4v 4.6 and transmission into '08.

[Westmonroe1968]

2008 4.0 5r55s (bad trans), Question is: Will a 4v 4.6 and trans from Mark viii (I already have this) bolt in with appropriate hard parts such as motor mounts/crossmember/driveshaft? I'll need pcm/ecm/computer etc. from both vehicles I assume? Strong mech. skills and equip. However, I am ignorant where the comps./wiring harness is concerned. Looking for information on this as a project.

 

[Todd Z]

The DOHC is way too wide for a direct bolt in... lots of modifications. Now the electrical as you said would be another headache. Can it be done by the right person, where there is a will there is a way.

 

[blksn8k]

Well, the concept Adrenalin from way back when was supposed to do pretty much the same thing, right? SVT planned to use a 4V 4.6L from a 2003-2004 Mustang Cobra including the supercharger. However, here's a photo of the concept's engine compartment:

If you look closely it sure looks like a lowly 2V 4.6L. The intake even says "4.6L SOHC". I guess they didn't have to open the hood on a show truck. I suppose it's also possible that it did have a 4V in it at one time but Ford probably couldn't sell it that way when they decided to get rid of it. My guess is it never had a 4V.

BTW, that concept truck sold for $55k last year at the Barrett-Jackson Fall Auction in Scottsdale and that's where the photo came from.

Wasn't there also a shop in the Carolinas that built a Sport Trac with a GT500 5.4L with 4V heads? Not sure if they ever got it running but I believe they eventually trashed that plan and went with a 5.0L Coyote instead.

Before I got rid of mine I thought about building a 5.3L stroker out of a 4.6L and using 3V heads. Ford Performance still sells a crate 5.3L shortblock that will accept any modular cylinder heads (2V, 3V or 4V). With 3V heads it would be a direct bolt-in since it uses the 4.6L block.

I would assume one of the biggest hurdles when trying to use 4V heads would be routing the exhaust. There's only so much room between the frame rails....

 

[Todd Z]

I know the guy very well that purchased the truck and I thought it was about $80,000 that the truck sold for last year. Anyway it is a two valve 4.6. The truck was also butchered electronically and other mechanical items that were horrendous when he got the truck home.

 

[blksn8k]

Here's the auction listing with the selling price of $55k. I suppose once you add in the bidder's and buyer's fees, shipping, taxes, etc. it might get close to $80k. Did your friend buy it at the B-J auction in Scottsdale or later?

https://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/2005-FORD-EX-CONCEPT-PICKUP-242946
I suppose all Ford needed it to do for show duty was be able to move from a trailer to a parking spot. The auction description says "**NOT STREET LEGAL** **SOLD ON BILL OF SALE**". I assume that means it didn't have a title?

 

[Todd Z]

Yes. He bought it at BJA. It has non-DOT rated tires and other things on it that prevent it from being street legal.

 

[STA TRINITY]

Yes,

 

[blksn8k]

Yes,

Did you ever get it running with the 5.4? What kind of structural mods, if any, did you have to make to the frame, firewall, etc.? How much difficulty would the OP have trying to install his 4.6 4V?

 

[STA TRINITY]

It’s a 2014 GT500 5.8 662 hp converted to a built 6r80, no mods to the fire wall or body, the Sport Trac nose was used to build the headers, mount the radiators,and heat exchangers, oil coolers, air box, wiring and make all the mistakes on a test nose. I had other things, I had do first to take the power, front and back brakes rear diff,drive lines.

 

[STA TRINITY]

This lets me do all kinds of changes and not damage to the jig and not the truck, it lets me with my fork lift take the body on and to fit things.

 

[STA TRINITY]

And of course the brakes

 

[STA TRINITY]

Did you ever get it running with the 5.4? What kind of structural mods, if any, did you have to make to the frame, firewall, etc.? How much difficulty would the OP have trying to install his 4.6 4V?

Let’s just say a lot of these operations are what I do on a daily basis ,I don’t know his skill set and it can be a bit of a task.

 

[blksn8k]

Do you think he could use the factory exhaust manifolds from the Mark VIII or is there something else that might work better short of having someone like you fab a set of headers? I don't think he was looking to do any serious performance upgrades to the 4V although I suppose that in itself might be a slight increase in performance over the 3V 4.6L but probably not enough to warrant any major upgrades to the suspension, brakes, etc. similar to what you did. He also seemed to be looking more for advice on the electronics side of things. In other words, does he need to or can he use any of the computer stuff from the Lincoln just to get that engine to run in his Trac?

 

[STA TRINITY]

So, if the mark 8 exhaust manifolds are like a GT cobra 4.6 twin cam, the 4.6 is narrower than the 5.4,5.8 engine by a bit and the engine is set to the right about a inch and a half. The right side is tight the real issue will be the steering shaft around the left manifold. The pictures I just put up are of the 5.8 inside the frame. The manifolds do fit between the uprights but that’s it you can’t get the steering around it, so I that’s why I decided to build the headers. Now I was able to increase the tube size to 17/8 control the tube to equal length on all tubes and fit it where I wanted.

 

[STA TRINITY]

We have the time we have!

It may be more productive to just supercharge the 4.6 $ it’s a bad investment but it’s really fun. I’m converting a Brenspeed adrenalin back to and automatic from a 6 speed stick right now this thing hauled ass, 470 to the ground. The stick install was over 8k the blower, exhaust tune inter cooler was 9k the truck has 42k miles and he bought it for 25 +the ride from NY to Portland.

 

[MVanover]

I'm a newbie here. My son is now considering getting a Sport Trac (ST). Mine is a 2008 Adrenalin, but I think if I would "re-engine" a ST I'd probably go with a 1st gen. I think a 5.4L two or three valve engine might be the easiest install. The longer stroke should provide more low end "umph" than the 4.6L for four-wheeling. Also, I think the 1st gens can be lifted easier for better ground clearance. Personally, I'm not into off road, but my son has a '96 Bronco and an '86 Bronco II. Both are on steroids. The Bronco II has the 4.0L V-6 push rod engine with a cam and aftermarket heads and headers (he rebuilt the engine). I think it puts more to the ground than the full size Bronco with its 5.8L motor, or it seems that way. I'm happy with my 2nd gen. Good towing capacity and decent mileage for a V-8/Automatic. I constantly get 19+ mpg average city/highway. It also seems to hug the curves pretty good. It has an exhaust system (I assume is aftermarket) I was able to quiet down. So, as a daily driver, it's fairly comfortable now.