97 5.4l 3v swap ONLY

ShadyJ13 · Jun 25, 2007

ok I am in dyer need of info on doing a 5.4l 3V swap into a 97 gt. I know it has been done I just need the info on doing it. so please any info would be greatly appreciated.

AND PLEASE NO TALK OF 5.4l 2v or 4.6 3v. I am looking for 5.4l 3v info only. so if you have done one please help. I would even be willing to call and talk to you or have you talk to my mechanic.

DropTopPony · Jun 25, 2007

Bill Fisher did it in his 96

look up his member name then search through his threads he made as he did some write ups and updates.

ShadyJ13 · Jun 26, 2007

yeah I sent him a pm was looking to see if anyone else had any info. thanks

billfisher · Jun 28, 2007

there is no one else. unless you can contact Ed Olin at SVT. he is tyhe first to do it. he also made a crapload more power than me.

tomustang · Jun 28, 2007

billfisher said:
there is no one else. unless you can contact Ed Olin at SVT. he is tyhe first to do it. he also made a crapload more power than me.

bill why do you have those crappy LCA's??

billfisher · Jun 30, 2007

i use them because they are better than stock, and i can get the weight transfer exactly the way i want it for the conditions. sometime i need to load the right rear more than others. every track is different on any particular day. one thing i hate is to snap one way or the other on 2nd gear shift. i like to leave straight. of course i could use a better LCA, but these let me have stock ride height for ervery day.

the fact is the moroso's lift the front a tad higher than stock 4.6. these LCA's let me raise the back to match and i set them to the bottom for racing. 3" travel ain't bad.

billfisher · Jun 30, 2007

what should i use?

Scorcher2005 · Jun 30, 2007

Why exactly do you want a 5.4 3 valve? As you can see, billfisher only made 250rwhp (granted about 30 more TQ than the 4.6), where as I've seen plenty doing 300rwhp with minimal mods on the 4.6 2 valve.

four six · Jun 30, 2007

Scorcher2005 said:
Why exactly do you want a 5.4 3 valve? As you can see, billfisher only made 250rwhp (granted about 30 more TQ than the 4.6), where as I've seen plenty doing 300rwhp with minimal mods on the 4.6 2 valve.

Whats you definition of minimal?

Scorcher2005 · Jun 30, 2007

cams, long tubes, tb/plenum, k&n, sct.

billfisher · Jun 30, 2007

Scorcher2005 said:
Why exactly do you want a 5.4 3 valve? As you can see, billfisher only made 250rwhp (granted about 30 more TQ than the 4.6), where as I've seen plenty doing 300rwhp with minimal mods on the 4.6 2 valve.

reasons you are wrong...

no.1 minimal mods yield ~255rwhp and 290ish rwtq with a MANUAL TRANSMISSION. minimal being every bolt-on.

no.2 300rwhp from a bolt-on 4.6 REQUIRES cams. that ain't minimal

no.3 i have no real bolt-ons. that's 90 percent stock numbers.

no.4 with a manual tranny the 5.4 3v's numbers WILL be 270rwhp and 350-360 rwtq with the same setup as me. and with longtubes, cams, water pump, windage tray, exceed most 4.6's except 4v's.

no.5 your heads flow hardly any air. and ported your PI heads still fall short.

no.6 my theoretical max HP number is ~467 flywheel hp without head porting.

no.7 that little 40 rwtq a near stock 5.4 3v makes over a 4.6 means 2 to 3 cars on it in the first 100 feet.

no.8 i rev 5500 and use 3.90 gears, so 4.11's in a 4.6 is no real advantage.

no.9 a 5.4 3v can be forged to rev 7200 and has airflow to support that.

ets, etc, etc....

i mean no insult to anyone. i love 4.6 2v's. but he asked why, so i answered.

oh and stock 5.4 3v's with mild boosted ~8lbs make 425rwhp/450 rwtq.

rafael naves is making 540rwhp/570 rwtq with his in break-in tune. He broke 2 Jasper monster box tranny's in a row rith the torque he expects to exceed 700 rwhp in pump gas. Call JDM engineering for more info on RAFA's truck.

so, a 5.4 3v can approach a gt500 in power with the right mods. Rafa's hp is in fact greater than a gt500.

