I have a 1997 F-150 2WD, 4.6L V-8, 150K. I am trying to make a decision on what to do with the engine. At first I wanted to just take out the 4.6 and throw in a huge big block so I would not have to fool around with supercharging, nos, etc. On the other hand, I was thinking about keeping the 4.6, breakin it down, cleanin it up and rebuilding it with performance parts.

Is the 4.6L a good engine to rebuild/upgrade? Or should I go the other route and make plans to completely replace the 4.6 with a big block?

 

Try the engine swap forum!

 

my vote is a big block swap. youll probably have less money into a built 460 stroker and built c-6 auto, and have a whole lot more useable and reliable power than you will from a supercharged 4.6 and built tranny... just remember your mileage will suck

 

Alright, thanks man! I've been looking at the 460 crate engines you can buy brand new off the internet. They run about $8,000 but for 600 new horses, I think its pretty good. I'm not really worried about the gas milaege. This will be play toy, haha!

 

8000 dollars for a 600 horse crate engine? if youre spending that kind of money, go to a junkyard, pick up a 460 block out of a 1979-1997 truck (d9te casting), tear it down, throw a 545 stroker kit into it (.030 overbore and 4.5" stroke), some trick flow street heads on it, if its just a toy and you arent using it for much work pick up a solid roller cam, and throw a edelbrock victor intake and 950 cfm or 1050 cfm carb... and youll have a really fast truck pushing well over 600 horse... up to around 750 horse depending on the cam... and youll only have about 6500-7000 into it... if you spend a bit more you can get an aftermarket block and the trick flow a-460 heads... bore it out to 4.5" with a 4.5" stroke for a 572 cid, and let your mileage really suck but youd be pushing 900+ horse

 

That seems to be one hellacious idea that sounds very tempting. I'll definately be looking into those parts and perusing the metal yards. But the thing is, if its only about 1000 dollars difference, I probably might just try and get the brand new crate engine. This is my very first engine swap project so I'm trying to stay more on the simple side and take on bigger projects as I learn more. Once, I do get the 460, will I have to make any cuts for it to fit?

 

nope, its a direct swap... 1997 was the last year the 460 was available, so being a factory option you just get the motor mounts for a 1997 with a 460, and then get some custom headers for the carb crate engine. just keep in mind though that to get 600 horse out of 460 ci it will lose streetability. 600 horse out of a 545 would be much more streetable. it depends on where you want to drive the truck... if you just want a bunch of power around town build a 545, if you want to just drive it on the track then the 600 horse 460 ci would probably be the way to go.

 

No smog testing in your state?
March of 84 was the last year of installing any motor you wanted in Cali.

 

darrin look a little more closely he has a 97 F150 that was the first year of the new body style, thus never available with a 460 so not a direct swap, but it can be done fairly easily, just not going to use factory parts. The F250s were the older body style in 97 so they were still available with a 460 and those would be a direct swap.

 

oops... i forgot the f150 and f250 were different bodystyles that year

 

Hmmmmm...man I was smilin' big when I read your last post Darren. Dadgument!! Hehe, oh well. For something worth having, there comes some kind of work to obtain it. http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts...tKeyField=9287
This website shows the 460 crate I'm looking at. So how much work will it exactly take to put this baby in my '97 f150?