So I've been thinking...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
So I've been thinking...
I have a lot of time to kill in between some of my classes, and spend a lot of my time online researching pointless stuff... I have come across several articles saying that the ford 4.2l v6 shares the smallblock ford bellhousing. If this is true, has anybody thought about making their own "ecoboost" for an 87-96 truck? I have found a couple different instances where people have turbo-charged the 4.2, so I know that it can be done with one turbo. I can't find any threads/anything where someone has put a 4.2 in one of these pickups. I personally love the 4.2 in my 99, and have no complaints at all. Although that truck is just a highway cruiser, and doesn't pull anything heavier than a loaded irrigation pipe-trailer. I am just looking for some opinions from you guys. Also any hard facts would be awesome if you have any to share. So, what do you guys think about creating our very own "ecoboost" engine for our pickups?
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Post Fiend
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
Welcome to FTE!
I am hoping someone can give some hard facts/numbers on this.. I would love to experiment and create my own turbo-v6 for my 95, but I don't have the funds or the time to start experimenting.
I am hoping someone can give some hard facts/numbers on this.. I would love to experiment and create my own turbo-v6 for my 95, but I don't have the funds or the time to start experimenting.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
You are correct, the ecoboost is a 3.5l v6. I am talking about making your own from a 4.2l, simply because supposedly it shares the smallblock ford bellhousing, so it should bolt to our transmissions. The 3.5l ecoboost has a strange new bellhousing that I don't really know anything about.
The way I see it, if a smaller twin-turbo v6 is good in a newer, heavier f150, why wouldn't a bigger twin-turbo v6 be better in a lighter f150?
The way I see it, if a smaller twin-turbo v6 is good in a newer, heavier f150, why wouldn't a bigger twin-turbo v6 be better in a lighter f150?
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Post Fiend
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
Has anyone even ever thought about dropping one into one of these years of pickups before? (A 4.2l v6)
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
I wouldnt touch the idea personally. Its rgeat to hear you have had good luck with your 4.2, but they are generally kinda problematic. Intake and/or head gaskets are fairly common problems.
One could turbo a 5.0 or 5.8 probably much easier then the whole 4.2 swap, and have ten times the all around motor!
Just my humble opinion of course.
One could turbo a 5.0 or 5.8 probably much easier then the whole 4.2 swap, and have ten times the all around motor!
Just my humble opinion of course.
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Lead Driver
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From: Midwest
I know nothing of the newer motors. does the 4.2 have the same bell housing as the 4.6? a couple guys on here have put the 4.6 in our year trucks but they swapped the tranny also because the bellhousing pattern isn't the same.
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Post Fiend
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If I have been reading everything correctly, the 4.6 and 5.4 share a bellhousing, while the 4.2 still uses the smallblock pattern.
Also, the intake/headgasket issues were fixed in 98. After those years, I think those problems disappeared. I know many people like the 4.2 in the newer vehicles.
Also, the intake/headgasket issues were fixed in 98. After those years, I think those problems disappeared. I know many people like the 4.2 in the newer vehicles.
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Post Fiend
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Thanks Fryer! If I ever win the lottery I will test it out, just so you (and me!) will know for sure! If the 4.2 really does share the smallblock bellhousing, I don't see why this couldn't be a possibility. Ford decided it was a good idea for their new trucks, and it was a pretty big hit. I have seen some pretty impressive numbers coming out of the 4.2 with a single turbo, so I am curious what two smaller turbo's would do to it. Again, this is all just a thought I had, and I am digging for any information anybody has.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Central Wisconsin
Ive seen a twin turbo 4.2 before. Overall its about the same as the new ecoboost motors. the guy that had it could break the tires loose at 55, it was pretty wicked. But, it was in a 98 or 99 f150, not one of these body styles.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2001
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This could potentially be cool, if everything went well. I still would not want anything to do with a turbo 4.2 project, or any project with a 4.2 for that matter. Its like the 3.8 from the V6 Mustang. These motors were not Ford's best at all, and I'd stay away from them.
I'd rather have a stock 4.9/300 in a truck of our era. Why not just build up a 302 or 351?
I'd rather have a stock 4.9/300 in a truck of our era. Why not just build up a 302 or 351?