I have a 2001 F-150 with the 5.4L Engine (PI Heads).

In my garage, I have a set of 2003 Lightning heads with about 10k on them.

Is there any difference in these heads? Cams? Plug threads? Anything else?

 

HI!... Both sets of "P.I" heads you have are exactly the same, including the cams, except that the "03" heads should have 8 threaded sparkplug holes and the "01" will only have 4.

 

Thanks Neal. I figured you would know. It looks like you know the 5.4L engine better than most.

If I launch a plug, I guess I'll be ready!

 

HI!... I launched a plug a few months ago. Probably due to I change plugs quite often, about 4 times a year. I launched the P/S front, so at least it was easy to get to. Took JMC and I about 35 minites to fix it with the head on the truck. We used a 9 thread TIME SERT. My new "03" FOX LAKE STAGE 2 heads have had all the sparkplug threads replaced with titanium TIME SERT's.

 

will a 2000 f-150 have pi heads

 

99 up 5.4 got PI heads
i believe 4.6 got PI heads in 2000 or 01

 

4.6 started in 2001 model year....

 

Thanks for backing me up Red!

 

So.....

If you have a forced induction system on a 5.4, should you do the "Time Sert" or "Big Sert" as a form of preventive maintenance to all eight (8) sparkplug holes????

.....in other words......

I would like to do the Time Sert (or Big Sert?) to all eight (8) sparkplug holes, since the engine is on a stand with no intake mounted to it yet, but I might screw something up, if I remove the heads (removing front cover, timing chain, etc.).

However, until I saw Neal's post, I thought the blown plug issue was caused by the sparkplugs working loose or the use of anti-seize on the threads. Yet, if it can happen to Neal, that tells me that checking the tightness of the sparkplugs on a routine bases, is not enough to prevent this.


(Sorry cerucker, if this deviates from original thread issue)

 

No problem, I just wanted to see how useful my extra set of heads was.

 

how do you do the "time sert" mod ?
sorry never heard of it and my motor is out so now is a good time... sert!!! ha!

 

http://www.timesert.com/
or
http://www.timesert.com/bigsert.html
and
http://www.timesert.com/FAQ.html

It is a "tap and die" operation. Most use it to install new sparkplug threads, where the originals were blown out or stripped. I would like to use this kit to increase the amount of threads in the 5.4 heads, from 4 threads to 7 or 8 threads.

You can do this with the heads bolted to the shortblock by somehow using grease to catch the metal shavings. Unsure, how to proceed, if you want to do this to all eight (8) sparkplug holes. Would be nice, to just remove the heads, but that means removing the front engine cover, removing the timing chain from the cam sprockets, getting new head gaskets, installing new head bolts and torquing them in the correct amount and sequence.............for iron horse, that might require too much skill. haha!

............what about applying some "blue" loctite to the threads instead?

 

If you decide that you need more valuable garage space and wish to get rid of those old, tired, unusable 03' Lightning heads............let me know, and I will be glad to dispose of them, for you!

 

thanks, this thread has been big help!