Hi everyone,

I am trying to help a buddy change the engine in his 2001 F150. His 4.6 puked out on him. (Valve was burned, he had a different friend pull the head and fix the valve, didn't get it timed right, now the old engine is junk - including a hole in number 8 piston).

Anyway, in searching for a replacement motor on eBay & other places, it seems like most people say their engines will fit in 97-99s, 2000, or 2002+. I know the earlier 4.6's had coil packs, so I can understand that issue (this 01 has COPs). But what would it take to swap this engine for either an earlier or later one? We also thought about finding one out of a Crown Vic or Mustang also, if we had to.

We have the valve covers, intake, etc of course, so if it was a matter of swapping those to get it to fit, that is no big deal. I thought I heard there was some differences in the type/location of the cam or crank sensors? If we did find a nice, older 4.6 with coil packs, I assume we could make that work too, correct?

Thanks in advance for your input! -Aaron

PS - If anybody here has a nice 4.6 for sale, we still do not have a replacement motor purchased. You can call me (Aaron) at 920-851-0205. Thanks!

 

There is nothing special about a 2001 4.6. Any 4.6 will bolt in. 1997-98-99-2000 truck 4.6 engines were Non Pi. 2001-2004 Heritage 4.6 engines were Pi. Go find any Pi engine and bolt it in. Reuse your old engine harness and ignition and you will be all set.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

EDIT Note; try to stick with truck engines and particularly the F-150. This will ensure that the throttle body is pointing the right way. Straight ahead.

 

Awesome, thanks Jean. Does it matter if it is a Romeo or a Windsor?

 

only if you don't get the same one as what's in the truck and that's something to do with the cam covers (commonly called valve covers on the modular engines) I beleive the trucks (then again maybe it's just the 5.4) had only windsor engines but I may be mistaken. (I've got 3 different year modular powered trucks and they are all windsor engines.

JMC is right get a "PI" power improved engine and if possible grab a complete 5.4 unless he really wants a 4.6 to go back in.

if his '01 is a "PI" engine then you can grab a car engine (along with the cam covers) and re-use his truck intake if the price is right

 

Hey guys, it looks like we are going to do a 5.4 swap. I have read the other topics about extending the sensor wire, exhaust modification, torque converter, etc.

My only question is about the custom ECM tune to tell the 4.6L ECM that it is running a 5.4L engine. How complicated is this to do? Do we need to have a shop create a full tune, or is there an aftermarket programmer that we can purchase to just dump a pre-made one in?

Thanks again for your help,
Aaron

 

You may get away with using the stock 4.6 tuning but you will eventually need a custom tune to accommodate the 5.4's characteristics.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Thanks Jean... What about just swapping an ECM from a 5.4L truck, would that work?