isn't an issue.

You're going to need mounts, a trans from a manual 99+ Super Duty with the 5.4L and hope that you can use your transfer case. That'll give you your mechanical speedometer output. You'll need to find how many pulses per revolution the 5.4 computer needs. The cruise control sensor is 8 pulses per rotation and I think the RABS is 42 but I'm not sure. If it's not either of those you'll need a custom RABS wheel if that's even possible. RABS is rear anti-lock braking system and that's what the sensor on the top of your axle is for. In some later model vehicles it's the vehicle speed sensor (vss).

Exhaust will have to be custom, you may get lucky and the stock Y pipe will work but I doubt it. Then there's the wiring. That's going to take a lot of work but it's doable.

So now you figured out how to get it in, what to expect? Stock it's OK but not that impressive, at least in 2V form. I have a friend who had a 2003 F350 regular cab single wheel 4x4 with the 5.4 and auto trans. It got 11-12 mpg. He's now got a 2008 F250 2wd with the 5.4/AT and it gets about 13 or so. Probably 60/40 city/highway driving.

You're going to spend 5-10k doing this. I know... You can pull an engine for $500, etc. Wiring harness, trans, mounts, exhaust, etc. It all adds up. $500 here, $500 there and all of a sudden you're at 5-10k. Ask anyone around here who's done a non-standard swap.

I'm not a diesel guy, but I'm sure someone can point you to a few $5k upgrade builds and what to expect. You can find a rusty 7.5L truck and swap everything over. Figure about $1000 for the truck and $500 for miscellaneous items that break coming apart. Now take the heads to a machine shop and have them install 1.76 or 1.80 valves in the exhaust and do a basic cleanup on the ports; $2k. Install a cam $200 and install mass air $750. You have money left over for exhaust work all within the $5k budget. Expect 350hp, 550tq and about 10-12mpg if you have an overdrive trans and don't drive like a maniac all the time. If your budget is higher the sky's the limit. Stroker kits, Aluminum heads with a custom manifold converted to EFI, etc. Same thing on the diesel side.

 

Poor gas milage from an IDI? I think you need to stop driving it like a gas engine(redline in every gear) and as already suggested just put a turbo kit on it.

 

Yes, what f100beater said

You put 5k in an IDI and youll be running with powerstrokes, getting at least 16mpg or better (depending on a TON of factors), and have an engine thatll go over 300k with regular maintenance

Go read around the pre-powerstroke forum

 

If I'm not mistaken you need the cluster form the donor truck because of the PATS.

 

5.4 with ZF6 and New Venture 271(manual shift case)
Sounds good to me. Give it a go and keep everyone posted.


The VSS is in the trans. so a ZF6 would solve your speedo problem.

 

Someone with automotive programming skills can turn off PATS.