Engine swap

[Bowesmobile]

I'm going to be swapping my 4.6L from my 1997 for a good running 4.6L from a '99. I will try and document as much as I can for posterity and maybe be able to help someone out in the future.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

Cool, thanks and good luck. The 99 has the PI heads, right?

 

[Bowesmobile]

I'm getting mixed results on that. The motor is out of a 1999 F150. Now some say no they didn't get the PI heads and intake until 2001. Others say it was late model 1998 builds and on that got it. Then others say yes all 1999 F150's have it. I'm going to check the heads and see if its written on them . PI heads have "PI" cast into them over the front exhaust port. So I will see. Either way its better than a motor running on 7 1/2 cylinders. Plus it only cost me $500 for a complete running motor with a 30 day warranty.

 

[98EXPnSRQ]

This is a good read

Increasing Power Output - 4.6L Modular Ford Motor - Sport Truck Magazine

 

[01yellerCobra]

You just need to look at the intake ports. The PI ports are noticeably bigger and shaped different than NPI intake ports.

 

[Bowesmobile]

This is a good read

Increasing Power Output - 4.6L Modular Ford Motor - Sport Truck Magazine

Nice read! Good to see it doesn't take much to make more power. I should pull the heads and port and polish the intake and exhaust.

 

[Bowesmobile]

It's a 1998 motor and a NPI. So I'm a little sad. But it's not going backwards it's just staying even. Here are some pictures of the motor.

[URL=http://s541.photobucket.com/user/bowesmobile/media/1415481363.jpg.html]
[URL=http://s541.photobucket.com/user/bowesmobile/media/1415481365.jpg.html]
[URL=http://s541.photobucket.com/user/bowesmobile/media/1415481375.jpg.html]

 

[Bowesmobile]

Tonight I pulled the intake, water pump, fuel rail and injectors. Cleaned out the valley under the intake. Pulled my expy into the car port and pulled the hood, intake tube and front cover. Tomorrow will be draining the fluids, pulling the intake on the old motor and breaking loose bolts.

 

[Yudaman]

After owning a '99 Expy with a 4.6, consider yourself lucky that the new motor is a '98.
Otherwise you would prolly get it installed just to find out a head gasket had blown.

Good luck with the swap and keep the updated coming!

 

[Bowesmobile]

Well, thats what the 30 day warranty is for. Although I will be pretty pissed.