5.4 ?????

[96sn95gt]

um?? does any one make adapter plates to mount a stang upper plenum to the 5.4 lower plenum i saw a 5.4 with a low stance plenum and it look like the bolt pattern was almost the same it almost seems it takes a 2barrel and mines a 4berral lol so let me know thanks

 

[voidfinger]

I have absolutly no clue what your talking about...

 

[r3dn3ck]

um?? does any one make adapter plates to mount a stang upper plenum to the 5.4 lower plenum i saw a 5.4 with a low stance plenum and it look like the bolt pattern was almost the same it almost seems it takes a 2barrel and mines a 4berral lol so let me know thanks

Only 1 has been created so far and it's actually intended to adapt the new 5.4L Hardball'R to the f-150's with a forward facing TB. It's not hard to whittle out but even considering using the truck intake parts (other than the Lightning setup) is plum silly. Too much adapting of the intake air stream makes drivability problems as much as crappy power.

And Josh... Voidfinger nailed it. You should have zero problems with a swap. Start getting the parts and check out my thread on mustangboards.com (one of these jokers can point you at it if you can't find it by googling "5.4L 2v swap"). Do what you can when you can. The base swap of a bone stock motor with a PI intake and plates and stock cast iron exhaust manifolds will easily poke you into the 12's and surprise the crap out of any F-bodies in the area.

 

[96sn95gt]

cool um what you mean adapting the air sream??

 

[voidfinger]

cool um what you mean adapting the air sream??

probably that the adapter plates add runner length and also moves the injector up and it messes with the spay pattern. Pretty much it means that if the intake was made for it then you would see a little more power.

 

[r3dn3ck]

yeah... that's about the ticket.

 

[josh0092002]

i was looking up the 5.4 on google, an came across alot of sites saying that the 5.4 has bad problems blowing the spark plug out the head, some sort of defect in design. is that true or just some recall or what? either way i believe it all can be fix, so any one can recomand a good set of cams an point me toward the company that is supposed to come out with the LTs next year?

 

[Steven]

i'd like to make a few things clear.. i understand that it's very beneficial and a good bang for the buck situation, but if you swap it into a stock tranny'd gt and rear end, and slap a set of slicks on it with all that torque, you will hurt the car in some form.. theres a reason ford didn't them in there GT model, simply because its got enough torque in stock form to rip the car apart if pushed hard enough. Please understand that with all the torque, the only use you'll get out of it will be if you box the torque boxes, have a set of LCA's on it, a nice bolt in rollbar/subframes, and alot of good suspension, otherwise all you'll do is spin, While the PI 4.6 will pull top wise and be gone off the line while you spin. I think some people here don't have the cars quite ready for them yet, and all the money should be put into suspension to be prepared for the 5.4.. i'm not putting anyone down, i'd just like to make it known that you shouldn't slap it in with mostly stock drivetrain, or else you'll grenade it like a bat out of hell

 

[Jrgunn5150]

i was looking up the 5.4 on google, an came across alot of sites saying that the 5.4 has bad problems blowing the spark plug out the head, some sort of defect in design. is that true or just some recall or what? either way i believe it all can be fix, so any one can recomand a good set of cams an point me toward the company that is supposed to come out with the LTs next year?

The problem was the holes weren't threaded all the way down. Then they changed it, but for some reason, even though they all have the same head's, it only happened to truck guy's. I like to think they are just retards that can't change a flippin plug. But it could be because there are plug's that are threaded all the way down, and some th at aren't, which mixing the two would be a problem too.

 

[r3dn3ck]

i was looking up the 5.4 on google, an came across alot of sites saying that the 5.4 has bad problems blowing the spark plug out the head, some sort of defect in design. is that true or just some recall or what? either way i believe it all can be fix, so any one can recomand a good set of cams an point me toward the company that is supposed to come out with the LTs next year?

270's or 278's from comp are GREAT cams for the 5.4. If you'd like a custom grind, fill me in on your build and I can try to come up with a custom spec for you. You can order any grind you'd like from Comp Cams for the same price as off the shelf cams. I use 270's. They peak the tq at 4000-4500 with a proper intake and I got a flat ass tq curve from them.

i'd like to make a few things clear.. i understand that it's very beneficial and a good bang for the buck situation, but if you swap it into a stock tranny'd gt and rear end, and slap a set of slicks on it with all that torque, you will hurt the car in some form.. theres a reason ford didn't them in there GT model, simply because its got enough torque in stock form to rip the car apart if pushed hard enough. Please understand that with all the torque, the only use you'll get out of it will be if you box the torque boxes, have a set of LCA's on it, a nice bolt in rollbar/subframes, and alot of good suspension, otherwise all you'll do is spin, While the PI 4.6 will pull top wise and be gone off the line while you spin. I think some people here don't have the cars quite ready for them yet, and all the money should be put into suspension to be prepared for the 5.4.. i'm not putting anyone down, i'd just like to make it known that you shouldn't slap it in with mostly stock drivetrain, or else you'll grenade it like a bat out of hell

That's a fact. Using slicks and launching hard and powershifting a 5.4 powered mustang on stock drivetrain pieces is asking for breakage. However, street tires or even drag radials and proper technique can be a LOT of fun and no more dangerous to the car than a good blower package. I use my car for street fun, not just zooming down 1/4 mile tracks. It's no different than strapping a blower on the car except the power comes on sooner and doesn't take as much gas to make.

