I have a 1998 F150 with a 4.2L V6. The engine has recently failed. Hydrolock/bent rod etc.
I have removed the engine and it don't appear to be rebuildable. Broken parts and secondary damage.
I have a chance at a good 4.2L from a 2003 F150 and would like to know if there are any inherent problems with this possible swap from 1998 to 2003.

Larry

 

Blown 5.4 FTW the motors out any way so you might as well that just my .02

 

I think he meant "Blown" as in blown up.

I'm not so sure because the 99+ ECU was totally digital whereas the 97-98 were analog readouts, along with the 99s introduction to PATS. I could be wrong.

 

Raptor I ain't no fool I knew what he meant. But I was saying if I was in possesion of the truck when it went there would be a 5.4 in it now not a rebuilt 4.2.

And if he's swapping ecu's also it just adds to the case for the 5.4 swap

 

you sure you're from texas?

 

Not everyone needs or wants a 5.4 - there's nothing wrong with just replacing the 4.2 if you are happy with the way it was. There's a lot more to dropping a V-8 into a V-6 truck than just swapping the engine and other necessary parts.

 

Thanks for the interest. I'm not too interested in upgrading the power at this point. The engine I was thinking about using is out of a 2003 truck with about the same option list. My hope was to escape the wiring and ECU changes by changing the intake manifold and using my old intake on the newer engine. My thought was that the engine would be the same from the heads down (Long Block). Not sure yet. Body and rest of the running gear is in excellent condition otherwise I would probably not even think about the work. Big empty engine bay now though.

Larry

 

does it have the composite intake or aluminum?

 

Not sure yet. I'm supposed to see it Saturday if the seller shows up as agreed.
In the meantime I have a chance at a used from a salvage yard. $1200 complete with lifetime warranty. Doner truck had over 400,000 kilometers on it. I'm thinking the engine (considering the problems with the 4.2) has been replaced in that time but no history to back it up. I'll look at that one Monday or Tuesday. All tests are good but nobody has looked at the bottom end.
I'll post what I find in the 2003 engine once I see it.

 

guys: you need to get your facts straight before posting. he could swap in a 5.4 w/ his current pcm. ford's pcm's are transmission-based. it would run like crap and need a tune, but after a retune he would be ok w/ the current pcm. don't complicate the swap more than it needs to be.

 

Mini, I think he established that he isn't interested in doing a 5.4 swap.

 

The guy with the used engine showed up as promised. The engine appears to be identical to my junked unit. Aluminum intake etc. One piece plenum.
I have the engine torn down to the block and will be changing the intake gaskets once in the vehicle. Here's hoping it works....if not there should be enough parts between the two engines to make one good one. Hate to have to take it out again. Don't look like a 2003 to me but who knows.
I'll let you all know how it works out. I hate the odds.

 

good luck. post if you need help, I'll let glc answer them for ya

 

Looks like the engine was a junkyard engine put into a 2003 truck with 116,000km on it. That truck was wrecked and the engine is now a second generation junkyard engine. Probably has 4 million km on it for all I know.
Anyone need a few pounds of nice hardened sludge to patch their roof, let me know. LOL
Should be ready to start installing the engine this weekend. Will know next week if it works. Think I better keep the old one for awhile for parts.
The sega continues....