Hey everybody. I am doing a restomod on a 1966 F100 custom cab. My desire is to build a SC 5.4. As I have not purchased anything for the powertrain yet, what is the best option? I want this truck to be scary fast! This will be a scratch build, so I have no problem looking at all options. SOHC vs DOHC? heads...cams...superchargers...compression ratio. I want unadulterted opinions on all of this stuff. My goal is 700+ hp. I am a pretty good scrounger and there is a great salvage yard with a locator service near me. For the powertrain, we'll say that money is not really a tremendous concern and time is plentiful.

 

How in-depth of an engine build are you looking to perform?

I know alot of guys with the 2004+ 5.4 3v with stock internals running 500+ wheel HP (roughly 600 crank HP) using 10-12 psi of boost and simple bolt-ons. nothing internal changed from OEM parts.


with a built motor, and boost at 12+ psi...I can easily see 700 crank HP



if money isn't an issue, for $15,000 you can get a brand new running 5.4 4v (GT 500 motor) from Ford Racing...they dyno out at about 440-450 RWHP. add some extra boost and tuning and you can easily see 500+ RWHP without much effort

 

Thanks Tylus.

I don't want to go the crate engine route. I want to build this thing myself. I can get a lot more for my money that way. Before I came to my senses, years ago, I was doing TPI swaps into Chevy trucks. I mean like in the early 90's. I've also built a few 429 Thunderjet/ Cobra Jet platforms over the years. There is a certain satisfaction in getting greasy.

A guy that lives near me had a twin screw Kenne Bell, stage three heads and cams, some sort of piston change, and I think a bolt on air intake modification. What performance could be realistically expected from this type of arrangment...with a proper tune?

I also need to now what to look for in terms of engine/transmission cores. I don't want to go the lightning engine route because I'm doing a total rebuild and changing the supercharger anyway.

Solid 5.4 cores are readily available at a decent price. Mention lightning at the salvage yard and the price jumps by the thousands. It's only a matter of knowing what years and casting numbers to look for and stay away from.

All info and opinions are welcome.

 

I personally wouldn't go the Lightning route. the 2v is a good engine, but the 3v will offer more HP options down the line. I'm only running 6 psi and have roughly 412 crank right now...non-intercooled. That same 6 psi intercooled is good for 445 crank.


vs. the Lightning which is 380. so roughly a 65 HP gain when switching from 2v's to a 3v setup

the 5.4 blocks are essentially the same on the bottom end, and the new 5.4 uses the same parts...it's just a difference between Forged and Cast.

as I mentioned earlier, you can take a 100% stock 5.4 3v, and run 10-12 PSI + tuning...you are easily looking at the 500 HP mark.

in terms of motors you want...I personally would get a 2008 5.4 3v block and heads. That will have the newest spark plug design (the one that doesn't stick). Then build it internally like a L block is built

then, add about 15 psi of boost + tuning and you'll have a real monster

 

Lincolns (Navigator) used a great forged bottom end.....and don't have the "L" word attached

 

oh yeah, forgot about those bad puppies


have you considered running a 4v 4.6 motor?


You can get a 2000+ Cobra motor for a pretty good price...and the Mach 1 has a slightly detuned version that is still 4v....and then of course there is the 2003-2004 Terminator 4.6 4v. With nothing but a tune and bigger pulley it will put down about 450 HP no problem

 

I thought about a 4.6. I think I'll stay with the 5.4 platform. The hp potential is greater there.

 

Read this article. It should give you some more ideas.

http://www.teamjdm.com/articles/JDM_Motor.pdf

 

Hi,
I run a little 2.3 KB (the newer ones are 2.6 & 2.8) on a 5.4, stage 3 heads stage 2 cams. My motor has forged pistons,rods and crank. I put a Lightning intake on it and sold the M112 and replaced it with the 2.3 KB. Naturally you need upgraded fuel system and bigger MAF. 60# injectors with 2 Walbro 255lph in-tank fuel pumps.
I'm making 594 RWHP on a tune with low timing,nothing crazy. So crank HP is about 750.