What would I need to do when I swap out my V6 to put in a carburated V8 (either a nice 5.0 or my beast 7.5) To keep the current interior toys working? I think I should be able to just unplug/remove the engine side harness and pull off my engine light bulb

It's going to happen so no need for the usual "why....no....don't" sort of replies Just need some useful helpful information on what I need to bypass or eliminate to maintain the functioning interior stuff. Its in my 1997 F150 V6.

 

Id say swap it it, get it running, and build you a custom gauge setup. I highly doubt you can get the factory gauges to work correctly. you will also need a non electronic tranny.

 

Custom engine mounts. You will loose the instrument cluster gauges unless you find a way to drive the speedometer and use the old engine harness to run some of the sensors but the tach will never work. Forget about the current transmission. Find an AOD or go manual. Interesting project. I would go for the 7.5 as you will discover that a stock 5.0 is no better than the 4.2 V6.

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find a person that does fiberglass, build a bucket for your new gauges. probably be the best thing to do for that part.

 

Sounds like a great project if you got the time and money to customize everything.. As was said by Klitch, nothing will really 'convert' from the original setup... Since you want a carbed engine, your computer controlled trans won't work... You'll have to get a 'dummy' trans like the AOD or whatever comes with the donor engine...

You would be much better off just finding a nice 5.4 donor engine/trans/ECM combo and then you can buy the parts off the shelf.....

Even a stock 5.4 has more power then any stock 5.0 or even 5.8 has... The only thing a 7.5 has is gobs of torque right out of the box, but you'd want a FI one out of a 1997 F250 Super duty to get the last year of that engine...

You could also shove a 6.8 V10 into your F150 without as much hassle as a carbed engine..... There is a member here that has done it and pretty much posted his step by step process of doing it....

Do you also plan on registering this truck when it's all said and done?? I don't know about the "Land up North", but here in the states, it would be next to impossible to register and pass emissions with a carbed engine in a 1997+ vehicle. (that whole ODBII computer deal....)

Now, what I would do is get a late 70's, early 80's F150 that came with a carborated engine from the 4.9 six cylinder to the 460 (yes, you could get an F150 with a 460 in it back then!) Rip the body off of the chassis and swap your trucks body and bed on the old F150's frame... You would register it as the original F150's frame config, yet have your new body style on it!

I've read about guys taking the '97 + year F150 frames and putting old F150 cabs and beds on them! One guy did this with a 1963 F150 "Custom Cab" short bed and plopped it on a 1997 F150 frame and it was pretty cool looking.... The old style body on a modern day frame and drivetrain.....

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Mitch

 

I dispise...more over Loath the 5.4 personally I have it in my 2000 and have had quite a head ache with it in the past, and just my opinion but its a poorly designed motor. But I am aware of the cluster issues and am compensating accordingly. I also have a 5spd manual in my truck so no dummying required.
My donor is out of a 88 and is FI but I am going to be reverting it back to CARB and will either be using a 5spd or c6 depending what my final descision comes down to. The truck is insured already and haven't had to worry about inspections around here, just need to watch out for the blitz's from time to time.
All in all the old system is going to be "removed" and anything i can maintain working in the cab (heater controls and such). I know its going to be a lot of work but it is going to be my baby

The truck is a 1997 F150 XL 4.2L 5SPD with an Auburn 3.55 Posi-Locker and the donor motor came out of my dads 1988 F250 HD 7.5L 5SPD 4x4. I am going FULL carburated, may convert to FI once the internals are assembled on the engine.

 

Old engines are great. I love the Cleveland in my car personally I think its the best performing best looking old engine Ford made. I have a Cleveland core and a set of 4v closed chambered heads out in the garage and I think about building another project next time a old hot rod truck. I'd start with a pre 97 though. To much hassle to change all the stuff and older trucks are plentiful and cheap. I am also very fond of the 5.4 modular. I have 2 of them and they have been good to me.

 

i hear ya on that cleveland... old man has one with an fmx behind it, needs the fmx rebuilt and then probably re-ringed since its been unused and sitting for at least 10 years. if i could get one of those of my own, or a 420something any of them would make me smile with the GTA fairlane body.