Well, I bought my 4.6L 2007 F150 last Nov. It's a base model XL but optioned like I want a truck. vinyl floors, cloth seats, 4x4, cruise, tilt and A/C with a decent radio. Icing on the cake would have been a 5 or 6 speed manual but Ford didn't offer it with a V8. I've gotten to like not shifting, but still miss it... Anyway... It's never been a powerhouse which I knew since it was a 4.6 and not a 5.4L but I didn't want the VVT 5.4L cam phaser problems so I didn't pick that truck ( choice of 2 at same price, and I picked the 4.6L truck. The 5.4 had vinyl seats too )... Well this was all well and good till I drove a 2011 5.0L for work the other day, and I want the engine but not the truck..

I know the 'economical' thing to do would be to trade in but I like the 2004- 2008 Reg cab with 4drs. The dealer has a '13 on the lot basically just like mine but I do not like the new cab. I know the 4dr reg cab was discontinued due to NHTSA ratings but I like it alot.

Now what would it take to drop in a Ford crate 5.0L Coyote? I know it's almost $9k but realistically it's less than the hit I would take on trading my truck, and I'm pretty sure I'll be upside down on a trade anyway ( and it'll be over 100k miles for a 2yr trade in so no good ) so I might as well pay it off and just keep it.

 

The "economical thing to do" would be to drive a Focus.

If you really have $9K to invest and are willing to swap an engine out... You might look into getting a 2V 5.4 (the original version, 1997-2004 for F-150) and a tuner of some kind. They made the 2V 5.4 for vans through 2014. You can find SC for the 5.4[s] also, if you still want more power.

Just having a tuner will help the 4.6.

 

well economically figuring gas MPG economical and would be to have a small car ( I wouldn't own a Focus). But I need a truck for a lot of things so once I figure trading on a car, and then buying an older truck and then insurance on them both, it's more economical for me to just have 1 vehicle.. Before this F-150 I had a '95 K1500 and a '99 Subaru Legacy SUS. Both vehicles with ins and maint costs just wasn't working so I got the F-150 and even with the payments and it's shortcomings I've spent less on it..

I did not realize that an early 5.4L will swap. I know there are new heads that won't spit plugs so it's good there. I would just want to swap to a brand new professionally rebuilt engine. I don't want to get an old used up engine.. My 4.6 needs coils and plugs too, but it's always seemed to struggle a bit with even a single horse in the 2 horse trailer tho it will pull down the road without issue

 

The Focus recommendation was a joke (but they do get 30+ mpg in town, my grandson drives one)... I also require a truck on a regular basis. I never meant that you should buy a worn out junker engine. I was thinking more along these lines. The 2V PCM should work fine with any of the 2V engines. You would probably have to change the torque converter to the 5.4 version also. And the intake, throttle body...

Ford F-150 H.O. 5.4L - Precision Rebuilt Engines

If you have a place to work;

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...e/viewall.html

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/e...8/viewall.html


Just getting a tuner will help your 4.6 a lot. Several [brands] are available. They improve throttle response, and usually have a mode specifically for trailoring...changes transmission shift points and lock-up timing, etc. I don't have horses anymore, but I've hauled some pretty heavy loads (>12K) of fire wood and scrap metal with my 4.6.

If your truck doesn't have a transmission cooler, get one.

Your horses probably don't want you drag racing with them in the trailor anyway...

 

always been curious about the 4.6 2V to 5.4 2V swap.

you mentioned the vans having the 2V 5.4..they wouldn't have the same electronics/sensors/etc on their rigs possibly?

 

Doubtful, the way most vehicles are these days. Long block should be a fairly simple swap. Just a matter [re]locating the peripherals. I've seen several threads doing this.

Of course, if you're an electrical/computer geek kind of guy, as well as mechanically inclined, you can do just about any swap you want. I've seen one 4.6 Mustang 4V installed and even a V-10 (in '04-'08 F-150s). I have neither the skill, money, or talent to attempt those.

 

Read another forum on a 4V swap on an '06 working with factory ECU program, so anythings possible I guess... From what I understand a Navigator engine is bolt in from top to bottom..
I may just try a tuner like an Edge evolution..

As far as a 5.4L 2V. Looks like Fords got OEM reman'd engines for just a tick over $3k available from any dealer 5C2Z-6006-ARM ( listed for 2006 E series ). Depending on what 4.6 parts swap it might make it easy for a 5.4L upgrade without the cam phaser rattles/hassles

This was the cool thing about working with Subaru's. from the first EJ series engine in the early 90's to the last EJ around 2008. You can swap most external parts around and it will all fit, and the ECU's can usually compensate. My last Subaru was a 1999 Legacy SUS and I had taken the POS 2.5L DOHC EJ25D and put the bulletproof EJ22E in it from a '96. Bolt in and go.. Ford Modular I know is about the same deal I just don't know what parts you have to swap to fit the puzzle togther like I do for a Subaru

 

"Modular" is more to do with factory manufacturing set up than engine part swapping.

I grew up when engines were mostly carburated, and did not "talk to" the transmissions. Anything swap-out wise was possible for a back yard mechanic then. That's why I wish I still had my first truck.

 

well, I just ordered 8 coils and picked up 8 OEM Autolite plugs from the local parts store.. It's had a starting issue for a while and had developed a rough idle more recently. I thought it was the fuel pump driver that is known to go bad and I finally got one the other day and stuck it on. Old one was on borrowed time, it was split open and came off in 2 parts, but electrically it must have still been ok.. Thinking it has to be coils and plugs causing the engine issues.. The coils were $40 on sale ( normally $80 ) and have a lifetime warranty so it's not something too expensive... I might have gotten 'lucky' and it hasn't run perfect since I've had it, so with some cheap fixes I might get the hp feel I want without an engine replacement or other costly venture ( and keep the 4dr reg cab )

I'm thinking on MB Chaos 6 wheels with some Hancook AT tires now. Discount tire is having a sale with a couple rebates on both and I can get everything shipped to my door for $1,027. My factory steel wheels were brand new replacements when I bought the truck but they don't look a year old, they rusted quick.. Will go with the factory 255 70 17

 

well, I don't know how they did it, but the company got me coils from CA to NY in 2 days

 

coils and plugs installed.. More power and plugs were deff worn but, same hard start. does it when it wants to. I've read everything from a CKP failing to a check valve in fuel pump ( I don't have an EFI pressure tester ) to leaking injectors.. is there anything that is 'common' with these?

 

Start with easy/cheap first... Have you tried cleaning the throttle body and MAF sensor (using proper cleaners for both)? Condition of air filter?

 

I was going to tackle those tomorrow on my day off. didn't have the cleaners when I thought about it on Sunday, and I live in the sticks so if the grocery store or the hardware doesent have it by 2 PM, then I gotta wait till mon. auto parts store is only open 8-noon on Sat

The MPG seems to be back to where it should be with the plug/ coil change tho