V10 swap or 460?

[Ozwynn]

1998 LD F250. Tired of the 5.4L and 5.4l problems. The cheapest fix for my issues is finding 2003 or newer PI heads or pi heads from a panther platform at $300 a pair or timesert the PI heads that I have. Either way I’m not doing that in the engine bay. I will be pulling the engine for it for reasons that I physically cannot work around. Plus with the engine out it will be easier to find all the vacuum leaks and rodent wiring modifications.

With the engine out. Almost the same amount of time to swap in a V10…. Or what I really want to do is go old school 460 for pushrod reliability. I can swap my 4r100 internals into a late E4OD case. Would require redoing the engine harness with any direction. I can make the same power and torque with a 460 as with a V10 with aftermarket heads an a mild cam. V10 will be simpler, both V10 and 460 require moving the radiator to the outside of the core support to use a mechanical fan… also considering built turbo 300 I6…. But that’s out of the budget to get 415 pound feet torque…

V10 and 460 will cost roughly the same. All my options require a new engine harness….

The V10 has more torque available above 2200 rpms and they will both use approximately the same amount of gas. Not even considering a diesel swap. I don’t even really want to swap but I also don’t want to deal with this boat anchor engine with weak valve guides, weak cylinder heads, and needing 4 hours on my knees on the core support trying to get number 4 out….

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

460’s were notorious for bad valve guides, I have one sitting here that needs new valve guides.

 

[Ozwynn]

460’s were notorious for bad valve guides, I have one sitting here that needs new valve guides.

Didn’t aftermarket solve that though? My 79 with a 460 use oil like it was gas at 80,000 miles….

95 class C motorhome didn’t use a drop… same mileage on the engines.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you are cussing the 5.4 over a blown plug now just wait until you go thru all the work to V10 swap it and then blow a plug.

 

[Blmpkn]

Gm 8.1 mated to an allison.

As close to a diesel torque curve as a guy can get with a gas job..

 

[Roert42]

newer 6.2L might be a better all around option. Performance is probably better then the V10.

Probably easier to find too since the V10 is getting a bit long in the tooth.

The 6R110, i think it is, seems pretty reliable.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Didn’t aftermarket solve that though? My 79 with a 460 use oil like it was gas at 80,000 miles….

95 class C motorhome didn’t use a drop… same mileage on the engines.

Both of the 460’s dad owned, despite regular maintenance, both wore out the valve guides in 80-100k. Supposedly aftermarket guides are better but I haven’t gotten to try that out yet, life got in the way of working on finding out.

 

[cbxer55]

If you are cussing the 5.4 over a blown plug now just wait until you go thru all the work to V10 swap it and then blow a plug.

Is he referring to the 5.4's that had four thread spark plug holes? In 2003 they changed them to eight thread heads. That's what my 2004 Ford SVT F-150 LIGHTNING has. As for changing them, some years back I got some new heater hoses that are far shorter and don't look like spaghetti under the hood. And long COP screws that stick up from the engine three inches. And with the proper spark plug/extension/swivel that can be bought now, that number 4 is not difficult at all.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

As much as it pains me to say it the 460 is going to be a big ass headache,

The V10 should about drop in besides room.

Even in 98 the electronics would be a nightmare going to an EEC IV 460.

 

[JohnnyO]

As much as it pains me to say it the 460 is going to be a big ass headache,

The V10 should about drop in besides room.

Even in 98 the electronics would be a nightmare going to an EEC IV 460.

Best to just fix the ol' 5.4.
With engine swaps on newer vehicles the problem isn't so much mounting the engine, it's getting all the electronics to work. Although swapping in a V10 would be a challenge. Probably have to take the cab off.
The V10 is a slug. I used to work for an HVAC company that had a new F-450 stake bed with a V10. In fairness it weighed around 10,000 pounds empty on the scales but it couldn't get out of its own way and at a steady 65 mph with the cruise on it got 8.5 mpg. We simply didn't drive it enough that it was worth the extra cost of getting a diesel.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Is he referring to the 5.4's that had four thread spark plug holes? In 2003 they changed them to eight thread heads. That's what my 2004 Ford SVT F-150 LIGHTNING has. As for changing them, some years back I got some new heater hoses that are far shorter and don't look like spaghetti under the hood. And long COP screws that stick up from the engine three inches. And with the proper spark plug/extension/swivel that can be bought now, that number 4 is not difficult at all.

Whichever, they were all a weak design. Dad has blown two out of his 2004 Ford F-250 SUPER DUTY.

SUPER DUTIES are worse at blowing spark plugs than F-150's. They were worked harder. With a service body dad's is basically a rolling 5.4 dyno. Every time the thing moves it is giving all it has lol.

4.6's hardly ever did it, 5.4 F-150's occasionally. F-250+.... long time owners have a running tally.

IMO they never really got the spark plug thing figured out until 2011 when the finally put the 5.4/6.8 out of its misery. At first (97-03) they couldn't keep them in the engine, 04-10 you can't get them out..

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Whichever, they were all a weak design. Dad has blown two out of his 2004 Ford F-250 SUPER DUTY.

SUPER DUTIES are worse at blowing spark plugs than F-150's. They were worked harder. With a service body dad's is basically a rolling 5.4 dyno. Every time the thing moves it is giving all it has lol.

4.6's hardly ever did it, 5.4 F-150's occasionally. F-250+.... long time owners have a running tally.

IMO they never really got the spark plug thing figured out until 2011 when the finally put the 5.4/6.8 out of its misery. At first (97-03) they couldn't keep them in the engine, 04-10 you can't get them out..

I always thought the 97/98s were fine...it was 99 when the PI heads came out that they started shooting them

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I always thought the 97/98s were fine...it was 99 when the PI heads came out that they started shooting them

The 4.6 somehow kinda flew under the radar, Ford was rather stingy with the 5.4 at first. There just are not as many out there.