Hello all,

I'm hoping that someone here can offer me an educated answer to this question.

When replacing a 4.6L in a '97 F150, what if any changes would I have to make to install a new model year engine? (A '99 for example)

Just for some back ground, the truck has nearly 200,000 miles, still looks good and runs decent too. But the trany was starting to have problems before I deployed and I doubt time in storage has made it better.

So I figure I'll save money in the long run if I replace the Engine at the same time that I'm replacing the Transmission.

Thank you, in advance to anyone who answers,
Doug

 

I just did the same thing, I just had to replace the lower intake, the guy at Ford told me 97 and 98 lower intakes would interchange. (mine was no good off of my old motor) and I was not able to find one at any local parts store, had to pay Ford prices at the dealership. Good Luck

 

Use an 01 or newer 4.6L. The 4.6L in the trucks didn't go to PI heads till 01. The 5.4L went to PI heads in 99

 

make sure you check the tag number on the motor to make sure it is the same also depends on which engine plant it was made in romeo or windsor.
should be able to tell by vin number.

 

As long as it was installed in a truck thats all that matters.......it don't matter what engine plant it came from.

 

Yes, it can matter. Some engines have knock sensors, some don't. Some engines have ECTs, some have CHTs. Using an engine from a different year with different sensors can complicate your job if you aren't careful.

 

So far my answers have only grown.

I recall now that in '99 the 4.6's went to Coil on Plugs. Which I'd like to stay away from. As everything I've read about them makes them sound like a PITA.

What I'm considering is either getting a crate engine or a long block. So either way, I'd be reusing or replacing the sensors and wiring harnesses.

So is there anything, with the bear bones engine that makes a differnce, that can't easily be worked around.

Going with the 01 for PI heads does sound good, though.

Doug

 

Can't you go with an '01 with the PI's and ditch the COP's? You can just use the coil packs & wires and your wiring harness, AFAIK...

And BTW, thanks for serving our country. We are proud of you guys!

 

No it really doesn't. Use all your sensors and harness from your existing vehicle. What you have to worry about is if your vehicle was equipped with an external oil cooler or not

 

Yes you can. you also have to use the front cover that cam with your vehicle so that it has mounting for the coil packs

 

I'm in the same boat. From what I found previously:
If you put a PI engine into your truck, you'll need a new wiring harness and instrument cluster.

That alone scarred me away. I wanted to put a Lightning engine in my truck...was way easier to just put a Procharger on what I had.

 

Dan,

I've been to navistar a couple of times. Last stop before you get into Iraq or first stop entering Kuwait. I'll be going back through there in a couple of months when we head back over there. Good luck with your motor and tranny replacement. Let me know how it went cause when I get back I'll be doing the same thing.

 

Dan,

I'd invite you to drop in to say hello. But unless things change, I'll be back in Fort Living Room taking orders from Kitchen 6 in five to six weeks.

Oh and crawling around my F150 installing everything that's waiting for me in the garage.

Doug

 

Thanks for serving our country! I was over in 90-91 the first go-round with the 101st. Man, there was a little town called rafha where you could get the best gyros in the world!

Anyway. I am swapping a 2001 5.4l into my 97 that has a 4.6l. They bolt up the same. Taller deck height means mods for the headpipes. Lot more power than stock 97. I have to change one connector for the knock sensor, tap the intake for the coolant sensor. I am reusing my coil packs and factory harness. Hope this helps. Yes i have to make a bracket for the coil packs. Oh, i am also adding comp xe262ah cams for a little more power along with a lightning upper elbow and throttle body. Wish i could get a s/c. Just because you put in a PI motor does not mean you have to change your harness, but talk to Troyer performance and have them tune it for you. they are working on mine now.
Come home safe

 

Here are a few FYI's for the 4.6 in the F-150.

The 4.6 blocks from 1997-04 heritage are interchangeable. The 1997-1999 engines used coil packs and starting in 2000 switched to COP ignitions. In 2001 the 4.6 got the Pi heads. In the 97-98 years the engine management used both a Cylinder Head Temperature Sensor and Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. In 1999 they dropped the ECT. The 97-98 engines also had an Engine Coolant Temperature Sender. This provided a signal to the instrument cluster. You can use any model year engine from an F-150 and reuse your 1998 PCM wire harness, coil packs and plugs. If you choose an engine without a ECT sensor then you will have to tap the crossover on the intake manifold and install a bung for both these coolant sensors. If you stick with a Non Pi head engine you can reuse your old intake manifold which already has the temp sensor bungs.

Ignitions
1997-99 Coil pack with plug wires
2000+ COP

Engine temperature monitors
1997-98 CHT (Cylinder Head Temperature) ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature) and Engine Coolant Temperature Sender for instrument cluster reading.
1999+ CHT only. The other temp sensors were dropped and the PCM sends a signal to the instrument cluster for the gauge using the CHT reading.

Heads
1997-2000 non Pi
2001+ Pi heads.
2003 Improved Pi heads with fully threaded spark plug holes.

Crankshafts
Romeo (vin w) uses 6 bolt and Windsor (vin 6)engines use 8 bolt Flex plates.

Intake manifolds
Non Pi are not interchangeable with Pi. Plastic manifolds started in 2001.

JMC