1997 - 2003 F150 1997-2003 F150, 1997-1999 F250LD, 7700 & 2004 F150 Heritage

97 F150 Engine swap (4.6 to 5.4) ??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 03-31-2009, 10:34 AM
jerad's Avatar
jerad
jerad is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question 97 F150 Engine swap (4.6 to 5.4) ??

Hello ya''ll.

My Old trusty 1997 F-150''s 4.6L engine is barely limping along. I got a couple opinions from the timing chain to lifters problems. I decide to not put the money into it for a fix.

My question is I guess, can I drop the 5.4 engine from a 97 in with out any problems? Would I need to replace anything else?

I''ve never done this kind of thing before, I have a relative that knows how to do it and has all the equipment. Its just my job to find the replacement.

Any advice/input would be greatly appreciated.
 
  #2  
Old 03-31-2009, 11:32 AM
commandersander's Avatar
commandersander
commandersander is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Under My Truck
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When mine quit, I had the same thought.

Hope you have a bunch-o-money to throw at it.....and a ton of time....

Your 4.6 is bank coil, the 5.4 is COP

Complete rewire, homemade harness style....

5.4 and 4.6 have a different trans unless your truck is ORIGINALLY a CA Emissions truck....meaning....you have the 4r70w....and the convertor has three bolts.....so once you go buy a 4r100 that will work properly with the new computer you just bought and rewired.....you will need a new flywheel that accepts the converter with 4 holes that goes in the newly acquired 4r100 (or EoD)....

Then, run on down to the dealer and purchase a new cross member....to hold your new 4r100 because the one that is in there.....well.....she no worky.....or that dog don't hunt.....take your pick.

Now that you have everything back in the truck, go ahead and throw your 4x4 shift linkage in the gargage. The 4r100 is longer, and requires a completely different setup than what you have now.....

I actually did this over a two year period with the assistance provided by people like me (now) and ESPECIALLY Stewart.....except I'm running an 03L powertrain...

Check out the video on the second row....

Pictures by commandersander - Photobucket
 
  #3  
Old 03-31-2009, 11:41 AM
jerad's Avatar
jerad
jerad is offline
New User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh sorry I forgot to mention its 2 wheel drive..

So, I guess it would be eaiser to just drop in a rebuilt 4.6?

I really don't need the 5.4, just thought if it was easy why not.
 
  #4  
Old 03-31-2009, 11:54 AM
commandersander's Avatar
commandersander
commandersander is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Under My Truck
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Certainly easier and much cheaper in the long run...
 
  #5  
Old 03-31-2009, 12:27 PM
BURNSTOUGHFORD's Avatar
BURNSTOUGHFORD
BURNSTOUGHFORD is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I swapped my 5.4l into my 4.6l truck and never rewired. You can use the coil pack ignition system on your 5.4l without issue.

It is a very easy swap.
 
  #6  
Old 03-31-2009, 12:29 PM
BURNSTOUGHFORD's Avatar
BURNSTOUGHFORD
BURNSTOUGHFORD is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by commandersander
When mine quit, I had the same thought.

Hope you have a bunch-o-money to throw at it.....and a ton of time....

Your 4.6 is bank coil, the 5.4 is COP

Complete rewire, homemade harness style....

5.4 and 4.6 have a different trans unless your truck is ORIGINALLY a CA Emissions truck....meaning....you have the 4r70w....and the convertor has three bolts.....so once you go buy a 4r100 that will work properly with the new computer you just bought and rewired.....you will need a new flywheel that accepts the converter with 4 holes that goes in the newly acquired 4r100 (or EoD)....

Then, run on down to the dealer and purchase a new cross member....to hold your new 4r100 because the one that is in there.....well.....she no worky.....or that dog don't hunt.....take your pick.

Now that you have everything back in the truck, go ahead and throw your 4x4 shift linkage in the gargage. The 4r100 is longer, and requires a completely different setup than what you have now.....

I actually did this over a two year period with the assistance provided by people like me (now) and ESPECIALLY Stewart.....except I'm running an 03L powertrain...

Check out the video on the second row....

Pictures by commandersander - Photobucket

Your incorrect in alot of areas, you dont need a 4r100. The 4r70w came behind most 5.4l f-150's. And it has no problem holding the power. I bolted my 5.4l straight to my 4.6l torque converter.
 
