First mileage test result.
The first mileage test results are in. A quick review of what was done to the truck. Cometic head gaskets half the thickness of Fel-Pro and with full o-rings around each cylinder, not combining int...
Forum Discussion
did you ever think about just putting a different engine into it? I'm not asking this to stir anythign up, but the 5.4 wasn't that great of a engine to start with and with so many new offerings from both ford and gm that would be easy to swap in and would give you more power and better fuel economy. for example a junkyard LS 6L could be had with a trans for about 1500 up here so 1000ish down their and prople about another 500 in parts to install it, I bet you would be well over 15 mph. I know its a gm motor in a ford, I am just using it as an example and it is the cheepest way to go, the ford gas engines that would make a good swap are a little more money.
I've given engine swapping some thought. The trick is the whole truck is a system. I thought about a 6.2 and 6 speed transmission swap but you have to swap the computer system, wire harness and any relevent components. To make it run.
Even if I did a V10, my V8 wire harness is setup for 8 cylinders so I would need to swap electronics for that. I can do it, but fixing what I have is the easiest most affordable way. I know I am creating more power from the engine. I have addressed several weak points with the Cometic head gaskets, welding shut the rear coolant passages on the heads. Greatly improving exhaust flow over stock. High volume oip pump to hopefully oil better and keep passages clear. Rear of head coolant adaptors to prevent a boilover from ever happening again and keep the heads cooler with better circulation. That about covers the modifications which I hope will amount to a sort of "Bullet Proofing" for the 5.4 engine. The first engine did 275k miles, but it took work and three sets of head gaskets and new sparkplug seats to do it.
ya the swaps are not as hard as it seams anymore. you can get kits that mount everything, conversion kits to make the wire and computer that come with your junk yard motor/trans just plug into your old plugs.. they have simplified it so much..
it all comes down to what is the most important .. if its fuel milage and power to pull big hills, then your going to swap a diesel in there. if its... well realy I can't see any reason to buy a truck used to pull or haul a rv or other type of trailer or payload with significant weight, that is a gas engine.. they have less power, worse fuel milage, more maintenance and don't last as long as a diesel... but some people still like thoes gas engines. I like them for cars and hotrods
