If you're interested in boosting the 3.8/4.2 engine family, look in the tbird supercoupe section. I sold my mustang with 3.8sc engine swap to a friend who then went nuts and it's a 4.2 now with cam rr forged rotating assembly ported sc heads bla bla bla.
Sounds like an ok idea if you have the time and money.

The 4.6 trans will bolt to a 302 but you need to cut the block to allow for starter to fit.
I've put a t45 behind a 5liter before just so you guys know it's possible.

 

The Ecoboost is a little more than a couple of turbos hanging on the engine. It has direct injection, extensively uses modern alloys throughout it's assembly, uses little tricks like oil squinters to oil the bottom of the pistons to increase durability and was designed from the bottom up to use forced induction. Truthfully, I'm not a fan of the engine. There are mix reviews on how great the gas mileage is, there seems to be tuning issues with some trucks, there have been some isolated total failures in the SHOs and the trucks that I've driven demonstrated turbo lag that's exaggerated by a slow shifting transmission. But I have been following it since introduction and I can't deny its popularity and must admit that there have been few problems coming from the basic design (so far). This maybe the wave of the future and I can't wait until they apply this technology to a V8 motor.

Now IMO the 4.2 isn't a very good truck motor. I've driven a bunch of fleet trucks with these motors and they have ALL been dogs. Some of them have had problems but nothing that isn't common for these engines. Gas mileage in these trucks was in the same range as a V8, low end torque is nonexistent and at HP peak it sounds like the pistons are about to window the block.

But, performance wise, there is some potential. I have too seen turbos put on these engines with varying results. I have also seen these swapped in place of the 3.8 in Mustangs. Considering that the 4.2 is the same motor with a longer stroke it was an easy swap that I have thought about doing myself. One thing that I have always wanted to try was using a 4.2 short block and using the top end from a SuperCoupe T-Bird. The SCs have the best heads made for this engine family and the supercharger would be great with the added stroke and displacement. It could be a different approach to what you want to do, would have better low end torque to get a big truck moving and would use proven factory parts.

All in all this could be an interesting project but will probably be more trouble than it's worth. If your goal is max HP with max MPG then you'd probably be better served with hanging a turbo on a 300. Build the engine with the goal of reducing as much internal friction as possible, back it by a overdrive manual and a highway gear, and stay out of the boost and you'll see good mileage.

 

You may not create an ECO boost but you can do a lot with a turbo. I don't know much about the block you are think'n 'bout building it on but most of the time with low enough boost, some timing/fuel control you can get great results... Also if you cool the intake charge it will be very forgiving..

I personally have a 9.0 to 1 compression 19lb boost pump gas driver (aircooled VW) that gets great MPG and makes huge HP on boost. Off boost it runs lean with tons of timing.

 

I know virtually nothing about the new ecoboost, other than it looks great on paper and a lot of people have praised it since it came out. I never gave any thought to a SuperCoupe setup though... that could also be very interesting. Thank you all for your input.

I am not considering doing a project like this (at least for a very long time), but I was just throwing the idea around and wanted to see what others thought of it.

 

????????????

 

Maybe he meant to say his sig line? I didn't quite catch on either, but I'm rather slow at times...

 

I tried that too....No dice....made no sense...

 

You know, why go through the trouble of a swap. Just pick up a 97-04 truck with one of these V6s in it. There are a bunch out there. Look at what I found on Ebay
Ford : F-150 Ford : F-150 | eBay
Ford : F-150 Ford : F-150 | eBay
Ford : F-150 Ford : F-150 | eBay
Ford : F-150 Ford : F-150 | eBay
Ford : F-150 Ford : F-150 | eBay
Five fleet trucks selling right now. The bidding is pretty low at this point. I'm sure you can find a lot more and for cheaper too. That way you get the swoopier body style that could help get an extra MPG or two at highway speeds. You don't have to worry about swapping it in and working out the bugs. The only problem I see with this is if you just can't stand the new body style. I wasn't a fan but I have owned a couple and they grow on you after a while.

 

Just an aside, those have to be the ugliest pickup trucks ever made in the US. What a shame too, they followed what is IMO the best looking, the 92 F-series.

I never got the bed-overlaps-cab thing, which they apparently still haven't gotten rid of- it does not look like a truck

But still, if you like the 4.2, I think you'd be happier just buying it in the truck it was originally installed in, even with all the money in the world. These newfangled motors are not as much fun to play around with as the older stuff, it's hard to keep them happy outside of their home...

I have from time to time considered using an Essex 3.8, because they use an SBF bolt pattern, and they're not as complicated or application-specific as the modulars. You could probably pick one up for like $250...

 

Thank you both for your input, but if you would have read my previous posts I already own a 99 with a 4.2 in it... That is what kind of started this idea.. I like the body style of the 92-96 better (which I own too, if you haven't caught on yet). I ran across articles saying that the 4.2 shares the 300/302/351w bellhousing, which made me wonder if anyone had tried swapping one into one of these pickups (92-96). When I found virtually no evidence that anyone had even attempted it, I began thinking about making an "ecoboost" of our own to throw into this body style. Lighter truck, more power, better looking (IMO)... whats not to love?

I was also under the impression that the 4.2 was not a modular engine, which makes sense being that it came from the 3.8 which isn't.

 

So you do. I been posting a lot over the past couple of days and I guess I forgot the details on yours.

The 3.8/4.2 are dated engines and really don't offer much for a truck that doesn't allready have on in it. A well built small block or MOD motor would do just as well on gas and make more power to boot. If you want to do something really special, then find yourself a real Ecoboost and swap it in a OBS. I've already seen these come up for aution on EBay a couple of times. And no one knows what to do with them so they've gone fairly cheap. But then again, no one knows these engine well yet so you'd be on your own to make it work.

 

Yea, sorry about that, I was thinking about the 4.6 suggestion instead of your original idea.

 

To be perfectly honest, I just don't trust the modular engines... Had too much bad experiences with one in the past to even consider another one.. The 4.2 hasn't given me a stitch of trouble, however. Everyone always says "the 4.2 is crap, get rid of it!" but can't ever really say why, other than the gasket leaks which was addressed after 98.. It has been perfect for the truck it is in, and I have had nothing but good things to say about it. Again, I am not considering this as a project, I was just curious if anyone thought it would be worth a shot. Seems like I am getting pretty mixed opinions here..

I just wish there were more performance parts for the 4.9, and a cheaper way around the SD..

 

I too have this issue....And until I can get the mone to actually pull my engine, rebuild, and add stuff to it...I've been doing research...

And it seems that Fords are Retarded 4* from the factory, to reduce emissions.....And at the same time...Power....

So I've been thinking of Advancing my engine the 4* and see where it stands at that......

Never know until I try it I guess....

Right now, I'm just getting everything mechanically sound, before I dig anymore effing holes...

 

There are plenty of performance stuff for the 4.9
You just need to know what to look for.
They make headers and cams and you can always put bigger valves and port the head. Valve springs are typically universal, just find some with similar dimensions.
It's usually the timing set that retards the cam on these engines so you'll need to replace that.
I've always wanted to play with a 300-6 since I see a guy make 500+ tq with a stock engine and some boost.