Pulling a 4.6
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Pulling a 4.6
Ok guys. Ive been searching for info on pulling the 4.6 and must be blind. I have two options for my worn out 98 f150 xcab w/2300+k on it 
Been a very good truck.
Option 1: buy a reman stock 4.6. I only do occasional towing and it's mainly a DD. It also carries all my tools (5-600 lbs) I have no way to pull the cab but what are things I need to watch out for and what's the best way to pull this motor? I've pulled 460s/351s on old fords but this thing looks CRAMPED!
Option 2: Cream of the crop 5.4 DOHC. I realize that there's LOTS of little things in this swap. Such as computer controlled tumble valves, flex plates, switching from wires to COP. throttle cable, etc etc etc. not to mention tuning. I would have it detuned for 89 octane while boosting A/F and hopefully get more out of it.
Im not ignorant gentlemen but Im a DIY so there's a LOT I don't know :P I need help/advice and this is the best place to get it. Been reading and doing research for about 6 months now and still don't know half of what I need to for this mod stuff :P
Been a very good truck. Option 1: buy a reman stock 4.6. I only do occasional towing and it's mainly a DD. It also carries all my tools (5-600 lbs) I have no way to pull the cab but what are things I need to watch out for and what's the best way to pull this motor? I've pulled 460s/351s on old fords but this thing looks CRAMPED!
Option 2: Cream of the crop 5.4 DOHC. I realize that there's LOTS of little things in this swap. Such as computer controlled tumble valves, flex plates, switching from wires to COP. throttle cable, etc etc etc. not to mention tuning. I would have it detuned for 89 octane while boosting A/F and hopefully get more out of it.
Im not ignorant gentlemen but Im a DIY so there's a LOT I don't know :P I need help/advice and this is the best place to get it. Been reading and doing research for about 6 months now and still don't know half of what I need to for this mod stuff :P
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
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From: SE Wyoming
I pulled my 5.4L and put a PI in, in my '97. Good news is you don't mess with the cab or any other body parts. With the Mechanical fan off the engine it is a very tight fit but they do fit in and out. You'll need a good 9' of headroom for your cherry picker to pull it out, unless you pull the wheels off and drop the front of the truck way down. If you want some more power a SOHC PI 5.4L with LT headers, Efans and the tune will get you close to 300bhp.
Low mileage 5.4L's were running around $1K from various salvage yards. Figure another $1K for all the other stuff like tools and parts.
You need to take the intake off to pull the engine, once you do that you'll see there is quite a bit of room.
Low mileage 5.4L's were running around $1K from various salvage yards. Figure another $1K for all the other stuff like tools and parts.
You need to take the intake off to pull the engine, once you do that you'll see there is quite a bit of room.
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For the 5.4, what about the computer? or just get a tune? I currently have plugs and wires, about 99 or 2000 Ford went to COPs, so how would I deal with that? Would I need Efans to get the room I need?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,157
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From: Stanton DE
They come out pretty easy.
Pull the fan ,intake-manifold , hood and radiator and you have plenty of room.
You can run the PI 5.4 with your plug wires.No need to swap to COPs.
You can run it on the 4.6 tune but it is better to get a tune for your computer for the 5.4
Any F-150 PI 5.4 2V from 99 to 03 and 04 Heritage F-150 will work the same.
Pull the fan ,intake-manifold , hood and radiator and you have plenty of room.
You can run the PI 5.4 with your plug wires.No need to swap to COPs.
You can run it on the 4.6 tune but it is better to get a tune for your computer for the 5.4
Any F-150 PI 5.4 2V from 99 to 03 and 04 Heritage F-150 will work the same.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,157
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From: Stanton DE
No you don't have to put E-fans in.
The 5.4 is just a little taller. But the same length.
Here is a detailed wright up on the swap.
4.6 to 5.4 Swap Notes - F150online Forums
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 532
Likes: 92
Ok guys. Ive been searching for info on pulling the 4.6 and must be blind. I have two options for my worn out 98 f150 xcab w/2300+k on it Been a very good truck.
Option 1: buy a reman stock 4.6. I only do occasional towing and it's mainly a DD. It also carries all my tools (5-600 lbs) I have no way to pull the cab but what are things I need to watch out for and what's the best way to pull this motor? I've pulled 460s/351s on old fords but this thing looks CRAMPED!
Option 2: Cream of the crop 5.4 DOHC. I realize that there's LOTS of little things in this swap. Such as computer controlled tumble valves, flex plates, switching from wires to COP. throttle cable, etc etc etc. not to mention tuning. I would have it detuned for 89 octane while boosting A/F and hopefully get more out of it.