5.4 4v is king.

4.6/5.0 4v is next

the jury is out on 5.4 and 4.6 3v but 350rwhp is average for 4.6 3v with bolt-ons and cams no head porting.

4.6 2v is low man... no offense.

billfisher · Jun 30, 2007

we go to dyno this month. i will reply with numbers then.

Scorcher2005 · Jul 1, 2007

I put a cam in my list of minimal mods. I'm sorry if you don't think its minimal. What i was getting at is why spend all that money to buy a 5.4, engineer it to fit, and buy/make parts to make it all fit and hook up? With that money right there you could have just supercharged your 4.6 and made 350-450rwhp. Even if you were to replace the engine, why a 5.4 compared to a 4.6 DOHC?

billfisher · Jul 1, 2007

the only question i ask myself is your last one. a 4.6/5.0 tumble port 4v is superior to any 3v unless that 3v is ported. an unported 4v will lose out to a ported 3v.

billfisher · Jul 1, 2007

Scott@VT Engines (600+/430 SAE) 3.7" Bore, Proprietary Stroke, Ported 05+ GT's (4valve) by Al/Cams/Sullivan Intake/Carbureted/RG. N/A HP Champion.
Boss 330 (593 SAE) 5.4L, Ported 05+ GT's (4valve) by Al/Cams/Carbureted/RG/Dry Sump.
Randy Haywood (548/439 STD*) 5.4L, Ported '00R's/Cams/Sheetmetal Intake/Carb.
Mike T. @ Modular Performance (507 SAE) 5.0L, Ported FR500/PSR/Cams/RG.
Joe Hutchins (475) 5.3L(SHM), Ported B head/Cams/Kinsler IR intake/RG.
James Lasurdo (svtsnake.com) (470/380 SAE) VT 5.3L, Ported FR500 Heads/FR500 Intake/Cams.
Nazman (459/376) 5.0L Big Bore, Owner Ported FR500's/FR500 Intake & Cams.
Shawn Johnson (454 STD*) 5.0L, Ported C Heads/Mod Perf Cams/Custom Intake/Carbureted/RG.
WMS (448 SAE) 5.3L, Ported C Head/FR500 Intake/Cams.
Paul S/PHP (430) 5.0L, Ported FR500/FR500 Intake/Cams/RG.
360NotchforUrLS1 (420/390) Ported 99/01 C head/Ported Intake/Crane Cams.
Dennis Sharp/DS97Cobra (420/330 STD*) 5.0L Ported FR500/FR500, Houston Perf Cams.
Shalom96 (410/337 SAE) 5.0L Stroker, Ported C(03) Heads/Short Runner Intake/Houston Perf Cams.
Nazman (from Mighty Mustangs) (410/333 SAE) Owner Ported FR500 Heads/FR500 Cams/FR500 Intake. 4.6L HP Champion.
01CobraSVT TICO (410/323.5 SAE) 5.0L BB/Ported 01 Heads/Hensler Spec Cams.
Mystic1/Ted S. (414/335 STD*) 5.0L, Ported 01 Heads/FR500 Intake/Mod Perf Regrinds.
Blacksnake305 (lafear01) (388/376 SAE) 5.0L BB, Fox Lake Ported 01 Heads/Joeys PI/FR500 Cam.
Ron 99 Cobra (385) 5.0L, Ported C Head/PSR.
Shawn Johnson (374 SAE) 99' .020 over cylinder bore, valve job, stock cams & intake set up for Factory Stock race class..
C Weil (372/324 SAE) 5.0L, Ported B Heads/SSR intake/FR500 Cams.
Jims SVT (370/318 SAE). JSR (jims svt) Ported Short Runner. Ported96-98 B head/Cams.
Joe Lynch (370/300 SAE) Ported C Heads/PSR Intake/Houston Perf Regrind Cams.
James Hensler (370 SAE) Ported B Head/HCI intake/Cams/RG.
jcitroloc (369/351 SAE) 5.0L BB/Ported Intake/03 Mach C head with prep work by Boss 330/Comp Cams intake/FR500 exh cams.
ITLRUN (363.8/311.3 SAE) Bowl&Valve Work by Boss 330 on 03 heads/FR500 Intake/Stock Mach Cams.
stangonline (360/334 SAE) 5.0L Stroker/FR500 Intake/Stock 03 Mach C head/SHM Stage 1 Cams.
David Simmons (car now owned by C Weil) (360/326 SAE) 5.0L, Ported B Heads/SSR intake/FR500 Cams.
vrtical (360/320 SAE) Ported 01 C Head/Aviator Intake/Crower Cams/RG.
Bob Cosby (356.2@6100/337.4@5000 SAE) 99' .020 over cylinder bore, valve job, stock cams & intake set up for Factory Stock race class.
ddmander (356/355 SAE) 5.0L/Ported C Heads/Extrude Hone Intake.

