I am completing a 4.6L swap in my '97 F150. I just noticed that my throttle body on the salvaged motor does not have any connectors (nipples, barbs, etc...) for my vacuum lines. Just three holes in the body. My old throttle body has three connectors that appear to be pressed in from the factory. Any ideas on how to connect the vacuum lines to the throttle body? The obvious solution would be to swap throttle bodies; however, due to the condition of the old one that is not an option. Help is appreciated.

 

I would go buy the other throttle body for it and be done.

 

Take some pics, let see what you got. If your pics are good, I'll connect the dots for yuh, -even color code it correctly.

 

As I upload a picture, I'd like to confirm with you that I do indeed know where each vacuum line goes. My issue is that the replacment throttle body does not have the connectors that the vacuum line push onto. I simply have holes in the body and nothing to physically attach the vacuum lines to.

 

Alright, well, instead of me guessing, do you mind posting where the engine came from ? Perhaps, model year/engine year, something...

Your post reads : "I am completing a 4.6L swap in my '97 F150". I haven't any info to go on. How could I know where the new engine came from ? I don't.

Yes there's more than one Vac harness configuration and two type of plenums.

That's why I said post some pics, I can tell from looking at it, if your not sure where the engine came from..

 

Picture 1 is my old throttle body. The next 3 are from the replacement engine which is from a '98 2wd. Do I need to find a new throttle body or are there conncetors that can be inserted into the body?

 

I not sure what your talking about. I thought you wanted vacuum routing @ the plenum. (?)

What's the problem your having with the the throttle body ?

 

Well, I read thru it again twice. I still can't make heads or tails of your problem. If you use the windows program "paint" , you can circle what your referring to if you don't know what it's called. That way I'll know for sure, what we are talking about here.

 

Yeah, I should have just done this from the get go.

I do not have the barb connectors which are circled on my recently installed throttle body. Are these pressed in from the factory?

 

Yea, pictures can help tremendously


Yes, they are aluminum and right, barbed on one side. Yes,- pressed in and that's all they are. The aluminum barbed end digs into the aluminum port sealing the fitting.
They can be remove if your lucky. Some can, some won't budge because the barb can dig into the port when extracting. I've gotten a few out successfully (no damage),- and some just wouldn't budge.

BTW - That's the plenum. The throttle body attaches to it. Some refer to it as the throttle body elbow to differentiate.
____________________________________

 

Can I purchase these barbed fittings and press them into the new plenum or should I spend the time and effort cleaning out all the hardened BS on the plenum shown and reuse it?

 

Also, neither set up has the Factory FORD cold climate system. So plenum and TB for 97-98 should be identical.

What changed with some, -

In 99, Ford used a Top Pull TB with some models. Also they're were plenum changes. Main Vac was connected/opposite side and into a port that you don't have in the pics. Like this circled in red -


_______________________________

Another plenum change was with the back PCV port. Some models include ths port at the manifold vs plenum, like this -

 

I don't think you can purchase those from Ford. I would just use the correct TB and plenum. Since carb cleaner works fast at cleaning it up. Make sure none of the EGR ports are sealed shut.

I have used a 3" cupped wire wheel drill attachment iinside the body for cleaning. But that depends on the situation. I used a wheel sander attachment, then polished as well/ buffing wheel/red rouge or jewelers polish. You can also purchase automotive pipe cleaners fairly cheap. I cut the ends off , chuck them up in a drill motor and use them to ream out the plenum ports real quick

 

 

Thanks for your input and insight!