Blueoval_boy_64

With my 07 5.4 dead in the water I decided to do a huge upgrade and swap in the V10. I never really liked the 5.4 and my transmission was getting tired. I tried to talk myself out of the swap (because I really wanted to do it!) but I seemed to find solutions to the issues that I came up with. I contemplated swapping the engine for a junkyard engine and selling it but for what I'm pricing this swap at I really wouldn't get much of an upgrade. The wild hair wouldn't come out so I decided to go for it!

Here's the plan for the build:

'09 dash and center console swap to have the proper shifter... Plus I also get a nicer dash and working heated seats!!

After talking with Mike at 5star they said they could tune the V10 as long as I run the 5R110 transmission.

I found a 6.8/5R110 and transfer case (The 5R110 has a larger output so I couldn't use the F-150 transfer case) with 60K on it and got it Saturday.

I've already got the engine and transmission bolted up in the engine bay. The transmission will have to be pulled back out to finish the wiring on the back of the engine and to modify the dip stick tube, but for the most part it fits. The engine actually had 5 of the 6 holes to mount the factory F-150 motor mounts cast into the block. I just made a simple bracket to get the 6th hole.

I was hoping a 1" body lift would clear the intake elbow under the cowl but with the temporary 1 1/2" body lift in it now it's clear that it needs more than I want to put on it. The truck already has a 6" Fabtech lift and I really don't want to run 38s on it. So the temporary body lift is coming out along with the cutting wheel! The firewall also has to be pushed back about 3/4" back at the far end of the elbow to fully seat the intake. The bracket to reach the rear bolt on the passenger side motor mount.
Factory F-150 motor mount bolted up
This is how over the core support it reached with it touching the cowl
All I had to do to get it in was remove the radiator, intake, heater tube, wiring harness, exhaust manifolds/studs, and valve covers, tilt it almost vertically and drag it across the core support.... but it's in!!
You can see from this angle the intake doesn't want to slide under the factory cowl.
There will be cutting in the near future to clearance for the intake.
This is with a temporary 1 1/2" body lift and it still doesn't clear. I will soon be cutting into the cowl to clear this without a body lift.


The transmission cross member will have to be moved back 6".

Here's some pics from the progress so far.

BadFish523

I hope you continue to go through with this because I will be following.

SCORGE

Well this is cool

Blueoval_boy_64

I've spent too much money on this already not to follow through with it. Plus I'm going to be cutting into the cowl, beating the firewall and cutting the brackets for the transmission cross member tonight so it'll be too late to turn around shortly! I leave for Vegas for 6 weeks (Army training) so I'm trying to finish it by then so that I can drive it there.

Blueoval_boy_64

Took out the temporary body lift out and grabbed my favorite hammer OB1 Kenobi (he's all knowing and all wise in subjects like this) and made just enough room to fit the intake under the cowl. I'm going to have to run a half inch body lift because I couldn't get the radius of the firewall to move enough to clear the elbow.

elricfate

Good lord, this thing will be a beast.

SCORGE

Once it's all assembled...
How easy will it be to...say...change sparkplugs. The 5.4 is a PITA to access as it is.

nathan3306

Blueoval_boy_64

I'll find out in 60,000 miles. I just put a fresh set in when it was on my shop floor! It looks like it will be easy if I just pull the intake.

LariatDude

I dare you to super charge it.