THIS IS WHERE 4V TAKES OVER N/A

Silver01Cobra (356/348 SAE) Ported FR500 Heads/Ported Intake/FR500 Cams.
Barry Shepard (350) Ported FR500 Heads/FR500 Intake/Cams/RG.
99BlackVenom (350/329 SAE) Ported FR500's/Extrude Hone Intake/SHM Stage2 Cams.
Duane V (346/293 SAE) Ported B Head/PI/Crower Regrind Cams/RG.
RedCobraVert (346/318 SAE) Ported C Head/Cams.
Nazman (from Mighty Mustangs) (337/337 SAE) PI, 99 C head. Bolt on HP Champion.
huzsvt (337/336 SAE) SHM stage 2 ported intake and stage 1 ported 99 C heads/Crower Cams.
4VMENACE (335/319 SAE) PSR/Ported 97 B head/SHM Cams.
ExplorerThis (from SVTPerformnce) (331.65/323 SAE) 01 C head.
tmhutch (331.6/325 SAE) PSR. 01 C head.
CYA (from SVTPerformnce) (330/320 SAE) Ported, extrude honed intake. 01 C head.
Jeff Peterson (330 SAE) PI. 01 C head.
Stedda (328/321 SAE). 01 C head.
Quick01snake (327/327 SAE). 01 C head.
Jims SVT (326/305 SAE). JSR (jims svt) Ported Short Runner. 96-98 B head.
stockmach1 (mch 1 regstry.com) (324/337 SAE) 03 C head.
4V GTS (322.4/317.9 SAE). C head.
32VHEMIJR (322 SAE) PSR. C head.
BEERFORMEPLZ (321/353! SAE) 04 Mach.
MODSTER (320). C head.
Skyler (320/319 SAE) PI by Naz. C head.
TxSnakeCharmer (320/310 SAE) Extrude Hone Intake. C head.
103 (Dustin) (320/315 STD*). C head.
RUNNINFAST (320/299) B head/ported intake/dome pistons/SHM cams.
bitemark46 (320/298 SAE) owner ported short runner. B head.
Joe98Stang (319/309) C head.
COBRACIDE (319/316) C head.
99SVTAddict (318/315 SAE) PI. C head.
SVT CAMR (318/290 SAE) Ported Intake. 96-98 B head.
Red01 (316/321 SAE) 01 C head.

i posted this list to illustrate why 5.4 or 4.6 3v. you can't say 5.4 3v isn't worth it yet. frankly you have no idea what a 5.4 3v can do.

but what can be said is... a 4.6 3v makes 350rwhp and 332 rwtq on average with bolt-ons and stage 3 CC's. compare that to the 4v list above. it isn't really that bad.

if this intake works(big if) then there's no reason a 5.4 3v cannot equal the HP and exceed the torque. that's why. because once it's in, it has more potential than a 4.6 2v and as much as a 4.6 3v, or 4v.

I delineated about where 4v takes over. ported 3v keeps up even further.

