Hi, I'm new to this forum as I'm usually on the 1948 to 1960 site, because of my 1956 Merc M100, but I have a couple of questions about the newer trucks.
I recently bought a slightly used Magnacharger blower set up designed for the 2 valve 4.6 or 5.4 in a F150. If I have got the information right that puts me in the 1997 to 2003 range of trucks with the Triton V8. I think I got a good deal on the set up as it is complete with the manifold, air to air intercooler, fuel rails and other misc. parts, and looking the system up it seem to cost about $4200 new in Can. dollars. The complete set up cost me $1000 even.
Now I'm looking for a truck and have decided I would like a regular cab F150 flareside with perferably a 5.4 motor. I have been finding it hard to find what I want, with most of what I see being 4.2 V6 models or 4x4 trucks.
My 3 questions are:
1) Are there many regular cab flareside trucks out there with the 5.4, besides the Lightnings and the Boss 5.4, (which we don't have here).

2) Are the 5.4 truck motors similar to the lightning motors and will they handle the blower and any additional mods I may do to tweek a few additional ponies out of it. Are they both 2 valve motors??

3) Does it matter whether I get a automatic or manual transmission, and do they both hold up well with the extra horsepower?

I've been told that the newer 5.4 and 4.6 motors after 2003 in the trucks went to a 3 valve version and the intake/blower set up wont fit any more so I am limited in what years I can work with.

Any info anyone can give me would be great.
Thanks,
Mymerc

 

1) They are out there, just not as common as the Supercabs and such.
2) Similar, the Lightnings use a bit stronger bottom end and lower compression, but the aftermarket unit is designed to be used on the standard engine, so it should be fine.
The unit is probably for PI heads, so you will need a 99-03 truck. The 97-98 have different intake ports.
3)The automatics are much stronger than the Mazda built 5-speed, So I would highly recommend an Automatic tranny truck.

4)The 4.6L and 5.4L use different intakes, so you will need to figure out which one that your blower fits. The 5.4L is taller and wider than the 4.6L. Kind like how the older 351W was taller and wider the the 302.

I guess you need to look at the intake ports on the blower intake to see if they are oval/round looking or more square wit one corner cit out farther than the other 3. Thr round/oval ones are 97-98 non-PI heads and the others are the better 99-03 PI (Power Improved) heads.