4.6 to 5.4 or New heads?
#124
Here is an estimate of my costs.
Motor: $2,795
Shipping: $120
Exhaust Sys
Welding $700
AC Recharge $100
Plug Wires $60
2 Forward
O2 Sensors $80
SuperChip $350
Autotap
Datalogger $210
Misc. Fluids
Connectors $100
Labor PRICELESS (Lot's of sweat equity)
Total Cost: $4,515
The welding could probably be done cheaper, but I don't have a lot of choices where I live. You also don't have to have the AutoTap, but it really came in handy to log data. I can also use it on my 1998 Mustang GT so the $210 was worth it. The $350 on the Superchip is for custom programming.
Hope this helps some others make the decision to give this swap a try. I am extremely happy with the results. Now I just gotta find a 4R100 Tranny to put in later.
Steve
Motor: $2,795
Shipping: $120
Exhaust Sys
Welding $700
AC Recharge $100
Plug Wires $60
2 Forward
O2 Sensors $80
SuperChip $350
Autotap
Datalogger $210
Misc. Fluids
Connectors $100
Labor PRICELESS (Lot's of sweat equity)
Total Cost: $4,515
The welding could probably be done cheaper, but I don't have a lot of choices where I live. You also don't have to have the AutoTap, but it really came in handy to log data. I can also use it on my 1998 Mustang GT so the $210 was worth it. The $350 on the Superchip is for custom programming.
Hope this helps some others make the decision to give this swap a try. I am extremely happy with the results. Now I just gotta find a 4R100 Tranny to put in later.
Steve
#125
#126
I got my chip in last night. Straight forward installation. Just had to modify the bracket which the PCM lays against as mine had a lip which would interfere with the chip.
Drove it to work today, and can tell a big difference in the shift firmness and shift points. Can also tell it is running way better on the AFR than what it was. Have not had a chance to really get on it as the roads are sloppy with melting snow. Seat of the pants feel is great and I can tell a big difference in the low end torque with the 5.4.
When the weather gets better later this spring, I will do another dyno pull to see what the torque and hp really is.
I will do some data logging to check out the STFT and LTFT this weekend as Mike T wants to see how it is running. We may do another burn on the chip later this spring when I know what the dyno looks like.
Totally happy now!!!!!
#127
Third round of programming
I hadn't updated this in a long time, but Mike T is continuing to work with me on the programming. I just got the chip back last week and am on the 3rd round of programming. This time it really rocks...
I had been getting a check engine light P0174 etc. Bank 1 Lean, and Bank 2 Lean. Since I got the new tune, I have not had a light again and it runs awesome. I still need to data log and want to do a dyno on it again, but I am really happy with the swap now. I have put just over 5k miles on it since I put the 5.4 in and I would do it again.
The only bad thing about the whole process is the price of 92+ octane gas....
Steve
I had been getting a check engine light P0174 etc. Bank 1 Lean, and Bank 2 Lean. Since I got the new tune, I have not had a light again and it runs awesome. I still need to data log and want to do a dyno on it again, but I am really happy with the swap now. I have put just over 5k miles on it since I put the 5.4 in and I would do it again.
The only bad thing about the whole process is the price of 92+ octane gas....
Steve
#128
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 9,417
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Steve,
How is the truck running now? Have you gotten used to the price of 92 octane gas yet? I wanted to ask you what you did with the Intake manifold runner control. As the 4.6 has the controller and your 5.4 doesn't what did you do? I have a 5.4 lined up and I will be doing the swap in the near futur. My 00 4.6 has the control and the 5.4 I am getting does not.
Did you just leave the connector hanging?
JMC
How is the truck running now? Have you gotten used to the price of 92 octane gas yet? I wanted to ask you what you did with the Intake manifold runner control. As the 4.6 has the controller and your 5.4 doesn't what did you do? I have a 5.4 lined up and I will be doing the swap in the near futur. My 00 4.6 has the control and the 5.4 I am getting does not.
Did you just leave the connector hanging?
JMC
#129
The truck is running awesome. Just replaced my tires with 285 75 16s and still have power to light them up. I have some pinging now and again due to poor quality gas, but other than that am totally happy.
I just left the Intake Manifold Runner Control loose and have had no ill effects. I have 10k miles now on the motor and since I got my chip back from MT it has been fine. I still need to do a round of data logging and should probably get a dyno run again so I can check A/F ratios etc, but since I have not had any recurring lights I am going to wait till spring to make any additional changes.
I had someone in a late 80s Camaro try to stay with me and I am sure I was hitting 110 + and was leaving him behind. Too bad the speedo stopps at 100.
Good luck on your swap!
Steve
I just left the Intake Manifold Runner Control loose and have had no ill effects. I have 10k miles now on the motor and since I got my chip back from MT it has been fine. I still need to do a round of data logging and should probably get a dyno run again so I can check A/F ratios etc, but since I have not had any recurring lights I am going to wait till spring to make any additional changes.
I had someone in a late 80s Camaro try to stay with me and I am sure I was hitting 110 + and was leaving him behind. Too bad the speedo stopps at 100.
Good luck on your swap!
Steve
#131
That was some good reading.
Either way though, 5.4 on 92 octane or 4.6 supercharged on 92 octane.... is a good option.
Thinking back, I wonder if it would have made any sense to replace your heads on the original 4.6 with rebuilt ones and just add equal-length shorty headers and while you have the heads off replace the pistons with 8.5 or 9:1 lower compression pistons, then add a procharger?
I suppose the complexity would be similar, swapping an entire motor or replacing pistons/heads.
If you were to work on the 4.6 I guess it would make sense to pull the cab off the chassis right?
Either way though, 5.4 on 92 octane or 4.6 supercharged on 92 octane.... is a good option.
Thinking back, I wonder if it would have made any sense to replace your heads on the original 4.6 with rebuilt ones and just add equal-length shorty headers and while you have the heads off replace the pistons with 8.5 or 9:1 lower compression pistons, then add a procharger?
I suppose the complexity would be similar, swapping an entire motor or replacing pistons/heads.
If you were to work on the 4.6 I guess it would make sense to pull the cab off the chassis right?
#132
I thought long and hard about rebuilding the 4.6, but the deal I got on the 5.4 was to sweet to pass up.
I still have the 4.6 and am tossing around the idea of putting a stroker 5.0 kit in it and new heads to drop into my 1998 Mustang GT, then adding a supercharger.
I am totally happy with the 5.4 swap and would do it again.
Steve
I still have the 4.6 and am tossing around the idea of putting a stroker 5.0 kit in it and new heads to drop into my 1998 Mustang GT, then adding a supercharger.
I am totally happy with the 5.4 swap and would do it again.
Steve
#134
Thought I would through an update to my project from 2003 out here. My 5.4 swap now has 50,000 miles and still running strong. Still on the original tranny which has 173,000 miles on it. Am just getting to putting new coil packs on it as I now have a miss on acceleration. I am glad I did this project and am now working on my 1998 Mustang GT getting ready to swap the heads for a Parkway Performance PI Head Swap kit.