Well, I have been keeping an eye on a place called engines direct and they sell reman 5.4s for like $2500 after the core charge. More likely than not, I will purchase one of these here in the next couple of days. But, I am just making sure of a couple things before I go through with this swap. I have read JMC's swap notes quite a few times, and it seems like a direct swap for everything. I have the torque converter and the flexplate, but the newer model 5.4s appear to have plastic intakes. I really would rather not have a plastic intake on my truck, because that just doesn't seem smart at all so I assume I will need to buy a new intake? Right now, I have a 98 4.6 that is all non PI. Seeing as how I am switching to the newer 5.4 with the PI heads, that means I cant use my intake from the 4.6 correct? Or is it possible that I could portmatch it or something? I assume I will need to switch over the whole throttle body section too because of the IAC location? So far thats the only trouble I am running into. I was looking for super low mileage used engines, and the lowest I could find was a 02 5.4 complete with 59k for $1750. I was thinking the piece of mind of have an engine with 0 miles would out weigh have a complete one with 59k?

 

Depends on your pockets really. If your ok with 2500, the reman is the way to go. If your on a budget or would rather spend the saved money on upgrades, then a low mileage engine works. As far as the intake, I've seen the PI intakes adapted to the non PI heads but not the other way around. You could look for an aluminum intake, but only 99 5.4's had them that were PI. I would assume you would need the matching elbow and TB, not sure if the TB and elbow were the same on the non PI.

 

Yeah, $2500 is no problem. I would love to buy a low mileage used engine and slap long tubes and all of that other stuff on it. BUT, I already have a supercharger that will be going on whatever I get. I will be running 10-12lbs of boost, so I want to make sure that engine will last. I would hate to spend alot on a used engine and slap long tubes and all that other stuff on it and come to find out all 59k on the engine I bought was spent doing burnouts in an abandoned church parking lot ya know? I guess I could try to scavenge ebay and the junk yards for a 99 intake. I assume I will have to get the whole throttle body and elbow from the newer 5.4 as well. So I am taking from this that the Reman is just a good idea then? I can request that it has a forged crank out of one of the 99 engines put into it as well, so I dont think the reman will having any problems with the load ill be putting on it.

Honestly, I had considered building a forged block and everything but I DONT need a racing truck so it would be pointless to roll around with a 5k engine block in my truck. My truck tows jet skis at best, and I just go from point A to B every other day or so with it. Also, I would rather get something else for the truck rather than dumping 6k into just the engine ya know?

 

Gotcha. Then I say go for the reman if you don't intend to build it. Not to familiar with boost, but someone may chime in as to how reliable that will be on 10-12lbs with stock internals? You may need your money to throw into a built trans also. As far as the forged cranks, they weren't just in the 99, some have found them in other years as well? I know I have read that. Just not sure if it was a certain year or not but from what I remember, there were other years as well. As the builder selling the remans, see if you can get a clear answer.

 

Well, I know for sure I will be fine running 10lbs of boost on a brand new 5.4. I am running 9lbs on my 4.6 right now, and it has almost 195k on it. I do have a brand new fully built 4r70 that was put together by monster transmissions. The trans I had made is good for 600+hp so I dont think I will have any problems with whatever I go with. At the time I had the trans made, I went way overkill because I was going to put a fully forged 5.4 in my truck with ported heads. After thinking about it, I have decided that my money could be wiser spent on other things.

I have heard a number of times that the rods are the weak point in the 5.4s, but I am not going to be making a race engine out of it. I will ask when I purchase the engine I guess.

 

Sounds sweet brad. Definitely go for the forged crank.