4.6 to 5.4 or 302 engine swap

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Old Sep 21, 2014 | 11:36 PM
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Unhappy 4.6 to 5.4 or 302 engine swap

Hi everyone
I have a 98 f150 that has a 4.6 (changed out twice already) i am so sick of these 4.6's. I have a 95 f150 that is wrecked but the motor is good (its a 302). I would really like to pull the 4.6 and put the 302 in but im not sure if that's even possible. If i cant put the 302 in then how possible would it be to drop a 5.4 motor in my truck.
From what i was told the 4.6 that's in my truck now is a romeo motor (i dont really know what that means besides its junk lol).
My daughter was in a very bad car wreck so I'm basically wanting to build her another truck for when she gets better.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2014 | 11:47 PM
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302 in the 97+ is not practical. 5.4 is. Some have done it and posted step by step instruction. Use the search.
 
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Old Sep 21, 2014 | 11:53 PM
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Thanks...im looking it up now i dont quite understand whats pats is and some other things are but im sure i will figure it out lol
 
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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 12:07 AM
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How exactly is your 2V 4.6 junk? What's happening to them?

They're the most reliable V8 motor made in the last 20 years, and the 2V 5.4 is no different. It's the same motor that hits 300k miles in cabs and cop Crown Vics. If your first one was taken care of properly, which you can only determine if you've owned the truck since new, that's the only one you can blame (and even then you can only be "mad" if it lasted less than 150k miles). Any motor after that, be it a junkyard pull or a rebuild, is left completely up to chance or the skill of the rebuilder. I say all of this because unless you want the added power a 5.4 provides, the headache of swapping a 5.4 in isn't going to net you a more reliable motor.
 

Last edited by KMAC0694; Sep 22, 2014 at 12:09 AM.
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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 12:24 AM
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1st motor was in from factory....i bought the truck with 50,000mi on it. That motor went around 200,000. I installed a jasper 4.6 in it 3yrs ago (i change my oil every 3000) the jasper motor just went about 2wks ago. Im not one for neglecting my vehicles. Plus my kids drive my trucks so i make sure they are safe. I know i should prob just buy another truck but its hard to part with it lol
 
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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 12:37 AM
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200k miles and 13 years is above the expected life for a motor, especially when you don't know how it was cared for in its first 50k miles. Can't be upset with that. Jaspers have a reputation for having problems, again can't blame the motor. So you're left with the exact scenario I said above, where it's not in any way the fault of the "4.6". Not really sure what/who you can possibly be upset with other than Jasper for giving you a crappy rebuild because the motor it came with from factory greatly exceeded any reasonable expectations.

I do sympathize with you though, because I've had bad luck with a replacement transmission. Buddy of mine has a rebuilt trans with 8k miles on it having problems already. I'd be highly concerned with the life span of any replacement motor or transmission. I'm just trying to explain that putting a different size/type motor in your truck is not going to solve your problem, and will really only add headaches getting the swaps to work.
 

Last edited by KMAC0694; Sep 22, 2014 at 12:43 AM.
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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by KMAC0694
200k miles and 13 years is above the expected life for a motor, especially when you don't know how it was cared for in its first 50k miles. Can't be upset with that. Jaspers have a reputation for having problems, again can't blame the motor. So you're left with the exact scenario I said above, where it's not in any way the fault of the "4.6". Not really sure what/who you can possibly be upset with other than Jasper for giving you a crappy rebuild because the motor it came with from factory greatly exceeded any reasonable expectations.

I do sympathize with you though, because I've had bad luck with a replacement transmission. Buddy of mine has a rebuilt trans with 8k miles on it having problems already. I'd be highly concerned with the life span of any replacement motor or transmission. I'm just trying to explain that putting a different size/type motor in your truck is not going to solve your problem, and will really only add headaches getting the swaps to work.
that was said very nicely


but what he did not touch on was the fact that your desired 302 swap will also require a transmission swap and off road use only



you can get a PI 4.6 from a wrecking yard for like $350 if they pull it (around my area) and they'll give you a warranty
 
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Old Oct 6, 2014 | 08:02 PM
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5.4

If the 5.4 is so great why did ford finally go back to 5.0. My 5.4 threw a rod .coil packs all went bad .spark plug problems not even 2 years after I bought it new. Buy a Chevy or a new Ford with a 5.0
 
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Old Oct 6, 2014 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by caddydaddy
If the 5.4 is so great why did ford finally go back to 5.0. My 5.4 threw a rod .coil packs all went bad .spark plug problems not even 2 years after I bought it new. Buy a Chevy or a new Ford with a 5.0
You do realize that the old 302 and the new coyote 5.0 are TOTALLY different. Nothing is the same.
The new 5.0 is a 4v with ti-vct it's be tech compared to the old 302.
Do your research before you post something so imbecile.
 
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Old Oct 6, 2014 | 10:13 PM
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What year was your 5.4? If it was an 04+ I can understand your frustration - the 3 valve engine had issues.

Ford went to the Coyote 5.0 because the 4.6/5.4 modular was nearing the end of its life and they already were building the new 5.0 for the Mustang, all they did was retune it for truck duty.
 
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Old Oct 7, 2014 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by caddydaddy
If the 5.4 is so great why did ford finally go back to 5.0. My 5.4 threw a rod .coil packs all went bad .spark plug problems not even 2 years after I bought it new. Buy a Chevy or a new Ford with a 5.0
Considering that the 5.4 was around for 14 years (7 for 2V and 6 for 3V), and that the 5.0 has NOTHING in common with the old 5.0 other than Ford's affinity for using past engine displacements, this statement makes no sense at all . . .
 
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