5.4 3v isn't that expensive if knowledge on how to do it is transferred. i could do this same swap now for much less than originally.

tire · Dec 25, 2007

Hello, I have a 2000 gt 5spd and a 2005 f-series 3v 5.4 waiting to go in. I sent a PM to Bill Fisher and am looking for anyone else's help as well. If y'all have contact information for anyone who has done this swap with this particular motor, I would appreciate it. I cannot find this Ed Olin y'all speak of. However, I'm pretty confident Mr. Fisher will get my PM as he seems relatively active on this site. Thanks.

Austin

billfisher · Dec 25, 2007

you stock pcm and sensors can work if you want to avoid issues with the f-150 pcm. and you will have to lock the VCT for bigger cams anyway. so losing vct is nothing.

i am using my untuned stock 96 pcm. 99+ has surging problems untuned as the fuel curve is PCM controlled. i just adjusted the pressure and altered my MAF.for now. you will find a lot of discouragement here and there.

THIS IS NOT 5.4 2V!!!! THERE IS ENOUGH HEAD FLOW TO SUPPORT 330 CU.IN AND MORE!!!!!

5.4 2V's need every mod in the book to get to where a 5.4 3v exceeds with only bolt-ons.

290rwhp/350rwtq is just an average 5.4 3v bolt-on. longtubes, CAI, tune, exhaust, UPD, 80mm throttle body. and that in an automatic truck. they have 5 percent or more losses greater than an automatic car like mine.

a manual tranny 5.4 3v with bolt -ons? more even.

tire · Dec 25, 2007

billfisher said:
you stock pcm and sensors can work if you want to avoid issues with the f-150 pcm. and you will have to lock the VCT for bigger cams anyway. so losing vct is nothing.

who does one "lock" the vct. i knwo little about electronics (hell, i'm scared of them in cars at least. does this involve using someone to tune the vehicle and manually turn the vct function off in the computer?

billfisher said:
i am using my untuned stock 96 pcm. 99+ has surging problems untuned as the fuel curve is PCM controlled. i just adjusted the pressure and altered my MAF.for now. you will find a lot of discouragement here and there.

how did you go about this, a simple pressure gauge and monitor it under load, and a fuel press. reg.? how did you alter your MAF. that is very vague and has me wondering if this is a good idea for me to be letting a potentially large issue be played by ear.

i have found all the discouragement i need, and more. i'm about bitter already with the things i've done in life (much less cars) that people said i couldn't do, but i remind myself to smile and keep on doing my thing.

billfisher said:
THIS IS NOT 5.4 2V!!!! THERE IS ENOUGH HEAD FLOW TO SUPPORT 330 CU.IN AND MORE!!!!!

5.4 2V's need every mod in the book to get to where a 5.4 3v exceeds with only bolt-ons.

290rwhp/350rwtq is just an average 5.4 3v bolt-on. longtubes, CAI, tune, exhaust, UPD, 80mm throttle body. and that in an automatic truck. they have 5 percent or more losses greater than an automatic car like mine.

a manual tranny 5.4 3v with bolt -ons? more even.

the car is 3,250ish lbs and a 5spd t45. the motor will be STOCK except a meziere elec. water pump and probably intake tubing mimicking either ram air or at least relocated air draw to get AIT down "CAI". i'm sure i'll throw some UD pullies on there as well (i drive docile and found them to help with mpg actually). i won't bother for speculating, except /WHEN/ this car is completed its bark will match its bite, and be fun to drive.

austin

SVT32VDOHC · Dec 27, 2007

Different strokes for different folks.

Maybe he just thinks a 5.4L 3v swap would be cooler than just being like any other Mustang with a supercharged 4.6L. I transformed, painted and fixed a 91 notch in 14 days over a period of 2 months. I could do the same again with my 81 notch, but instead, I did something different. 4.6L 2001 motor,trans, dash...etc.....a lot of customization. This is 6 months in the making with another 4-5 months needed. TONS OF HOURS AND THINKING... WHY?? Because I wanted to be different this time.

Darien352 · Mar 21, 2025

Hey are you still active I’m doing the same swap you did idk If bill is active but could u tell me what you used?

97 5.4l 3v swap ONLY

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waiting for the next hack atta

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