so at 155k, my 2009 f150 4.6 2v, 4x4 has a dead cylinder. looks like I need a valve job (compression 40 cold/35 psi hot). local mechanics say engine needs to be pulled to do the job, so maybe changing out the engine is a better choice. what years will swap out with the least angst? figured some of you guys/girls might have this info. thanks

 

You're both lucky and unlucky - the lucky part is that Ford has been making that engine since the Earth cooled, so what you do is go buy a low hour, low mileage 4.6 out of a wrecked Crown Vic, look for a 2011, or as new as you can out of a Police Car so you can verify the hours.

Those motors are easy to find and affordable. If they'll throw in a good tranny and torque converter, all the better.

Happy Hunting.

 

If you get an engine from a car take the time to swap in the cams from your engine. The cams in the cars are a different profile.

 

It would probably be easier to find one out of an E150, they made them up until 2014. E250-350 more than likely will have the 2 valve 5.4

 

How much of a pain in the *** would a 5.4 swap be?

 

What makes you think that?

The cams, pistons, heads, are the same, and the differences are slight.

The Cop Car engine has a different assembly under the oil filter, for the cooler lines, and they use a different MAF sensor/ tune to take it to the 250 hp in the Crown Vic.

In the Mustang GT they have a more free-flowing exhaust, and a little more aggressive tune for 260 hp.