Does anyone have experience with these?
I'm very likely doing a 4.6 to a 5.4 swap and need to get a converter.
Hughes recommended a 53lxtm. Summit has it, it but it says for a 4r70w. I have 2 concerns:
1) will the torque multiplication factor be correct considering most 4.6 engines had the 4r70w tranny with a different multiplier than the 5.4? The tech at hughes didn't know.
2) are the aftermarket converters really that good? They claim more power to the ground, better mpg, and a cooler running tranny = longer life.

Thx

 

Did you ever determine the converter to use. I am in the exact same situation right now (swapping a 98 4.6L to a 5.4L). How did that turn out by the way? I am finding that there are more differences in the 2 engines than I first thought.

 

If you are going to do the swap right, it is more involved than most would admit. I added long tubes to complicate things but they were worth the headache. It's like having variable valve timing. The engine pulls hard through the entire rpm range... once you get the tuning right!
JMC made a big deal out of torque multipliers on the converter and it may very well be. Hughes was confident the 53 lxtm was the right converter for the job. I have only put about 2k miles on the truck since the swap... much if which was heavy towing 7k lbs +. I have no regrets on the converter. So far worth every penny!
Take your time and good luck!
Btw, the Hughes converter is by no means a requirement, but since I am towing way more weight, I wanted something bullet proof that would help my tranny hold up to the heat.

 

I agree with the "Its more than most people will admit" part. Most the folks on these chats make it sound simple. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be and I am finding out my hunch was correct. First folks made it seem like the parts would swap right off the 4.6 and onto the 5.4. Seems like I had to replace everything as nothing fits. Also learning that part like an intake manifold for a 1999 F150 are getting hard to find. I just about have everything back together though. Reconnecting the electrical will be the next challenge I fear. That were my genius friend Tom comes in. :-) Thanks for the info on the converter. I just ordered one before I saw your response though. I am sure I am going way over board and paying to much, but I got a precision industries multidisc converter. I only tow about 20% of the time (when I do its about 7-8k of trees for firewood) and the other 80% is on the road. The mutlidisk is supposed to be the best of both worlds so I bellied up with the dollars. Bought brought the piggy bank though. Get the converter in 10 days and hope to have the engine in and running by the following week. Then off to the dyno. Hopefully no surprises; but I always have them. Thanks again and really glad to hear you were successful!!

 

When you get to the part with the extra coolant temp sensor, let me know. I will send you a photo of the cure Ford would be proud of!

 

I guess I am ready as I did not know there was an extra coolant temp sensor. Would appreciate any input you can offer. Thanks!

 

Hoping you can help me out with something. I notice that the 98 4.6 has a sensor on the front of the Lower Intake Manifold and the 99 intake does not. What is this sensor? Also, what did you do with this during the swap? Can I tune it out, or should I try and use the 98 Lower on the 99 Upper?

Thanks!

 

It's not a sensor. It is a motor that controls the intake runner. Tie it off to the side until you can get it tuned off. After you have it turned off you can remove the motor.
I don't know of anyone that has has used the 98 lower with the 99 upper. Making more bottom end would be nice, but my guess is the 98 lower won't bolt up or won't flow enough air anyway.

 

Thanks. I might play around with that anyway. The bottoms look exactly alike except for the intake runner. I might pop them off and compare to see if there are any other differences. The gasket came with the gasket set so I really have nothing to lose except some time.

 

Thanks for all you input BTW. Greatly appreciated. Cant wait for the torque converter to show up so I can get going again.