Don't take his warning lightly... I have a MM panhard and torque arm kit with coil-overs and tubular control arms everywhere. My car is already setup for pretty serious track duty and it spins my rear 275's pretty hard at any encouragement.

For scale on that last statement, my 4.6 made 244/280 and had trouble breaking the tires loose without a good rev up (MM torque arm traction ROCKS baby!) to 2500 or so and a clutch drop. My 5.4 will smoke the piss out of my tires just rolling into it all the way up in 3rd gear. That's all on 3.55:1 rear gears.

If you have 3.73's or 4.10's... get a set of 3.55's or 3.27's first. It'll solve many of the problems.

 

[95blackgt54]

For scale on that last statement, my 4.6 made 244/280 and had trouble breaking the tires loose without a good rev up (MM torque arm traction ROCKS baby!) to 2500 or so and a clutch drop. My 5.4 will smoke the piss out of my tires just rolling into it all the way up in 3rd gear. That's all on 3.55:1 rear gears.

If you have 3.73's or 4.10's... get a set of 3.55's or 3.27's first. It'll solve many of the problems.

I can second this! I have stock 3.27's with a 25.5 O.D. tires. I'm not tuned and using the truck intake manifold.

 

[josh0092002]

ok i finally got around to going to some local salvage yards today, an some parts stores looking for a 5.4 and well they all are just damn greedy. the cheapest one i found was a 00 with 95,000miles for $1,200 now i could be way wrong but isnt that a bit much for a motor with that kinda miles on it. just thought i would ask seeing how everything iam looking for seems to be either super rare or way out of left field for my small ass town. oh an to make matters worse iam surrounded by everyone that knows all about chevs an nothing about fords, an none are even willing to help out. piss on them when i get this build up complete. i now have a new goal!!! :mikec:

 

[voidfinger]

i found one that runs with only like 50k on it for like 400 bucks.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

ok i finally got around to going to some local salvage yards today, an some parts stores looking for a 5.4 and well they all are just damn greedy. the cheapest one i found was a 00 with 95,000miles for $1,200 now i could be way wrong but isnt that a bit much for a motor with that kinda miles on it. just thought i would ask seeing how everything iam looking for seems to be either super rare or way out of left field for my small ass town. oh an to make matters worse iam surrounded by everyone that knows all about chevs an nothing about fords, an none are even willing to help out. piss on them when i get this build up complete. i now have a new goal!!! :mikec:

Not really, it's exactly what I would expect you to pay if they are pulling it, cleaning it, testing it, and warranting it.

 

[95blackgt54]

To be honest, If I were just going to get a used 5.4l and not build it, I would shoot for an '02 model. Ford had some issues with the earlier ones that would require at least a small break down and "taking a look at it". Such as the oil pump and the head gaskets.

I hope you find what your looking for. The rewards of the swap is worth it.

 

[voidfinger]

yea i think the 02 is when they had the beefier block which adds like 50/70 pounds.

 

[josh0092002]

as far as i know, there is no warrenty on the motor. but i do like the advice about the 02 thanks. ill keep digging today an see what else i find, an let u all know. thanks again

 

[r3dn3ck]

02 was the year of the NVH block. It added closer to 28lbs IIRC. I don't know where they added the meat but i can't see it mattering. That fix was for NVH reduction and we're all really adding NVH by virtue of the swap in the first place.

Check www.car-part.com for motors. I find them pretty often out here... there's one pretty close to me for under a grand. I can help facilitate if you need it. Check craigslist as well.

Look for less than 50K mile motors. The cylinder bores can get out of round on high mile motors and you'll end up needing to do an overbore to get good ring seal. Also, if you do a .020 overbore you'll unshroud the valves a little better and get a little bump in power.

FYI... I have a 5.4L 2v front cover w/ belt tensioner for sale... 120 + shipping I'll toss in a rear main seal cover as well.

 

[voidfinger]

if you do the .020 overbore what else do you need to go along with it? Bigger Pistons? Bigger Rings? What would that make CI wise on the motor?

 

[r3dn3ck]

If you do the overbore then pick up one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/5-4-5-4L-Forged-Pistons-H-Beam-Rods-Lightning-TMD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33620QQihZ008QQitemZ180198391184QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

You'll get pistons, rings, rods, locks, pins and be basically built. You'll also need main and rod bearings and head and main studs or bolts.

Remember, doing the overbore is optional. I did it and I have a motor that will hold 600hp no problem. I used probe pistons and perfect circle rings instead of Mahle P&R. Also, if you do the overbore you'll have another grand in it to get it assembled unless you have a hookup for that. If you're on a budget, just get a bone stock 5.4 bottom end, freshen it up with new bearings and a set of main studs and call it a day.

Compression ratio varies based on piston selection. Flat tops yeild just a hair over 11:1 which is right at the limit for pump gas, -4.5CC gets about 10.5:1, -8cc should be around 10:1, and so on. If you post up your component specs I can get you estimated compression numbers. My motor is on -4.5cc pistons at 10.5:1 compression. It's friendly to Kalifornia's shitty shitty shitty 91octane gas and I can still run full timing. If I lived where there was E85 or 93 octane I would have used flat tops.