OK, heres the deal. I got a 97 f-150 that needs a motor. I have called ford and had the VIN decoded. They used three different 4.6's in 97. A romeo and two different windsors. It's a windsor for sure, but I need to know if it's six or eight bolt. Also, if anyone knows if maybe the eight and six bolts are interchangeable as long as you switch the flywheel too?

I have the numbers from the Engine ID tag from the valve cover, but the ford dealers tell me there is no way they can look up any of that info. They also told me that basically the only way to find out if it's six or eight bolt is to pull the motor. I refuse to believe that if I drove the truck to ford and told them to put a new motor in it that they would have to pull it to find out before they ordered the new one. (bull****) None the less thats what the tell me!!

Is there anyone on here that can decode (or knows of a way to tell) the engine tag and tell me if it's the six or eight bolt?

NEED to find out ASAP! (I'll post the ID tag in a few minutes)

Thanks in advance!

 

ok from what i can find there is apparently NO way to know if its 6 or 8 bolt until you pull the motor. Ridiculous!

My question now then.

Can we put a six bolt windsor in place of an 8 bolt and vice versa?

Can we put a romeo in place of either windsor?

thanks in advance!

 

ok from what i can find there is apparently NO way to know if its 6 or 8 bolt until you pull the motor. Ridiculous!

My question now then.

Can we put a six bolt windsor in place of an 8 bolt and vice versa?

Can we put a romeo in place of either windsor?

thanks in advance!

 

Yes and yes. Just get the correct flexplate.
JL

 

ok thanks,

So, if we put in a romeo in place of a windsor, the flex plate is the only issue? Is there any wiring, bracket, comptuer, issues? etc?

 

Not any serious issues that will keep you from swapping it.
JL

 

Would the computer need to be retuned at ford or anything? I'm just looking for a bit more detail, as I can get a 70k romeo from a 97 for cheap and just wanna make sure it won't be a a huge nightmare or a deal where I'll have to spend a bunch of extra money to make it work?

Any more details would be helpful.

thanks a ton!

 

No,mechanically,they're identical.
No big surprises-just a few minor differences,but nothing that will make it a tough swap.
JL

 

If ya dont end up using that 97 romeo motor let me know im looking for one myself.

Thanks