I just installed a used engine for a buddy of mine he has a 2000 E350 we bought a motor from a 2000 F350. They both are 5.4's all I had to do was swap the harness and the oil cooler and two of the sensors so that the plugs matched. Never new that motors of the same year on different cars would have the same components but with different plugs on them.

Ok now to the problem the starter sounds as if its tight up against the flywheel cause it does that high screeching sound when it starts but it starts.

Any ideas? The motor was a 5 speed motor and its mated to a auto tranny but I assume that the block castings should be the same right?

What was nice was some of the components on the manifold that were plastic were metal on the new donor motor.

Thanks In Advance

 

Block castings should be the same, or at least as far as the starter is concerned. Flywheel vs flexplate (auto tranny) is the difference. I'm 99% sure you need a starter for the auto tranny. The reason bieng is the flywheel for the manual is smaller to my knowledge (less teeth) so maybe the starter has a bigger gear making fitment too tight. The differences are slight, but that seems logical to me. It's worth getting a new starter one way or another so as the parts dept. where ordering from if there is 2 different kinds, I'll bet there is. Seeing that it's a old starter anyways and designed crappy to begin with, try a new starter. A tip for good installation, put lots of silicone dielectric grease on the electrical connections on the starter, under that red cap they should be. It corrodes like crazy and the silicone will help dramatically and last years.

 

The problem is that I reused his starter which was from a Auto tranny. I looked at it again this weekend and its tight not loose, It doesnt look like it can be shimmed but it makes that high squeal every time he starts the car

 

With a manual trans there is a pilot bearing installed in the rear of the crankshaft. Since this engine originally was mated to a manual did you remove the pilot bearing before you installed the automatic trans with torque convertor?

 

Does the whine occur throughout the starter cranking or just at the moment when the engine turns over? It sounds similar to the problem on my 07 SCrew 5.4., but mine is more of a "ZIP" or a momentary grinding sound (high pitch - could be interpreted as a whine or screech)

Especially when it sits several hours in below freezing temps.

 

There would be no way to get the torque converter on with the pilot bushing in their the torque converter has a bushing of its own that fits into the same hole.

So yes it was removed, but FYI their is no way you could install the torque converter otherwise.


Yes only when it cranks but it does have that Zip sound...

 

Another thing I forgot was I had a similar thing happen, it was bad in the cold temps but the starter wouldn't disengage right away. This was an issue when my IAC was dirty as well as I had a hellova time keeping her going. After cleaning or replacing, it went away. I just cross referenced some numbers and NAPA for one has a different part number for a f-350 5.4 vs an E-350 5.4.