Got sidetracked. I was asking about cost. Does anyone have an estimate on how much a complete 4.2 to 5.4 swap would/should be?

I was thinking I'd put aside about 4-4.5 grand.

 

yeah but one thing about the hemi, and my brother in law loves his to death and hates this, you step on the gas pedal and it hesitates before it gets going, if it was quicker on take off then there'd be no chance for the ford.

 

I have a 2005 Dodge Magnum Hemi. Yes, mine had some hesitation at first. But a superchips program fixed that. It only added 12 hp and 15 ft lbs of torque, but the throttle response and drivability was much improved with the program.
They typically have MDS which shuts off 4 cylinders when you are cruising steady and there is just a tiny bit of hesitation when I step on it and it goes back to using all 8 cylinders. I don't notice it unless I'm looking for it.

I love my 02 F150 but I also love my Magnum Hemi.

 

Go wherever your money leads you. I think you will be happy with either. I'm more of a torque fan so the 5.4L swap gets my vote. It's all possible.

 

There are other things to factor. The hemi does not put it's torque down until
4500rpms and it's peak hp until 5400rpms where as the 5.4 puts the tq down almost instantly at 2500rpms and hp at 4500rpms. The tq alone says the f150 would get the jump. Throw in some laggy shifts in the dodge and the F150 can hold him off for a bit. It's no secret the hemi has better numbers and is a great motor. But I wouldnt count out a 5.4L just based on the numbers.


Some people simply won't drive a vehicle just because of the way it feels sitting behind the wheel. Something Ive never liked about dodge.

 

I was really just suggesting that you can, and need to, widen your search from 00-03 single cabs. You can get ANY truck with a 2V 5.4 in it.

Total cost should be merely the cost of the donor truck and a BUTTload of your time. I'm sure there will be other things, but once you have a truck, you're looking at a majority of the cost right there. I'm saying all of this knowing very little about the actual swap, so Google for the many existing threads that people have already documented their swaps in.

Also, I wouldn't rule out searching for trucks down south to pick from. Sure you'll have to pay to drag it back, but chances are you'll be able to locate a much nicer truck to begin with, on top of drastically increasing your search range. We keep our trucks longer down here because they don't get eaten by salt, so there are more, nicer trucks to pick from.

 

Know what, I'm just gonna save up about $4500 and hopefully I don't use it all.
Plus I can sell my 4.2 + transmission, rear end, wiring, radiator, driveshaft, etc.

And yeah. I mean, dodge is cool, but in terms of a "small" full size truck, I like the F150. I just like the way it looks. I know other companies do things better sometimes, but it's what I like. Nothing wrong with Dodge trucks, but I like what I've got.
If 4 grand can get me a good upgraded V8, I'll be happy.

 

Dodges are crap. Those fake Hemis are great, while they're in one piece haha. Buying a dooodge isn't a solution haha

 

One of the best things about the fake hemis is the spark plugs are in the middle of the heads and they are a breeze to change. I've heard a lot of folks blast the Dodge truck transmissions but the Magnum/Charger/300 hemis are coupled to a really tough Mercedes transmission. Don't know about the trucks.

In 1970, I bought a 70 Mustang Fastback, 302V8, C4 auto, and 8"rear. In 1977 I started lusting for a Pontiac Trans Am 400 like the Bandit drove. I couldn't afford one so I decided to make my Mustang faster and handle better. I put the largest sway bars that Addco sold on the front and rear, put 428 Mustang coil springs in the front, wider Mach I wheels on it. Then I bought a 69 Cougar from a friend. The body wasn't so great but the drive train was low miles. So, I switched the 351W 4 barrel carb V8, the FMX transmission, and the 9" rear to my Mustang and put the Mustang drive train in the Cougar. Then I switched the power disc brakes from the Cougar to the Mustang. I had my faster better handling car that I wanted. I ended up selling the cougar for more than I paid for it a year later. So, the entire conversion cost me very little. I humiliated several Trans Ams with that Mustang. The 69 engine was still high compression with no emission controls and it was strong, basically a 69 Mach I Mustang drive train.

 

I work at a dealership and see every make all the time, all models. The worst is Chrysler, and Mercedes isn't far behind. So I will never be buying one until I see proof that they've improved, except Fiat owns them, so . . . the potential for improvement is small

Good story with the Mustang though. That right there IS hot rodding.

 

There are some single cab 2wd 4.6's out there. find one with some miles on it at a cheap price and a 5.4 will drop right in with minimal changes... If you are still set on having power in a single cab

 

If you want a big boost in performance for not much money, you can just change out the rear gears with 4.10s or higher numerical ratio and it will run like it had a 5.4. While you are at it, put in a Ford traction lok rear. The Ford traction loks are not that expensive the last time I looked.

 

I would consider the 5.4 swap. http://car-part.com Look up the price of the engine and transmission. Should be about $2000.00 combined. You will also need the 5.4 PCM and engine harness. Talk to the scrap yard where you purchase the engine and transmission to see if they kept the PCM. Some yards just cut the harness but some of them unplug them. Try to find a 1999 engine from an F-150. It should have a forged crank so you won't have to get one later. You will encounter PATS issues as your PCM, instrument cluster are matched as well as your keys. Some programming will need to be done to make them work together. You will eventually destroy the 8.8 rear end but you can get to that later. You will have to tweek the exhaust to make it fit.
Tweek means to cut, bend, weld and cuss.

 

When I destroyed my second 5.4, I found it was easier and cheaper to find V10's. I don't think any of the 2V V10's had PATS (not sure) and I found you a V10 and tranny for $500.


http://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/4423257083.html

You guys knew it was coming, right?

 

Or he could buy your truck, right?!