Im not ignorant gentlemen but Im a DIY so there's a LOT I don't know :P I need help/advice and this is the best place to get it. Been reading and doing research for about 6 months now and still don't know half of what I need to for this mod stuff :P
Been a very good truck. Option 1: buy a reman stock 4.6. I only do occasional towing and it's mainly a DD. It also carries all my tools (5-600 lbs) I have no way to pull the cab but what are things I need to watch out for and what's the best way to pull this motor? I've pulled 460s/351s on old fords but this thing looks CRAMPED!
Option 2: Cream of the crop 5.4 DOHC. I realize that there's LOTS of little things in this swap. Such as computer controlled tumble valves, flex plates, switching from wires to COP. throttle cable, etc etc etc. not to mention tuning. I would have it detuned for 89 octane while boosting A/F and hopefully get more out of it.
Im not ignorant gentlemen but Im a DIY so there's a LOT I don't know :P I need help/advice and this is the best place to get it. Been reading and doing research for about 6 months now and still don't know half of what I need to for this mod stuff :P
no need to change the ECM, just get the harness for the "new" motor and get a custom tune
OR re-use your existing harness if you go with another two-valve
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[QUOTE=STOFFERJ;10179826]no need to change the ECM, just get the harness for the "new" motor and get a custom tune
So for the DOHC there's no need for the updated ports? Im a carpenter and when it comes to electrical things... Im rather ignorant and stoopid :P Assuming I've got a wrecked navigator in my yard, is it simply plug and play for the harness?
So for the DOHC there's no need for the updated ports? Im a carpenter and when it comes to electrical things... Im rather ignorant and stoopid :P Assuming I've got a wrecked navigator in my yard, is it simply plug and play for the harness?
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
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From: Iowa
I would have to assume it is. You will probably need to use the plug wires from DOHC motor or figure out a way to get your coil packs to the spark plugs on the DOHC motor, but other than that it should use all the same sensors.
Although i cant be sure.
I know my 99 4.6l was a rather direct swap to a 02 5.4l.
Although i cant be sure.
I know my 99 4.6l was a rather direct swap to a 02 5.4l.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2009
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So for the DOHC there's no need for the updated ports? Im a carpenter and when it comes to electrical things... Im rather ignorant and stoopid :P Assuming I've got a wrecked navigator in my yard, is it simply plug and play for the harness?
take the navigagtor engine harness and plug it into your current ECM
also you'll need a new Y-pipe/mid-pipe and the use of your current oil pan
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
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From: Iowa
The engine harness wont be the same. As the DOHC motor uses COP's i believe (i could be wrong) and the 98 4.6l will use coil packs. So they will have a different pin configuration to fire the spark plugs.
Easiest thing to do would be to buy some special plug wires that can go down the center of the DOHC heads to the plug and reach back to the original coil packs. Then you could use the 4.6l harness, and just have the ECM custom tuned on a dyno with a SCT.
Easiest thing to do would be to buy some special plug wires that can go down the center of the DOHC heads to the plug and reach back to the original coil packs. Then you could use the 4.6l harness, and just have the ECM custom tuned on a dyno with a SCT.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 532
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The engine harness wont be the same. As the DOHC motor uses COP's i believe (i could be wrong) and the 98 4.6l will use coil packs. So they will have a different pin configuration to fire the spark plugs.
Easiest thing to do would be to buy some special plug wires that can go down the center of the DOHC heads to the plug and reach back to the original coil packs. Then you could use the 4.6l harness, and just have the ECM custom tuned on a dyno with a SCT.
Easiest thing to do would be to buy some special plug wires that can go down the center of the DOHC heads to the plug and reach back to the original coil packs. Then you could use the 4.6l harness, and just have the ECM custom tuned on a dyno with a SCT.
and how many times have you done this swap??????
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
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From: Iowa
One time. What does that have to do with the price of tea in china?
I do know that the 5.4l engine harness will not directly plug into a 4.6l ECM with out modification. This is due to the 4.6l ECM controling 2 coil packs that house 2 coils each. The ECM will tell one specific coil to fire and it will actually fire 2 cylinders at the same time. One cylinder will be coming up to the power stroke and the other will be on exhaust stroke. (I think)
Versus the 5.4l that uses COP's has leads comming directly from the ECM to each coil, and it will tell them when to fire.
But yes i am assuming that the DOHC 5.4l will not match the 4.6l ECM pin configuration based on the 2v 5.4l.
How many times have you done this swap?
I do know that the 5.4l engine harness will not directly plug into a 4.6l ECM with out modification. This is due to the 4.6l ECM controling 2 coil packs that house 2 coils each. The ECM will tell one specific coil to fire and it will actually fire 2 cylinders at the same time. One cylinder will be coming up to the power stroke and the other will be on exhaust stroke. (I think)
Versus the 5.4l that uses COP's has leads comming directly from the ECM to each coil, and it will tell them when to fire.
But yes i am assuming that the DOHC 5.4l will not match the 4.6l ECM pin configuration based on the 2v 5.4l.
How many times have you done this swap?
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