I am having a used engine put in my 1999 GT since the old one gave up. The problem is they all have high miles on them since the shop says the straight swap can only be done with a used engine from a 1999 or 2000 car. I would like to know what needs to be altered to make it work if you put in an engine from a 01-04 car.

 

there are a couple things that are different, pulleys, hoses, but really nothing major, I dont see why you wouldnt be able to put a 01-04 engine in a 99, A guy on here put an 03 motor in his 2000 and everything is fine, my advice is to go find someone else to do the job that knows mustangs, trust me it can be done with minimum altercations, seems like your shop is just lazy
what area are you in? area code?
Might be able to find a shop that can do this for you

 

Yeah should be no biggy, i have an 03 in my 97 and there wasn't much to change around.

 

Give GTR in rancho a call...they know everything about every stang.

 

Thanks for the input. I am in Atlanta GA zip code 30305. The car is actually in the shop with the engine out so I can't really take it to another place. I was going to get a remanufactured engine but a bunch of issues came up and now the used engine is looking like a better option. The main issue is that it appears to be a 5.4 engine in the car so I can't turn it in as a core. At least that's what block and cylinder head numbers say. Carfax report and information from the previous owner who had it since September 2001 and 21000miles show no such change. I am looking into the numbers in more detail my self now. The shop is still saying that the post 2000 engines involve a lot of changes and thus would cost a lot more in labor. Looks like it will be the 76000 mile 2000 4.6 that goes in there. Any more suggestions are welcome. They are starting work on Friday or Monday so I don't have till then to come up with alternatives.

 

the only parts that changed which will affect you are little things. Just transfer the motor into your car, then take your intake and accessories and bolt them on. Problem solved. You can put any 4.6L from any 99-04 in it with pretty well zero hassles.

If there's a 5.4L in there, then keep it and fix it since you've got a real powerhouse under the hood compared to the 4.6L. What are the casting numbers? Got pics from under the hood?

 

wow, if that stang has a 5.4 in it already, yeah keep it, your already ahead of the game. I wouldn't swap it for a 4.6, just rebuild it.

 

These are the engine numbers that came out of the car:
Block - F81E0Y431AB
Cylinder heads - XL3E 6090 C20D

I'm trying to piece together what happened with this car and when this engine was put in there but nothing seems to be adding up. Does anyone know how to find information on this engine. All I have is what the shop told me. Apparently the computer is still programmed for a 4.6. I don't see how this would work.

The car VIN is 1FAFP42X4XF147149

 

I didn't find anything on the block number, but i also don't have one of my trusty books with me. If someone did put a 5.4 in it, you won't find any records on it, unless you actually talk to the guy that installed it. If i sold my car now and told them it's a 4.6, they would probably beleive me(if they didn't have a eye for motors) and later they would find out it's an 5.4 and would have to come to me for questions cause no one else or any website will tell them anything about it. If you can take a pic and post it on here. there's usually a build sticker on the valve cover, driver side, that will say 4.6 or 5.4 on it and usually the year, etc. can you see if it has that. Mine had one and said 5.4 on it, but i took it off. I like when people say...oh 4.6 with bolt ons...and i'm like...yeeessssss.

 

I'm Pete's (the guy who started the thread) buddy - we've been trying to work out this whole fiasco together. I'm really confused about some things. The numbers on the engine come up with it being a 5.4 so the shop had a used 5.4 and 4.6 shipped over for Pete to look at and decide which to put in. Thing that confuses me is that the used 5.4 that came over looked totally different to the "5.4" thats in just now. Should the engines look the same to the eye and just have a bigger bore or are they very different looking engines?

Thanks lads.

If he kept a 5.4 wouldt the power and torque curves be way off as the engine was designed for an excursion or whatever?

 

The 5.4's blocks should look the same, but timing covers and intakes could look different. A vans 5.4 and an expedition 5.4 could look different cause of those things.Also what year is the 5.4 you have now and the 5.4 they have, might be the new 3v motor and they look different from the 2v 5.4, also you will most likely switch things over like intake and timing cover so things bolt up right. but i would stay with the 5.4. Stock 99-04 4.6 2v, 260 Hp and 305 TQ, the 5.4 2v is 260 HP and 350 TQ.

 

Take a pic of the engine. Saleen and I can spot a 5.4 in a stang pretty quick. To the familiar eye there's a distinct difference in how they sit.

You really should look at my sticky thread in 4.6 tech on this subject. It's very informative.

Now then, the 5.4 is just a stroke increase over the 4.6. It uses a tall deck block and a longer con rod and bigger crank throw. Same bore size, same pistons, same heads, same cams, etc... Almost the same motor, just one is a little taller. If you have a 5.4 in a mustang you'll get to experience the effects of wild amounts of shove you in the back torque sauce. HP is not far above the 4.6 but it responds really really well to a mild cam upgrade and other bolt-on parts.

I'd be plum interested to see how the previous owner set up the intake. Post pics so we can id the motors for you.

 

Thanks for the offer mete, but the pictures are going to be pretty difficult...The car gave up 40 miles after buying it and went straight to the shop. It was only after taking the engine out that they said the numbers matched up to a 5.4 .... Because of the minimal amount of other changes in the engine bay i.e. stock intake, I really wonder if Ford has messed up with the numbering and that the engine actually is a 4.6 but Ford have tagged it a 5.4. Will try and get pics tho

 

well 4.6's were romeo and the 5.4's are windsors, two different plants. but i have heard some 99-2000 mustang GT's engines being 4.6 windsors(windsor made 4.6's but i was told not for the mustang, FORD said that)

 

ok... well if you can't take pics we can't help you much. If you have a 5.4, KEEP IT. If you have a chance to install a 5.4 TAKE IT. nuff said there.

If it's a 5.4L, the top of the valve cover will be just about flush wtih the top of the strut tower. If it's a 4.6, the top of the valve cover will be slightly beneath the level of the strut tower.

enjoy.

 

Thanks again for all the input. It's much appreciated. In the end there is a 4.6 from a 2000 car going in there. Like you say about the Romeo and Windsor engines supposedly the 99 and 00 mustangs had Windsor engines and the post 2000 cars had Romeo engines. That’s why there are things different like 11 vs. 13 bolt valve covers 6 vs. 8 bolt flywheel, timing cover, tensioner. The 5.4 is a good bit more expensive and it would cost me a lot to have the old one fixed. I'm not really up for doing it my self. Don't have the tools or time really. I think I'll be happy enough with the 4.6. I will take pictures of the old engine though on Monday when I go to the shop and I'll post them on here. I am pretty curious about the whole thing now. If you think the motor has a future and know anyone who would like it who would want to fix it up I'll sell it really cheap.

 

Make sure you get the dead engine back. Get it torn down and measure the stroke and get back to us with that. That info will definitely tell the tale on what displacement it really is. If it's a 5.4L I'm sure you can rebuild it to put back in the car or find someone willing to buy it for their 'Stang in a NY minute.