F150 4.2 V6 Swap or Rebuild?
01-09-2019, 11:14 AM
#1
F150 4.2 V6 Swap or Rebuild?
I have a 2001 F150 4.2 V6 manual trans. Actually, my brother has it and no longer needs it. I own a 2015 Camaro and Cruze and figured instead of this car being trashed I'd do something with it since I have experience with engines.
I'm thinking of either going to the junkyard and finding a random V8 engine and swapping it OR rebuilding the 4.2L V6 with a bigger camshaft, new lifters/valve springs/rockers. Also porting the heads, putting a bigger crankshaft and forging the pistons. Also ported the IM, TB, getting a new air intake for the FBOs. Nothing is really damaged it's just been sitting there for a while and apparently the intake gasket is leaking some fluid so it definitely needs a rebuild. Also it has some Vortech supercharger bolted onto it.
What do you think is a better option? The problem with an engine swap is I don't know what exact engines will fit onto it without a new wiring harness, engine mounts etc. I'm thinking of making it a performance truck. It's just a side project thing I'll do on my own. Obviously will need a tranny, fuel pump, etc that can handle it but I'm talking about the engine at the moment
I'm thinking of either going to the junkyard and finding a random V8 engine and swapping it OR rebuilding the 4.2L V6 with a bigger camshaft, new lifters/valve springs/rockers. Also porting the heads, putting a bigger crankshaft and forging the pistons. Also ported the IM, TB, getting a new air intake for the FBOs. Nothing is really damaged it's just been sitting there for a while and apparently the intake gasket is leaking some fluid so it definitely needs a rebuild. Also it has some Vortech supercharger bolted onto it.
What do you think is a better option? The problem with an engine swap is I don't know what exact engines will fit onto it without a new wiring harness, engine mounts etc. I'm thinking of making it a performance truck. It's just a side project thing I'll do on my own. Obviously will need a tranny, fuel pump, etc that can handle it but I'm talking about the engine at the moment
Last edited by ram13; 01-09-2019 at 11:29 AM.
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spiderman4office (11-28-2023)
01-10-2019, 06:09 PM
#2
[QUOTE=ram13;6046419]
I'm thinking of either going to the junkyard and finding a random V8 engine and swapping it OR rebuilding the 4.2L V6 with a bigger camshaft, new lifters/valve springs/rockers.
What do you think is a better option? /QUOTE]
Well...Read about 2 dozen threads here about building an engine or swapping one in an 18 yr old truck then decide.
I'm thinking of either going to the junkyard and finding a random V8 engine and swapping it OR rebuilding the 4.2L V6 with a bigger camshaft, new lifters/valve springs/rockers.
What do you think is a better option? /QUOTE]
Well...Read about 2 dozen threads here about building an engine or swapping one in an 18 yr old truck then decide.
01-10-2019, 07:19 PM
#3
If you really want to make power out of a 4.2, I'd do a Supercoupe top end swap. If the stock SC parts aren't enough, you can modify them just as you can the stock parts.
I have a built Supercoupe with a 4.3 stroker. 377 hp and 459 lb-ft at the wheels. Others are making well over 400 RWHP with them (I need a better blower).
That said, I also just rebuilt the 4.2 in my F150. I added a stock SC cam but decided doing all the rest wasn't worth it for me. Whether it's worth it to you is another question.
You do mention a bigger crank. I'm not aware of a bigger crank for the 4.2, so you'd have to go custom and that means $$.
If money is no object, the old 4.5 SVO NASCAR Busch series engine uses the same basic architecture as the 4.2.
I have a built Supercoupe with a 4.3 stroker. 377 hp and 459 lb-ft at the wheels. Others are making well over 400 RWHP with them (I need a better blower).
That said, I also just rebuilt the 4.2 in my F150. I added a stock SC cam but decided doing all the rest wasn't worth it for me. Whether it's worth it to you is another question.
You do mention a bigger crank. I'm not aware of a bigger crank for the 4.2, so you'd have to go custom and that means $$.
If money is no object, the old 4.5 SVO NASCAR Busch series engine uses the same basic architecture as the 4.2.
01-11-2019, 12:53 PM
#4
Senior Member
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Last edited by white89gt; 01-14-2019 at 01:33 PM.
01-11-2019, 04:18 PM
#5
01-11-2019, 04:19 PM
#6
If you really want to make power out of a 4.2, I'd do a Supercoupe top end swap. If the stock SC parts aren't enough, you can modify them just as you can the stock parts.
I have a built Supercoupe with a 4.3 stroker. 377 hp and 459 lb-ft at the wheels. Others are making well over 400 RWHP with them (I need a better blower).
That said, I also just rebuilt the 4.2 in my F150. I added a stock SC cam but decided doing all the rest wasn't worth it for me. Whether it's worth it to you is another question.
You do mention a bigger crank. I'm not aware of a bigger crank for the 4.2, so you'd have to go custom and that means $$.
If money is no object, the old 4.5 SVO NASCAR Busch series engine uses the same basic architecture as the 4.2.
I have a built Supercoupe with a 4.3 stroker. 377 hp and 459 lb-ft at the wheels. Others are making well over 400 RWHP with them (I need a better blower).
That said, I also just rebuilt the 4.2 in my F150. I added a stock SC cam but decided doing all the rest wasn't worth it for me. Whether it's worth it to you is another question.
You do mention a bigger crank. I'm not aware of a bigger crank for the 4.2, so you'd have to go custom and that means $$.
If money is no object, the old 4.5 SVO NASCAR Busch series engine uses the same basic architecture as the 4.2.
I'm looking to do 600+ to the wheels that's why i'm rebuilding everything half the engine is rusted to **** anyway
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01-11-2019, 04:50 PM
#8
Senior Member
no response from user...retracted.
Last edited by Jbrew; 01-14-2019 at 11:24 AM.
01-11-2019, 06:43 PM
#9
Driving the wheels offer
i absolutely agree with all the agreeable stuff BUT disagree with that which isn't
01-11-2019, 06:54 PM
#10
Senior Member