I posted this in the tuning section also, but thought this might be a better place for info. I am replacing my '97 265k mile 5.4 (bad head finally) with a 6k mile 2003 5.4 engine. The only info I can find on the forums is a 4.2/4.6 to 5.4 swap, not 5.4 non PI to 5.4 PI... I know I will need some custom tuning, and was thinking probably Troyer/Superchips was the way to go after reading many posts. Does anybody have any specific advice on this swap and its necessary tuning? Thanks in advance!
-Blake

 

just tuning...

 

So the mechanical part of the swap is basically bolt and go? And Troyer will do a custom tune for the 97 PCM to compensate for the later PI motor? Any idea how much the custom tune will run me on top of the $400 for their tuner?

 

THe price of the tuner comes with the tunes. Also why don't you try to just get the computer that the engine came with if you want to be cheap and driveable.

 

I considered that, but I haven't priced it from the yard I am getting the engine from. I wanted the tuner to use for checking my CEL's and for the transmission tuning and such, which would be a nice added feature for the swap.

 

here is a thought, get the new computer and the tuner anyway. Also, it may cost more because of the tuning involved. I could be completely wrong here, but I would think tuning that new motor with the current PCM would be a little different than just doing a normal tune.

 

If I am getting the tuner I wouldn't really need the later PCM also...

 

HartmanMS,
Your truck is the first version of the "restyled" F150 (1997 year) and the computer changed in 99. There have been early f150 owners that did the computer change to install Lightning motors in their 97-98 year and it was a PIA. You have to change everything, the computer, the wire harness and the dash pod. I'm not sure if the 5.4 had coil packs or COP but if it has coil packs, that’s another issue. It is just not worth it. You can change them but it is not necessary. Just pull the harness off the new motor and use the harness from the 97. If you have coil packs then put them on the new motor.

I would do the swap and see if there is a problem. When I swapped out my 97 non-PI 4.6 to a built 4.6 with PI heads, I was able to use the same tune I was using for my non-PI supercharged motor unchanged and had no new issues using the PI heads. Displacement is displacement and the only difference should be how well it breaths, that would be compensated for by the MAF. If it runs a little lean then you should hear pinging, I don't think you will.

 

Yeah, that is what I was thinking, and mine does have the COPs, which I just replaced, so they will go on the new one. I will probably go ahead and get the troyer tune though for the trans tuning, mpg, and code reading. Thanks for the info!