I have a 2005 Ford F150 Lariat with the 5.4 Triton 3V that has the spark plugs that seem to break according to the people I have spoken with. My question is in 2 parts
1. The truck still has original spark plugs which should I use to avoid the badly designed originals?
2. I have been thinking about doing an engine swap what year model engine would fit in my 2005 F150?
Thank you in advance for your responses

 

1.) ALWAYS Motorcraft SP-546
2.) Anything wrong with your current engine? Swapping out an engine from another generation of pickup is always a pain in the ***, because everything needs to be customized (see the thread where the guy is putting in the V-10 Triton into his truck, or BSK Garage on YouTube LS swapping his CJ7 Jeep). There is no such thing as dropping in something different, and expecting it to immediately work. If it's absolutely necessary, replace your old 5.4 with a new/remanned 5.4.

 

IMO, if you have the money to spend on a swap, you have the money to spend replacing the spark plugs and getting the phasers and timing set done by someone. Its much less of a headache at the end of the day.
Unless you have serious other problems than just spark plugs that are due for replacement, i would consider an engine replacement an absolute last resort. That is of course you just hate the 5.4 and want to be different. But being different costs allot more than maintenance

 

do not try and change plugs without having lisle extraction kit in hand .

 

Just to confirm putting a different engine is not a good idea and not hijack the thread.
When I was 16 took a 1939 Ford Flathead V8 and stuffed it into a 1950 Chevy. What a nightmare, never did work worth a darn.

 

He didn't even say what was wrong with his motor besides he thinks the plugs will break when trying to remove... doubt an 05 still has original plugs SP507's... it may though. he didn't even mention the mileage.

 

I bought the truck used with 203k miles on it, dont know the history of the motor thought I might get a little piece of mind with swapping the engine since I've been told there's a problem with breaking the spark plugs in this year model engine.

 

Sooo... you want to swap the engine because you don't want to replace spark plugs? I don't know if that could be considered ultimate lazy, or what? When I replaced my plugs, they were the originals in my 2006, and I didn't break a single one. All you need to do is optionally run some fuel system cleaner in the engine for a couple tanks, but when you do change the plugs, ALWAYS run the engine till its warmed up, shut it off and let it sit a few minutes, then carefully remove the spark plugs after removing the coils. Make sure you get the Lisle broken spark plug removal tool so you can use it if you do break one. Doing so is not going to destroy your engine.

 

I appreciate that you took the time to read my post, however by implying that I was lazy or my question was based solely on not wanting to change the spark plugs is in my opinion very incorrect. My question is based on the fact this is a 15 year old truck with over 200k miles on it and I don't know the history of this engine or the maintenance that was done on this motor along with the fact that from what I've been told and read this particular engine has a flaw concerning the spark plugs

 

Do you get any cam phaser noises (knocking sounds) during idle? Do you get any chain rattle at startup or idle?

The engine doesn't have the flaw, the spark plugs had the flaw, replace those old plugs with the new SP-546's and you'll have an existing engine that will serve you for years. You want to spend $4000+ to replace the engine because you're too afraid to replace spark plugs, a job that should cost less than $200.