My 1997 has developed a crazy knocking sound and I simply dont have the funds to tear down and rebuild. Seems to be coming from the bottom end is is displaying the signs of a rod bearing.

I have a 2000 2wd f150 4.6 WITH cops and it runs perfect and has never let me down. I recently pulled it off the road as the under body is shot along with the rad support.

My 97 is a 4wd 4.6 and uses the two coil pack system.

Can I simply swap the motors and keep all the wiring and computers in the 4x4 and just use the 2 coil pack ignition system on the other motor?

If anyone has done this first hand and can let me know if its as easy as swapping the motor or more difficult can you let me know? This truck is killing me. My 2wd has never had any problems other than maintenance and i miss it. This 4x4 which is in better shape has been nothing but issues but i want to keep the 4x4.

 

Yes, that's how you need to do it. Use the coil packs and wires. Not sure, but there may be some minor sensor issues you have to deal with.

 

Yea, use the coil packs. Everything else depends upon if you get a truck engine or car engine. I would never replace a 4six with a 4six in a truck. Since it's very simple to install a 5four. Why isn't this in the engine forum?lol.

 

Sensor issues eh? Why I would swap a 4.6 into a 4.6 is because I have an extra 4.6. I'm really happy with these motors. Just want to know if all the plug ins will plug in, computer will work, etc. I don't see why it won't but that's why I am asking. Lots of skilled members on this site that know their stuff so I'm counting on someone for these answers. Thank soo far.

 

Then your answer is again, yes. But your still not supplying all the necessary info. Do you have a "Truck" engine ? It matters as you'll need to use your current top end hardware..

If you do have a "Truck" engine (actually ANY 2 valve 4six will work from 97 to current) with COP's, use your current coil packs and engine harness. It is all plug and play besides that.

Put it this way, -It doesn't matter which coils system or on that note,- which top end, (sensors are all the same IF it's a truck engine) your spare has (car or truck). Because whatever is different, you use your existing. Simple.

That engine wasn't power improved until 2001. So programming will be spot on. Unless! You have a car engine.

That's everything you need to know. Do it, your good. Specially if a CR bearing is bad in the old one. That engines junk.

 

At least you can use the truck and plan ahead, which makes it more convenient. They can go quite awhile with that problem.

 

Brew, he said the donor engine is in a 2000 F-150 so I assume it's a truck engine.

 

Good, then he should be able everything but the coils. Unless the cold climate system/throttle body is different.

 

Awesome, I must admit its a load off to hear that this can be done with little to no issues. I really appreciate the info guys. I have never pulled or installed a motor but I'm going to have another buddy who has more experience with this. I'm thinking drive the truck easy while I pull the motor out of the 2wd one weekend and do the swap the next weekend. Any tips on pulling these motors? Better off to put a new rear main seal in too I guess.

 

|!"/$%?&*ing computer crashed while typing reply. So now I have to start over. FML. Anywho.... Your new engine has a plastic intake manifold. Your old one has a metal one. It also has 2 water temp sensors. One is for the PCM to use in running the engine the other is for the guage in the cluster. You will need to find a way to plumb these into the plastic intake manifold. No you cannot use the old metal intake on the new engine. The intake ports will not match up. You can try and might get away with a whole lot of RTV but I am not a fan for intake manifolds. You should also look into getting a tune as your new engine has Pi heads and will leave some pony's on the table with the old tune.

.

 

A 2000 5.4 is PI, but a 2000 4.6 out of a truck is non-PI. Intakes should be a direct swap if needed for sensors.

 

crappy to hear JMC but thanks for the input. I dont understand why I would have to drill and tap the sensors in. Where are the seonsors located on the new motor? It would have to have these sensors aswell right. If you are talking about the upper intake then they are both metal, I just double checked. You must be thinking of the mustang 4.6. Im really lost. Im thinking Im going to take a ton of pictures just incase and pull the motor out of the 2wd with a friends help. I have no idea where to even start. I might send the motor with the 4x4 and have a shop do the install. I will see how bad it is to remove the motor from the 2wd first. Im guessing to remove the body mounts of the cab and lift it a few inches to start. Can anyone tell me what lines are a must to remove and what isnt? Remove the fan, rad, shroud to start right. tranny cooler lines? power steering lines?

Pretty sure PI heads for trucks werent until 2001 but mustangs in 99. Not 100% on this but that is what I gathered.

 

If the intake ports don't line up, - that's news to me. JMC's usually right, unless he hit his head or something ?

As far as drilling the intake, for another sensor. No , you don't have to do that. You use a brass T fitting and splice it into a coolant hose. It's a better option.

I was under the impression the 5four engine only had to be done this way.

Again, about the intake. I've NEVER heard of Ford having 3 different intakes and heads for the truck 2valve 4.6L. NEVER

So I DON'T think you have to use your 2000 intake if it's missing a sensor. Now that I think of it, I believe he's correct about the sensor. But again, I don't see why you couldn't just use your current intake.

So Ford went to COP's and gave more responsibility to the CHT sensor in 2000. In 2001 they went to PI heads for the truck line. That's what they did.

 

I believe I know what JMC is thinking about. Possibly.

Since he mentioned RTV. Ford did have a problem with certain model years @ the intake manifold head connections. Ford has a special gasket for those model years. It's actually thicker on one side and was a revision. So if you use the 2000 intake, you may have to get those gaskets from Ford.

That has to be what he's referring to.

 

Don't yuh hate that, -now you need another beer..Eeh