As most of you know my truck was lost in the Joplin Tornado. I have plans to purchase a 87-91(not sure which year) F150 xl 4x2 this Thursday. The body is relatively straight and rust free minus a huge dent in the driver's door, but the window cranks up and down just fine. The truck is also equipped with 4.9 and M5OD.
Q1. I have a driver's door that I bought awhile back that has a power window. Can I swap power for crank?

Q2. Would I stress out the 4.9 or the M5OD by installing a 3.73 geared 8.8?

Q3. I have never owned a 4.9 powered truck before. What are some of the known issues of this engine? I just need to keep it running till next spring when I plan to swap in the 302 out of my damaged truck. It runs a tad rough at the moment but I doubt it needs more than a basic tune up.

Thanks guys!!

 

1. yes
2. no
3. no issues, do a sixlitre tune up on your inline 6. No need to swap it out. The m5od has rubber plugs in it that are known to leak atf unknowingly and can fry the transmission. Other than that the inline 6 is just about indestructible.

 

my 95 4.9 with m5od had 3.73s till i blew the rear n swapped 3.55s

question why does every one want to swap a 5.0 in place of a 4.9?
4.9s are better on gas last alot longer cheaper to take care of better at towing
then the 5.0if i was to swap it be for a 460

 

Unless you're towing with it, there's no earthly reason to put 3.73s behind a 4.9 - and maybe not even then. You'll get better mileage and no significant loss in performance with 3.27/3.31 gears or 3.55s. I replaced the 3.08s in mine with 3.73s because I tow with it and I probably went a step too far. If I had it to do over again, I'd go with the 3.55s

 

I might say because of the aftermarket on the 302?
It gets better mpg then say a 460?
Thats why I wanted to do a 302, but am still torn with the 351...

 

If mileage is a significant factor forget about the 351. You could probably get better mileage from a 460 swap. The problem with the 302 is that you have to rev the pee out of it to get it up to its torque band. That requires bigger gears if you're going to use it to haul or tow. That adds up to more wear and tear on the engine and powertrain and it dumps your gas mileage as well.

 

The reason I'm doing the 302 swap is because my 302 isn't stock. I have done the sixlitre tune up, k&n fipk, full exhaust with x pipe and LT headers. Many people who have seen my truck agree that there is a cam in it. As to what grind we don't know. The truck was considerably quick for what it was would tow anything within reason resonably well. With all of that I still averaged 18 mpg. I love this particular engine and that's why I want it in the new truck. Plus it is my way of rebuilding after almost losing my family and my own life in the thing on May 22nd. In a way I owe it to the truck for saving my life. Call me strange I guess.

 

I know about the rubber plugs. I had a 97 4x4 m5od that I blew the shifter forks on. While the shop was in there they welded in steel caps in place of the rubber. I plan to take it to the same shop and have it done to the new one as well. Next spring I plan to get very serious about this truck. My 90 that was all but destroyed has a lot of money in it and I'm not about to just let it all go. Whatever I don't use on the new truck I plan on holding on to because we all know that we will need something sooner or later, and the minute we get rid of it, bam,, that's the part that breaks. Lol

 

Get a hurst shifter!!!! hahah, there is one for sale in the calssifieds here, it was posted awhile ago but doesn't say sold.
And with a 4.9 and 3.73's you are gunna pull from a stand still like a bat out of hell, but don't plan on going over 60-65.

 

With that said I may wait until I do the 302 swap to swap in my 3.73. I think it would be a PITA
to drive that thing in the snow like that.

BTW are the fuel pumps the same from the 4.9 to the 302? I'll have to search for the 4.9 to 302 swap thread.

 

Oh it would for sure, especially with a short box. With 3.55's in the snow mine likes to spin in circles haha.
4x4 is a must in pretty much any snow or you won't go nowhere.

 

Ok so I couldn't locate a swap thread. Could someone point me in the right direction? As of right now I'm thinking motor mounts, wiring harness, fuel lines, exhaust, and probably a few other minor things along the way. I have everything I would need in the old truck. I just need some reference from someone who has done it. Thanks.

 

No one has done it cause the 4.9 is so much better!
But seriously, I'm pretty sure the exhaust will be just about the same, but if you changed your old exhaust then you won't want stock now.
Idk about fuel lines.
You should have everything you need since you have both trucks.. right?
https://www.f150online.com/forums/pr...questions.html

http://www.powerstrokenation.com/for...t=25513&page=2
If you read through that one... 4.9 with nitrous...

But I didn't actually read all of either one so they may be useless.

 

Assuming the donor and recipient trucks are the same vintage and the same tranny type, the swap shouldn't be too difficult. You just have to get the complete wiring harness and sensor array as well as the processor from the donor. On the 92-up F150s the fuel systems are the same for the 4.9 and 5.0, don't know if that's true for 91-down. The 4.9 likes a 2.5" exhaust and is OK with a 3" so you're unlikely to have issues there. One thing you missed; the radiator ports are opposite hand so you'll need the donor radiator as well.

 

The donor truck is automatic and the new is standard. I expect to buy some parts for that. I also need a new radiator any way. The donor truck has a framing stud through it. But I'm sure everything else is there. I think the only other purchase I will make is a huge bottle of aspirin.