  #7  
Old 03-31-2009, 12:32 PM
BURNSTOUGHFORD's Avatar
BURNSTOUGHFORD
BURNSTOUGHFORD is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What you need.

5.4l engine with intake manifold.

Use the 4.6l headers on the 5.4l so that you dont have to make a custom exhaust system. You will have to make some custom plates to mout the coil packs to the front of your 5.4l. ( very easy) its best to get all the accesories from the 5.4l as well since the 5.4l uses a 8 rib serpitine belt and the 4.6l uses a 6 rib i belive. i just used the 6 rib 4.6l belt on the 8 rib pullys for the 5.4l.

You will also need to get a custom tune made to get the truck to run 100%. I ran my for 15,000 miles with the 4.6l tune, and it ran better than the stock 4.6l but after the tune it really jumped to life.

Good luck let me know if you have any other questions
 
  #8  
Old 03-31-2009, 12:34 PM
BURNSTOUGHFORD's Avatar
BURNSTOUGHFORD
BURNSTOUGHFORD is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by commandersander
Certainly easier and much cheaper in the long run...

I spent $500 bucks on my entire swap. I did my own work. Engine was $350 with 120k. New oil, and a belt, and radiator fluid. .... Just depends on how much work you can do yourself.

Labor is what will kill you in a show.
 
  #9  
Old 03-31-2009, 12:42 PM
commandersander's Avatar
commandersander
commandersander is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Under My Truck
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And that makes me incorrect?

I'm telling him what I had to do. If your 5.4 had a 70, then obviously, the converter would work....along with the flywheel.....but not with the 100....

Bank ignition on a 5.4? News to me. Not saying it isn't so....just news....

Also, MY conversion was to a 5.4 SC....so my isue was there is none other than an l/HS computer to run the 100....meaning flywheel, converter, computer, rewire, crossmember and the other laundry list of mods to make it work.

I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from modding.....and if it is as "easy" as you say....by all means....he should be all over it. When I first started my project, I had everybody and their brother tell me that the computer was a simple unplug/plug.....stock trans o.k., 4x4 ok (analog circuits) stock cluster ok.....

12k later, knowing ahead of time would have been nice...
 
  #10  
Old 03-31-2009, 01:28 PM
BURNSTOUGHFORD's Avatar
BURNSTOUGHFORD
BURNSTOUGHFORD is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I was saying that you are incorrect about him needing a 4r100. You cannot do a direct 4r100 swap. You are correct.
 
  #11  
Old 02-15-2010, 04:32 PM
Sasquqatch's Avatar
Sasquqatch
Sasquqatch is offline
New User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have a 1999 ford F150 with a 4.6L ROMEO in it and my dad and i want to swap motors we were thinking about a 5.4L we found one it is a 2002 I was wondering what all we would have to do to make the swap and what parts if any we would need for the swap.
 
  #12  
Old 07-18-2010, 01:03 PM
hodges710's Avatar
hodges710
hodges710 is offline
Senior User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
with reading the above comments, I just wanted to say that I have a 1998 ford expedition 4x4 that came with the 4.6. After running it for a few years, I bought a 5.4 from a 1999 model(more HP then) and every single thing hooked up. Ford 's Transmissions are all interchangable within a class as in the f series and suv's, as long as the engine is in the same family as the 4.6 and 5.4 are. Also wanted to mention that the 4.6 in the model year of 97 and 98 although 15 HP less than 5.4 is still the better engine which is documented by ford, in 1999, the 5.4 went on top.
 
  #13  
Old 07-18-2010, 01:49 PM
93 mix 'n match's Avatar
93 mix 'n match
93 mix 'n match is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Montague, NJ
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
and now i show yall the tread of knowledge!

http://www.f150online.com/forums/art...wap-notes.html
 
  #14  
Old 07-18-2010, 04:28 PM
lariat97's Avatar
lariat97
lariat97 is offline
Post Fiend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: North west La
Posts: 7,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd just buy a good 4.6 & make the swap easy.
 
  #15  
Old 07-18-2010, 04:35 PM
93 mix 'n match's Avatar
93 mix 'n match
93 mix 'n match is offline
Posting Guru
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Montague, NJ
Posts: 1,845
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
stroke it to a 5.0, put a 5.0 powered sticker on the *** and make true ford guys go 'HUH?'
 


Quick Reply: 97 F150 Engine swap (4.6 to 5.4) ??



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:01 PM.