I have the opportunity to buy a 45k 2002 lightning engine and transmission and everything else I might need to swap it into another truck. Engine is still in a badly wrecked truck. Hit hard in the passenger side door. Did not hit either wheel. What do you experts think I should pay? what are things I should check for and would this engine swap into a 98 4x4 with a 4.6 I know the trans is different for a 4x4. What other problems will I face? Motor runs good in truck but I can't drive it. Thanks, Rob

 

45K on a 2 year old truck is kinda' high. I'd use that as a bargaining point for sure.

As far as the hardware differences, these are a few I know of right off the bat:

Engine computer will be different

Under hood wring harness is different

Transmission mounts and wiring harness will probably be different

Driveshaft may be different

Radiator and shroud will be different

Exhaust will probably be different

 

Check to see if the transmission case is cracked from the side impact. You're going to need a 4R100 transmission for that engine. If you use the L transmission, you will need every part to convert a 2X4 4R100 to a 4X4 transfer case. These parts will come from a 5.4 4R100 4X4 (good luck with finding that). You will also need every part to convert to a 9.75" rear end.

 

Thanks for the replys. After a search I have found quite a bit of info on this swap. The transmission seems to be the biggest concern. I found one post that stated the transfer case would bolt up in place of the tailshaft housing on the L transmission with no other mods. Is this correct? I remember from the old days the 4x4trans used a different length main shaft than th 2x4 version. I also found a post that stated I would need to change out the trucks main wiring harness in the dash as well as the engine harness and computer. Anyone have any additional info please inform. Thanks, Rob

 

Rob,

Lookup a member by the name of LightningCrew. He went thought this for a 4x2 himself, and has helped others. This is from just getting the L engine, and starting there.

The huge things aside from the engine S/C, are the PCM, GEM, wiring harness, gauges, which now comes into another poss problem, the PCM on the L, and the 4x4 components into the PCM.

I think LightningCrew said it is about $10K when starting with just the engine to get it into a 4x2.

I have seen pulls from L's go for about $5.4K for the the engine alone ( tuner in MI ).
The trans you can get work done on it to take it to somewhere in the 600 HP range. FactoryTech can answer those questions on what needs to be done there.
The rear end, a regular 5.4L rear end ( thought that was the 9.75" ) can take it, maybe adding in a girdle. The L I thought was the 10.25" rear end ??? ( drawing a blank from the Panard Rod research some time back ).

All in, all, an aftermarket S/C with a chip tuned for your setup might be a lot cheaper then trying to transplant a L engine in the truck, when you look at the electronics of the 4x4 and the PCM and/or GEM from a L ( forgetting where all the 4x4 parts tie into the electronics at the moment ).

Either way with the L engine, or a S/C bloted to your engine, I think it is a requirement to go with the duals and a X pipe, but Crash or Skid would be the ones to ask for sure on that, I don't have a S/C installed myself.

Not to say it can't be done, but you might be better off adding in the aftermarket S/C with a chip for the tune.

Good luck