5.4 will this work?
09-12-2006, 02:21 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location:
Posts: 237
5.4 will this work?
Ok, i just blew a wristpin in my 4.6. For a while ive wanted to put a 5.4 from a lighting in and now i think is my chance. Then i will have to make it a cobra R motor. Wut will have to be done to 1) Make it fit in my car and 2) Make it a cobra R motor. Keep it mind nothing is impossible for me, its only metal...
09-12-2006, 03:14 PM
#3
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 4,412
RE: 5.4 will this work?
First off you wouldn't be able to make a cobra R motor. You won't be able to find an intake or heads for a cobra R. The 5.4 in a lightning is a 2v engine where as a cobra R is a 4v. So right there you will have to find a different set of heads because the cobra R heads do not exist. Second like I said before there isn't a performance based intake manifold for a 4v 5.4 other then the cobra R and it does not exist. So you could build a 5.4 4v but by no means is it going to be a cobra R engine. The motor mounts will be the same. The big thing is going to be exhaust if your running long tubes you will have to modify them. I would recommend looking into an aftermarket k member to increase clearance and lose weight. That's what I'm going to do.
09-12-2006, 03:17 PM
#4
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Whitehall, Michigan
Posts: 2,638
RE: 5.4 will this work?
Glad to see you're open to a swap 
The Cobra R motor is a 5.4 4v, the thing that makes it is the intake manifold and heads, you're not going to be able to pick up those heads just anywhere... you can adapt you goal to making a GT500 motor, though
It's a 5.4 4v and the parts will be a little easier to find.
Start with a Lincoln Navigator engine (2003+ InTech already have forged internals), if it's not forged, before you drop it in your car, rebuild it with forged, maybe even billet, depending on your HP goals.
Apart from that, it should just drop in, motor mounts will work just fine, check the flywheel pattern to be sure it'll match up to your transmission (if not, just change the flywheel, or if rebuilding, get a crank that'll work with the proper flywheel), you'll need a longer throttle cable... Everything else should bolt right over though, even accessories (A/C, power steering etc). The wiring harness MAY need to be extended in a couple areas but I'm even doubting that. You may want to pick up a set of shorty headers for a 4.6 cobra... they will fit, but currently, no LT headers will... who knows, maybe some GT500 LT headers will fit, but no guarantees... it's not a problem bolting them up to the block, it's a problem fitting them in the engine bay
With this swap, you'll need a taller hood... OR some company makes intake manifold spacer plates, which will let you use your 4.6 intake manifold on the 5.4, and it will then clear your stock hood... this is a little cheaper. If you use your 4.6 intake manifold, you can then use your throttle body and plenum, and probably even CAI from the 4.6.
In short, both engines are of modular design and 99% of things will work between them. I'll be taking on the swap sooner or later myself and will be doing a write-up on it though... Possibly winter.
New Navigator engine can be found for $5000, used with modest miles for $3500 (if you're rebuilding it, no problem with a used one).
The Cobra R motor is a 5.4 4v, the thing that makes it is the intake manifold and heads, you're not going to be able to pick up those heads just anywhere... you can adapt you goal to making a GT500 motor, though
It's a 5.4 4v and the parts will be a little easier to find.Start with a Lincoln Navigator engine (2003+ InTech already have forged internals), if it's not forged, before you drop it in your car, rebuild it with forged, maybe even billet, depending on your HP goals
.Apart from that, it should just drop in, motor mounts will work just fine, check the flywheel pattern to be sure it'll match up to your transmission (if not, just change the flywheel, or if rebuilding, get a crank that'll work with the proper flywheel), you'll need a longer throttle cable... Everything else should bolt right over though, even accessories (A/C, power steering etc). The wiring harness MAY need to be extended in a couple areas but I'm even doubting that. You may want to pick up a set of shorty headers for a 4.6 cobra... they will fit, but currently, no LT headers will... who knows, maybe some GT500 LT headers will fit, but no guarantees... it's not a problem bolting them up to the block, it's a problem fitting them in the engine bay
With this swap, you'll need a taller hood... OR some company makes intake manifold spacer plates, which will let you use your 4.6 intake manifold on the 5.4, and it will then clear your stock hood... this is a little cheaper. If you use your 4.6 intake manifold, you can then use your throttle body and plenum, and probably even CAI from the 4.6.
In short, both engines are of modular design and 99% of things will work between them. I'll be taking on the swap sooner or later myself and will be doing a write-up on it though... Possibly winter.
New Navigator engine can be found for $5000, used with modest miles for $3500 (if you're rebuilding it, no problem with a used one).
09-12-2006, 05:08 PM
#9
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 563
RE: 5.4 will this work?
Don't mean to hijack, but you can't just drop a 4v in a GT correct? I've got 78k on the clock and I'm thinking of doing something very similiar. Would this change only require a new wiring harness and ecu, and throttle cables? I would love a built 4v, but who wouldn't?