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.
Swapping isn't an option on something that new, if you live in a state where emissions rules are enforced. The vehicle has to have all its original emissions equipment intact or they won't give you an inspection sticker, and the state suspends the vehicle's license.
- StirCrazyOct 22, 2024Moderator
why would you want to swap a newer vehicle? half the stuff he did (headers and such) fall under the same rules so this obvioulsy isn't an issue. plus his truck is around 25 years old, so what are you calling a newer vehicle?
- mkirschOct 22, 2024Nomad II
Near as I can tell nothing he did eliminated any emissions equipment. Headers and performance parts aren't illegal, as long as all the sensors and emissions equipment are still intact.
Being "around 25 years old" is not good enough. Here in NY it has to be a 1999 or older this year to be exempt from emissions testing. Once it hits that magic 25 year mark, he could swap anything in that he wanted.
- Camper_Jeff___KOct 22, 2024Nomad III
This truck has no EGR or any emission control except a CAT and front O2 sensors.
The truck runs great and definitely has more power. At 1500 rpm, you can feel an increasing amount to the power
- Camper_Jeff___KOct 21, 2024Nomad III
That's true, yet I understand there are ways around it. I think folks have used the VIN of the doner vehicle and assumed that title with the transplant vehicle. Somebody might have the answer.
- Grit_dogOct 22, 2024Navigator
Huh?
- Camper_Jeff___KOct 23, 2024Nomad III
Doing an engine swap. I understand if you are swapping with a modern engine, the new engine is swappable with it's system of control since both engines would have EPA ratings. I understand my truck does not have an EPA MPG rating or much of the emission control garbage. My stock exhaust has no EGR connection and my Intake Manifold doesn't have a connection. The place for the connection is there but it was never machined. I believe my truck originated in Wyoming and may have been a police, forest service or other government vehicle due to the remnants of several radio antennae basses on the roof and places on the floor and dash where equipment like radios etcetera were mounted. The engine had a leaky head gasket from the get go and the prior owner knew it, cancer got him. I eventually figured the problem was a factory machining flaw leaving a gouge in the #1 front right cylinder between the cylinder and the water jacket. I finally figured it out on the third head gasket change. I had no more problems with the head gaskets on that engine. It died from a cracked oil sump pickup tube.
This engine was fine till it overheated and it just kept getting worse and worse. I got home from our road trip and now the rest is history. I've got more drive time on the engine and it is a considerable improvement from before. The real test will come soon when we load the TC and go for a trip around the state.
- Grit_dogOct 22, 2024Navigator
No emissions testing in WA….as crazy that sounds. Not since Covid, lol. They all got sent home like the State did to all their employees, and the emissions testing never started back up. Another positive coming out of the pandemic I suppose.
And his truck is 5 years away from being eligible for collector plates. Just because it’s newer than its owner doesn’t mean it’s newer! Hahaha