Hello, I'm by no means young, but I am new to this forum. And new to owning an F150, which, unfortunately, came to me with a blown motor. I'm looking for an inexpensive junk yard replacement, but I'm confused by too much Internet information as to just what engines are compatible, and why (or why not).

The truck is a 1999 F150 4x4 XLT with tow package. It has a (blown) 5.4L Triton. The 8th digit of the VIN is 'L' which apparently matters when crossing the engines. Im not sure how many valves, but I think it is 2 as there are no identifying markings that the truck is flex-fuel compatible.

So, my question is - how specific is the engine to this truck, or will virtually 'any old' 5.4L fit it? And, what differences are there between Ford 5.4L engines that could become 'gotchas' when trying to do the replacement?

Thanks for any and all help!

 

Yours is a 2 valve 5.4.

Any 97, 98, & 99 year model F series including Super Duty and vans will have a compatible engine. If you use a van engine you will need to change some external stuff with your existing engine. No big deal there as long as your oil pan and stuff is still intact.

Gotcha would be trying to mix and match anything later than 99 with Power Improved heads. The intake & head ports don't match between PI and earlier engines. The short block will work but they have different piston dish so the compression ratio will be different if you mix and match. This is good if you had a later PI engine already but not good in your case.

You will identify the later power improved heads by the PI stamp in the head casting # just above the exhaust manifold.

 

Sam, would not a 2001- 2003 motor with the improved heads from an F150 be a better choice ?.. but you need to get the newer manifolds / basically complete engine exchange ? Don't think there is much different in the wiring or sensors to cause a problem ?
---------- 2004 motors and later would not be a good match.

 

Hey Sam IM, thanks for the info. What is the deal with the 8th digit of the VIN? Seems like a big deal when looking at reman engine websites...

 

Sure it is a better engine, but like you said there is more to change and it doesn't match what he already has, including the PCM. My understanding was that he was asking about direct swap engines which would be any 5.4L 2 valve non PI.

Any vehicle's VIN 8th digit tells which engine was originally put in it. L was the only 5.4 from 97-99* so it is not that big a deal, get another L. But there were 2 different 4.6L engines Romeo VIN W & Windsor VIN 6 and there are several things about them that are different so it is important on them to know which you have. Then there was the 4.2L V6 VIN 2 which was a completely different engine family and even used a different transmission bell housing bolt pattern.

*aside from the supercharged Lightning engine

 

Got it, Sam I AM. Thanks. And you are right, I just want to put in a working engine, not modify anything or make this any harder than engine out, nuther engine in!

 

Ive swapped P.I. Engines with non P.I. Engines and vice versa. An f250 and f350 engine will work but you will have to swap the intake, or at least the throttle body elbow to install your EGR. there are a couple sensors that may need to be swapped over, but its very easy. I have a 1997 shortblock with 2001 heads. I just swapped over the intake from a p.i. motor and was good to go. I'd say any 5.4 from 1997-2003 expedition, excursion, f150 or econoline van would be an easy swap, just make sure you get the intake too if you go with a P.I. Engine

 

Hey HighCompression, I've spent the last few weeks looking on e-bay and calling junk yards, and am still not at the comfort point to order an engine. I wanted to know if the PCM presents any problems if swapping to a newer PI engine? My local scrap yard has a 2001 with the manifolds (and maybe some other stuff). They say that their computer shows the 5.4L "L" engine for the 1999 to be a single year only. 97/98 are interchangeable, but not 99. They have no idea why or what is different.

So I'm thinking of trying the '01 based on the experiences you shared. I just don't want to use up my allotment of curse words on this job! You think it will bolt up to the motor mounts, tranny, and exhaust pipe ok? Then, I guess it is really just a matter of fuel and electrical needs, and I'm spooked by PCMs and their compatibility. Any foreseeable issues there???

 

If you get a complete engine, it will be easy to swap over. If you want to make sure all your sensors plug in, Just unbolt the engine wiring harness(that's one great reason to love fords) and unplug all your sensors on the old engine (including 02 sensors) and plug it into the new engine. if something is different, simply swap the sensor from the old engine into the new one.

One thing to check before you buy is if you have a sensor plugged into the bottom front of your intake. If so you have the electronic dual plane manifold and may want to find a P.I. motor that has that aswell. Only other thing I can think of is rerouting your heater hoses as the P.I. intake I have on my 97 was routed differently. (really no big deal)

Even running an (Unplugged) Dual plane manifold from a 2000 on my 97 that didn't come with a dual plane manifold, P.I. Heads on a NPI block and a stock tune on my 97 computer, It runs great, has no check engine light, passes smog, tows like a beast, and will peg leg its 285 tire to 75mph.

Happy to answer any other questions, I know it can be stressful

Just out of curiosity does it have an aluminum intake or plastic/aluminum? any pics of the current motor?

 

Hi C - Thanks for the reply! Not sure about the intakes, I'll get some photos today for you to see what I have. In the thread above, Sam said the PCM would be an issue going to a PI engine - are you saying that if I keep all the wiring and sensors that are on the truck now that the PCM would not need changing?

 

I just had a junkyard engine put in my 99 F150 (4.2L). Got it from LKQ auto parts. They have a database that searches all over the Country for what you want based on your VIN number. The one I got had 50k on it. Runs great.


carl