I am going to replace the 4.6 in my 98 F150 with a 5.4. I have found some pretty good swap notes out there but still have a couple questions. What year would be the best to drop in. From reading swap notes I can use the Coil pack from my 4.6 if I stay with a year model 99 (Dont want to go with 98 year model since 99 had a bunch of performance improvements). Would a 99 be the way to go or would it be more advantages for performance reasons to go with another year and swap the coil packs.

I am looking to drop in a remanufactured engine. I have been looking at a high torque 5.4 from Carolina Machine Engines (
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<o>). Does anybody have experiance with this remanufacturer or can you recommend any others?</o>
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I finished this up successfully but wanted to provide some additional feedback, and perhaps warnings to others who wish to do this swap. Firstly the 4.6 to 5.4 swap noted found on the site are a must. The really helped tremendously. Here are a few more observations from my swap (98 (4.6) to 99(5.4):
1) The intake is different and it was not easy to find a new one. Ford no longer makes them, and I couldn't find an OEM on line anywhere. I tried buying a dorman only to find that none of the bolts on locations were the same. Cheep plastic thing anyway. I ended up finding one in the junk yard but its getting hard to find 99-01 5.4L in the yard, at least around me in MD.
2) The chain cover is different so you need to find one of those. These were easier to find but I go to a pick your own yard and its a pain to get it off.
3) The chain cover bolts are different (larger). If you get your chain cover from the yard, keep the bolts. If not you will have to go to Ford to get the double threaded studs. Most of them weren't too expensive at the dealer but they wanted $40 for two of them. I found those two in the yard.
4) Per the swap notes you have to drill and tap the intake manifold. No big deal except the drill and the tap will run you about $40.
5) The valve covers are different, as are the bolts
6) The vacuum connections to the throttle body and the intake differ. The swap notes might call this out but I cant remember. There is at least one on the TB you need to cap. I took my notebook to the junk yard and mapped the 5.4 lines. I compared to the 4.6 and figured out what went to what based upon functionality. The extras got capped.
7) You need the 5.4L Throttle Body
8) There are a couple other little gottyas as well but for the life of me I cant remember what they are right now.


I was going to do this swap on my other F150 but after the last one; no WAY. I am going to buy a remanufactured the 4.6 with the guts to handle a Turbo Charger instead. I would recommend having a 5.4L available for parts before going down this road, unless you plan on spending lots of time in the yards searching for parts. If so, you will most likely find them on Expeditions.