I have a smallish turbo that a friend of mine gave me and as things go I want to use it, so I have been looking into things to get it going. I know all about the different parts I will need and what I will need to get it going my question is with two identical engines will there be significant gains with one over the other if they are both turboed with a smallish turbo.

I say small because my friend that gave it to me was originally going to put it on a 6 cylinder car but then sold said vehicle.

So the comparisons would be:

1997 4.6l Non-PI vs 1997 5.4l Non-PI

2000 4.6l PI vs 2000 5.4l PI

would the power gain be worth getting a newer engine(junkyard) and rebuilding/building it up or just rebuilding the '97 4.6l engine I already have and getting PI heads in the process. Also how would the PI heads effect the compression of the engine.

I guess I should say I am usually towing/hauling with my truck and ocassionaly driving at my deer lease and on the beach but racing and mudding are not things I do with this truck.

 

start with figuring out what the turbo is before you try to go any further

 

starting a turbo project on a 20 year old daily driver because you got a free turbo....not a good idea.

whats your budget? Do you have the extra change for a new motor and transmission if (when) they blow?

if you have a 200 hp motor and with a modest turbo you make 300, after several thousand in modes, why not just sale the truck and purchase a 2005 up 5.4 with 300 stock?

 

Well I'm either gonna rebuild the current engine or buy and rebuild a 5.4l with new parts so no not turboing a twenty year old engine, as for the transmission I'm looking for a zf5 or zf6 out of a 1999 or 2000 f250 so it will be much stronger than my current m5od

Also this truck isn't a daily driver so if when the motor blows I'm not stuck without a vehicle and since I'm not in any sort of rush this project isn't going to happen till after rebuild a motor which is why I'm trying to find out if I will be losing out on a lot just rebuilding a 4.6l non pi engine vs getting a 5.4l pi engine and rebuilding that

 

so this body lift you're gonna need...

 

To me there would be more aftermarket parts available for a Lighting type transplant.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-F150-LI...-/172332542490

$6k is a bit high but it's just an example.

 

I did a 3 inch body lift a few years ago since I had wanted to do the transmission swap then but didn't have the money now ask me if I will ever do a body lift on my own again and I will emphatically say no I also understand why the body lift cost just over a hundred bucks and the labor is about 5 or 6 times that

 

I had thought of it but I guess as far as what I want to do with the engine I'm still on the fence, like I know I want the zf transmission and I want the 9.75 rear end but ad far as the engine goes I'm still looking into things top see what route might be best for towing and maybe off roading but not muddying or racing

 

The main reason for suggesting the roots/Lysholm type of FI is that has been the standard performance upgrade for the 5.4 series of engines. When you go with a turbo there is going to be a lot of custom tuning and fabrication required to make it reliable. That said, a Turbo install would be fun.