I have new body f150 with a 4.6 227,623 miles on it. Its weak and worn out. Still runs like a champ though. I was looking to swap to a 05+ 5.4 3v. I have searched and haven't found on here where someone has done the 3v swap, seems most do the older 2v. Is it just too big of a pain to do? Should I just do the 2v?
Thanks

 

Drop a newer 5.0 in it. lol

 

i looked into doing the 3 valve 5.4 swap and it looks like a lot of work-pcm, wiring harness, and a lot of the accesories are prolly different bolting up. you would need a donor vehicle. also the 3 valve are not without thier own inherant problems-spark plugs, cam phasers... also getting the 3 valve computer to work with the weak 4r70e. im sure it can be done however

MOST??? as far as i know i am the only one with a 2v 5.4 NBS truck. so your saying im not the first or the only one. interesting. i would sure like to see another one.

why are you so dead set on the 3 valve? i know its rated 40hp more then the 2 valve but the everything bolts right from the 4.6. the biggest thing i had to mod was to cut a hole in the cowl/firewall, but this can be easily avoided.

if it were me, i say run it till it blows up

 

Well I wasn't talking about NBS swap to a 5.4. After posting I looked up the spects of the 2v, and seen they are rated for about 56# more of torque, which I could use. How hard was your swap? what year 5.4 did you put in? I mainly use it now to pull my bass boat, and cargo trailer now and then. Ohh and winter when 4x4 is needed.

 

o gotcha, b/c when i was researching the swap no one knew the difference between the 03-04 model years. now i know. it was kind of a gamble, nobody knew it was going to work. fyi the biggest change was P/S pump location, they moved it up higher on block to make oil changes easier. i had to run a remote oil filter kit with the 5.4. cost $60 and makes oil changes even easier, and it looks cool.

04 2v 4.6=231/293
03 2v 5.4=260/350
04 3v 5.4=300/365

yeah my 4.6 was always lacking. my valve damage was a good excuse to upgrade. so really the 3 valve 5.4 only has #15 more torque. and torque is what matters in a truck anyway.

i havnt towed anything yet so i cant testify how the pulling is but i know my dads 02 5.4 towed way better then my 04 4.6 . i can say however that i only have to give half pedal to get going instead of mashing it everywhere. truck seems smoother as well.

ford should never of put the 4.6 in a full size truck imo. thats a car motor. the new 6cyl has more power then the 4.6, kind of sad really.

 

how hard.. not easy. ford takes the cab off but i knew it could be done with a cherry picker. it was my FIRST swap so i have nothing to compare it to. ford wanted 3800 to fix the head. i paid about half, got a motor with 0 miles,warantee, 49ci, and braggin rights. plus i learned a lot. hardest part was prolly the dealing with the starter believe it or not.

it was a reman 2003 block from 123engines, paid 2000 shipped w/ unlimited mile warrantee for 12 months. they said they give me 400 for the core, now there saying i have to pay half of the shipping ($150) so only $250 for core. so im trying to part it out.

its amazing how everythings bolts right up.
like i said in my other posts the only things NEEDED is the oil filer cap $7 and the 8 bolt flywheel/flexplate $35 w/ the 2 extra bolts and adapter plates $210. edit- spark plugs, you want to replace them anywho

to make it EASIER; i recommand try using the 5.4 intake mani (so you dont have to cut a hole fire wall and dont have to make bracket to raise alt so it bolts to the raised 4.6 mani), get the 5.4 vac lines(so you dont have to swap out pcv valve), oil/tranny dipsticks(so you dont have to drill new mounting holes) and water heater hose(so you dont have to make a bracket to mount to block-its the metal one that runs behind water pump, under intake mani)
i know it sounds like a lot, but really its all trival. even a cave man could do it.
edit- i forgot the remote oil filter kit, unless you want to take off the p/s pump for every oil change

you could just pay $500 for a low mile 2v 5.4. this would be most cost effective and they are plentyful

 

Wonder if this could be applied for a 5.4 3v to a 5.0 swap. Cause i am really curious if the new 5.0 would fit in my 07 since they didnt change the frame much not thread jacking just posting what I am thinking about.

 

Thanks, I use to be a Ford mechanic, worked on Lincons, mostly cars but a few Nav's, So I know my way around them not too bad. I would probably pull the dog house to give me plenty of room, sounds like a great price on the motor. I will have to wiegh my options.

 

read the 2 valve to 3 valve thread then decide for yourself