f-150 w/5.0

[ss3nine6]

Does anybody out there have any info. on swapping a late 5.0 Mustang motor into last gen (2001) F-150 short bed? I can't be the first person who has thought of this. The current 4.? V-6 in my truck is getting tired and I just wondered if anyone has ever tried or heard of this swap. We're talking an emissions legal, no "check engine light on", all gauges operating correctly job here. Oh yeah, no slush boxes either. Five speed or it's just not worth doing! Any feedback?

[BDAZSVT]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

One big hurdle I see is the emission legal part. I believe all of the 5.0 windsor based Mustangs, Fords were OBD1 where your 2000 F150 would be OBD2. The rest of the swap should be pretty easy. It might even accept 96 motor mounts. Just my 2cents

[fast Ed]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

That chassis was a total redesign for 97 model year, and never had any of the pushrod V8s intalled. The 4.2 mounts might be able to be modified to fit, not sure on that. The trucks were available with a 5-speed, but it was the Mazda M5R2 unit, not the Warner T5 like a Mustang. I'd think that you would need all the pedals, mounts, hydraulic clutch stuff from a 97 - 03 5-speed truck, and the tranny from a 4.2 will bolt up to the 5.0L. You would need an early 90s 5.0L truck flywheel and clutch though.


cheers
Ed N.

[milkovich]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

Naga... naga... naganahappen.


The 4.6 seems like the cheapest/easiest and a 5.4 32v navigator if you're feeling wild... and there's nothing wrong with slushboxes in a 6000lb vehicle, they'll last a lot longer than a t-5... especially if you're on a budget and this stuff needs to come out of a junkyard.

[cantvalve16]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

I am busy with swapping a 5.0 Mustang motor into my truck in California. To make sure everything I was doing was 100% smog legal, I put a call into the "smog referee". He was able to tell me that as long as the vehicle you are pulling the engine from is the same year or newer than the vehicle you are converting, you are ok. But, to be legal, you have to swap over everything: ECM and harness, smog controls, any and all valves and canisters... everything. Also, you have to use a drivetrain that is the same classification or more strict than your vehicle.
Example:
Mustang 5.0 engine in 89 F150... ok
Triton V10 in your 01 F150.... not ok because the V10 has less strict emissions.
Supercharged Cobra motor in your 01.... ok because the car adheres to more strict emissions.
5.0 pushrod motor in your F150...not ok because engine is older than truck.

Now this is CA. standards. It may be different wherever you live. My advice, call your local smog or repair shop and as for a number to call to talk to your local referee. Once you do the engine swap, the referee will inspect it and issue you a small plate to be mounted in your door jam that authorizes the swap ( if your state is like CA).

Good luck and let us know about your project.

[fast Ed]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

The Explorer used the pushrod 5.0 through the 2001 model year, so that may help as far as the emissions regs. go ...


cheers
Ed N.

[ss3nine6]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

Thanks to everyone that replied. The emissions check in Delaware (where I live) consists of a tailpipe sniff and quick look at the dash for a "check engine" light. Inspection once every two years. There is no underhood or chassis visual check. I already know how to beat the sniffer, so it's just a case of making sure everything works with no check engine light. Still not sure I want to attempt anything like this. Up until this point, the bravest engine swap I've ever tried was a big block Chevy into a '70 Cutlass. No EFI, no computers, etc. The hardest part of that one was the alternator was on the wrong side.

[Huskinhano]

Re: f-150 w/5.0

I like Milkovich's idea of swapping in either a 4.6 or a 5.4 Nav motor! A number of years ago I ran across this guy's home page where he actually installed a 5.0 into a 4.6 mustang. His logic was that the ECU wouldn't know the difference between the 4.6 or the 5.0 since they're both 8 cylinder engines. He cobbled the 4.6 harness to the 5.0 engine and I believe he used an aftermarket coil pack to do away with the 5.0's distributer. As I recall it actually ran. I can't comment of actual drivability but I do recall him saying that the engine stater and ran with the 4.6 UCU. Personally I feel this is a bit extreme. Would the 5.0 really run better then the 4.2 V6?