interesting sport track

 

Why?

What does the stock engine lack that you're trying to gain?

I'd take that 10k and keep adding till you're ready for a new truck.

 

Not advocating this as practical for monetary reasons but the lighter 97-03 trucks with a Coyote would be fun. Carcrazy I am here to tell you are way wrong on towing and the Coyote. I pull a 3 horse Gooseneck with mine in a 2013 Scab 4x4 shortbed. I pull at max rated weight and have on one occasion hit 9k behind the truck with ease. The truck easily pulls better than my brothers very similar set up 2010 5.4. The ability of the 5.0 to breathe is far superior to the old 5.4. Where the 5.4 was strong on the bottom but could not breathe and fell on its face when climbing a grade the 5.0 constantly builds with more power and torque coming on all the way up. I pulled 7500lbs up 5 and 6 percent grades for several miles never losing speed and only dropping to 4th gear at worst. The 5.0 is extremely underrated for towing.

 

Hate to tell you this, I drive one everyday for work now. My slightly modded 97 pulls better than the 5.0 on any given day. I wasnt comparing to a 3v. The tq band in the 3v is just as bad as the 5.0 but with out the added rpm capability. Also my grandfather owns one. Its nothing until 3500rpms. If I'm pulling a trailer that has any weight to it, I dont want to be in 4k+ range. It hard on the engine and even harder on the transmission.

I've taken my truck up a 6% grade in TN loaded down with a 21FT car hauler, loaded. Combined weight with the trailer 15,900. Real close to 9k lb load. My truck never dropped into second. Stayed in third and wasnt singing to the moon. Torque does the work. Lower in the RPM range the better especially if you haul on a frequent basis. If the 5.0 is so great why is it the ECO-Boost has proven over and over to be a better towing vehicle than a 5.0?

 

I am Not going to argue with you, but I pulled the entire route from Ohio to Maine through the mountains in a stock 98 expidition with 3.73 and 5.4. We were pulling about 8k in a box trailer. With a truck also packed to the ceiling with gear and two guys Plus a turtle topper on the rack. I would never do it again. The truck made it no problems but was showing 0.0mpg on hills and was maxed at 60mph. Your truck is modded so maybe more power so maybe it's ok but only you know.

I tow nearly every week in the summer with the horse trailer and drive my truck with and without trailers over 600 miles a week for work. I am pretty sure the its nothing until 3500 comment is bs from experience. I never compared mine to an eco only a 5.4. That said pickups.com I think tested an 11 with a 10000 pound trailer and were surprised and said it had power to spare towing the Davis Dam route. I owned and drove multiple 5.4 2vs and they don't hold a candle to the 5.0 in my book so we can just agree to disagree.

 

5.0GN tow also hit on another aspect of the Coyote- the flat power curve. Starts making torque at around 2k and doesn't stop till 6k plus. The truck 5.0 is tuned very differently than the mustang. Truck makes it 's peak torque way earlier in the power band. The eco boost appeal is mileage overall. Interested to see how long those motors last if they are towing big loads all the time. Oh- the other thing? Coyotes don't spit plugs and are rock solid reliable. And unless you plan to pump out over 600hp on yours, the stock rids and #8 piston are fine.

 

I say go for it. I'm not sure how this became a discussion of the 5.0 vs the 5.4. But that really has nothing to do with your question.

It's 2015 and people are shoehorning any motor into any chassis these days. I'm a huge Musclecar guy and that's the rage these days. Guys are dropping LS motors into everything. I've already seen Coyote and 4.6 swaps into Fox body and even classic Mustangs. I have a buddy who has a Terminator motor in his 82 Mustang.

I have a Tremec 5 speed overdrive transmission behind the 502 crate motor in my 72 Camaro and next winter I'm swapping out my Holley 850 double pumper carb for a FAST 2.0 fuel injection system on my 502.

My point is anything is possible these days and if you want to swap out a tired 4.6 or 5.4 for a newer 5.0 then I say go for it. With the right amount of time, money, and elbow grease anything is possible today.

 

Im not going to argue with any of you. Cut out the 5.0 vs. 5.4 crap and stick to the intent of the OP s thread.

 

I'm not arguing with anybody. To the OP's question : 'What options are really available to swap into our trucks?" As far as I'm concerned, anything from a small block 5.0 to an ecoboost would be an option and they all have their good and bad points. Arguing isn't my style.

 

I was hoping to see something come up that was a turnkey swap for a more current motor, that or heck maybe a crate 5.4 that is a huge improvement over stock.
With only 100k on the clock I'm in no hurry but if I could find an easy swap that gives me what I'm looking for I'd maybe just do it.
1. More HP/Trq
2. Better MPGs or at the least not loose what I currently have