How To Coyote Swap a 5.4L First Gen F-150 SVT Raptor! (From Mild to Wild!)

Instead of replacing the original 5.4L V8 in this 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, this owner is opting to give it a more modern replacement.

The first-generation Ford F-150 SVT Raptor has become a coveted collectible in recent times, and has proven to hold its value far better than most other vehicles out there. The reasons behind this are simple – the original Raptor is a cool slice of automotive history, as well as a highly capable truck that was sold with a pair of naturally-aspirated V8s, the 5.4L Triton and the 6.2L Boss. That hasn’t been the case since the first-generation Ford F-150 SVT Raptor bowed out, but this early example isn’t exactly in stellar collector-grade condition.

And it’s got the motor nobody wants in a Raptor.

Yup, the original 5.4-liter V8 is in need of a replacement long block, which is what the original plan was when it rolled into YouTube Matt Soppa‘s shop. However, plans soon changed, and instead of just soldiering on with the older mill, the owner opted to give it a newer 5.0-liter Coyote V8 transplant. Much like he did recently with a Ford Expedition, Soppa will be removing the body from the frame to perform this job, and has a 2011-2014 era F-150 drivetrain to swap in.

Many will undoubtedly wonder why Soppa is opting to go with a non-original engine in this case, but it makes sense for a number of reasons, aside from the fact that this truck isn’t worth a ton of money as it sits.

The 5.4 was factory-rated to produce 320 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, which are indeed solid figures, but the Coyote from this era came packing 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet – far superior numbers right out of the box. (Plus F-150 Coyote variants pull much stronger and harder higher in the rev range without sacrificing torque down low.)

These days, most seeking a first-generation Ford F-150 SVT Raptor are also more interested in the 6.2-liter V8, which was an option in the truck’s early days that later became standard, replacing the 5.4. It makes a stronger 411 horsepower and 434 pound-feet of torque as well, but as one might imagine, the Coyote is incredibly common, cheap, easy to coax big power out of, and easy to find parts for.

Thus, going with the Coyote makes a lot of sense for someone who doesn’t care about collectibility and just wants to drive and enjoy their Raptor, as Ford intended. With the right swap harness, the job is pretty easy as well – in this case, some electronics need to be sorted out, but that’s usually the case when opting for an engine that didn’t come in a vehicle from the factory. In any case, when Soppa does get it ironed out, this early Raptor will be a pretty cool build, without a doubt.

Join the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums now!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.