Thinking of getting a '99 Ex-cab w/ 5.4L. I'm interrested in changing the engine for a Lightning 5.4. Has anyone out there done this? What kind of cost am I looking at and what kind of head ache am I looking at? Would it actually be worth the effort or would it be better just to build up the motor that is in it? I'm not so much interrested in drag racing the truck, I want more pulling power.
Thanks for your help.

 

I am currently collecting parts for this swap. I have a 99' supercab/flareside 4.6. I have a supercharger kit on it. My father wants it and I have 99,000 miles on my engine. So the kit goes on my fathers truck.

So far, I have bought a 2000 lightning engine with a 2001 lightning supercharger assembly. So far, I have invested about the same cost as a USED supercharger kit. Now I am at a cross roads. How do I proceed? Do I just install what I have so far? .....do I wait and do the complete swap? .....do I sell the engine/supercharger set-up and get another supercharger kit? Here are 6 options I see:

1. If you have a 5.4, you could install the Lightning supercharger assembly-with all front pulleys and brackets/intercooler system only with a larger fuel injectors, larger fuel pump, modified egr tube, maybe a larger maf and a tuned chip and HOPE that it works (I can not find anyone that has done this). Cost = $2000 to $3000 (including shipping but no labor cost)

2. Install the lightning engine/supercharger assembly/intercooler system only with a modfied egr tube, modified exhaust/larger injectors, larger fuel pump, larger maf, (with 4.6 must change flex-fly wheel) different torque converter, tuned chip and HOPE that it runs correctly and that the trans lasts for a while (I can not find anyone that has done this). Cost = $3000 to $5000 (including shipping but no labor cost)

3. Install the lightning engine/supercharger/intercooler system/wiring harnesses/L pcm and reflash/ transmission/trans. crossmember/L. shifter cable/ custom or modifiy trans. lines/ fuel pump(s) assembly/custom lenght driveshaft/supercharged harley exhaust or partial lightning exhaust or custom exhaust or modifiy existing exhaust and it WILL work, since several members have completed this swap and I know of several more that are currently completing this swap. Cost = $ 5000 to $8500 (including shipping but no labor cost)

4. Supercharger kit. Cost = $2600 to $4600 (including shipping but no labor cost)

5. Supercharger kit and forged built block. Cost = $ 6000 to $10000 (includes shipping but no labor cost and hope your tranmission does not blow up)

6. Buy a used lightning. Cost = $19000 to $25000 (Lightning does not include a backseat, Harley does, but supercharged versions come only in a styleside bed and used prices are still high)

Note: Clueless on cost and possiblities of boring out engine.

 

WOW!!! That may be more trouble than it is worth for me. Maybe I just need to put a KB and usual bolt ons on and go about my business!!

I suppose worst case for me, I could build up the bottom end and put more boost to it. That should be plenty of grunt for pulling a car trailer.

Thanks

 

If you want "outta-the-box" low end grunt that your stock engine can handle, I recommend the Allen M90 intercooled kit (very well built and reliable kit) or the Kenne Bell Blowzilla 2.2 twinscrew kit (can get a aftermarket water (or de-natured alcohol or methynol) injection kit or have a water to air intercooler made for it by Kennedy's).

Yeah, you could get a forged kit for the engine, that WITH labor would cost around $3,000 to $4,000.

 

I pulled a 7,000 pound twin axle car trailer with my stock 98 F-150, 4x4, S/C, F/S, 3:55. (truck was loaded wall to wall, trailer was carrying a 99 EXPLORER XLT 4X4 + about 2,000 pounds of junk). from Chicago to South Western Oregon on the 101. by way of Salt Lake. average speed about 55 - 65mph, any faster and stopping gets hairy (even with trailer breaks) walked up all hills (mountains) at 3,000 rpm and averaged better than 220 miles to the top of 1/4 mark on a 25.5 tank(wife was driving).

my point is that even though you got the small V8 under the hood, you still got a full size truck with the "FORD" can did attitude!!

 

if your thinking about a 5.4 L motor conversion, your looking at a lot more work then just the motor. What tranny are you going to get to hold that power from the motor? How about the driveshaft and rear end--doubt they can hold too much from such a stout motor. Then youve got to get all the right accessory parts (raidiator, computer, and all the other componets that a 5.4 need.) It would be a big job but could be done with a lot of work.
It would make a great sleeper

 

NO NO NO NO... I'm not doing a change from a 4.6 to a 5.4 in the same truck!!!!!!!! I'm thinking of buying a different truck with the 5.4 already in it!
I was thinking of doing the mods to that truck. That would be a whole lot less head ache.

 

Check out the supercharger/turbo forum. You can get other superchargers that can out perform the stock L mods.

 

If it's already got a 5.4l, then why don't you build it and put a supercharger on it?

 

If I remember correctly, there's a guy over on FordTruckWorld that did this swap in his 98 or so SuperCab. Also if I remember correctly he was a Ford Tech, so his cost for parts was cheap. But I do remember him saying that he basically had to re-wire the whole truck as he went w/ a L computer and harness. Though it can be done, it's totally not worth the heartache, unless you've just got money to blow.
I've got a 97 w/ the 5.4 and have actually priced out modding my motor to a L spec'd 5.4 and it came out to around 7k or so. Going w/ a new L motor, along w/ the computer and stuff, it was close to 10k.
I'd recommend you either get a vortech kit or magna or KB kit than to try and go swap route. It's cheaper and LOT easier on your wallet.

 

Here's a question...

How hard is the swap going from a 4.6l engine to a normal, non-lightning 5.4l?

 

Thanks, that was some good info. I believe that you're right about just putting a KB or so on and get on with life.

 

Why not go with a navigator DOHC head setup with a 5.4L block and then get a Kenne Bell supercharger. You'll be alot more pleased with it in the end

kirkyg