Any Ford Engineers out there? Would an Ecoboost fit into my 02 sport trac?

I didn't want to hijack the other Ecoboost thread...so....

I've wondered from time to time if the Ecoboost V-6 would fit into my 4x4 Sportrac. I tried emailing Ford and I got a canned response. I wrote back and said, please forward my question to the SVT people and my email died a sad and lonely death a lot like most of my posts on this site.

I'm sure it will physically fit, but will it bolt up to my existing trans? If not, would the stock Ecoboost trans work and allow me to retain my 4 wheel drive?

If the goal is to have it in a sport trac that you can trailer to shows and show off, I'm sure it will fit.

Starting with your trans- I pretty sure it wont fit. The back of 3.5l family is quite a bit different than a lot of older engines- espeically one that old. So you would need a trans that would attach- which should be either the FWD 6F55 in the front drive cars, the 6R that's in the truck (both autos), or the one on the back of the Mustang V6 might work.

But that's barely a problem compared with making the engine run. You would have to use the original controller to run the engine. Unless you invested in a Bosch racing module, which I think is over $10 these days. But at a bare minimum, you would have to control twin independant VCT (4 cams- or if you get the FWD version- 2 cams), a high pressure fuel pump, and the high pressure injectors. Let alone the throttle and all of the boost functions.

Using the stock computer is a whole host of issues- since it will look for a bunch of other body modules to even run. Having done it with a develoment processor and proper tools- even then it was not all that straight forward.

There's a website of a guy transplanting an Ecoboost from an F150 into an old F100- and he was making progress getting it in. No idea if he ever got it to run.

Nice to think about- but not really something that is possible at the moment.

In reply to alfadriver: That's pretty much what I figured you would say. Thanks for the long and detailed response!

If you used a 4wd f150 3.5L trans, it will fit in the same way as whats in it now(you might have to use the transfer case from the f150 as well) Wiring and plumbing will be an effin nightmare, but it'd be neat. I'm assuming you have a 4L sport trac.

As an electrical engineer, sw engineer, and car builder, I completely agree with what Alfadriver said. The mechanical problems are just the start; like he said, the software issues will be where the real problem is. Even worse, some transmissions these days have dedicated controllers which talk the the engine controller, where one won't work without the other.

About the only way to do it would be to run an aftermarket ECU, setting aside many days to figure out the mapping.

Mechanicals should be easy. But putting in the stock wiring harness from the ecoboost is going to be the killer. There's already a tuner for the ecoboost, but I'm not sure if it can disable the anti-theft yet, something will be able to soon. You'll proably also need to fit the ecoboost gauge cluster into the car if you want gauges because they're almost certainly can bus and 99.8% likely your current ones wont work with the ecoboost ecu. The alternative is running an MS with the bosch DI FI controller and some hackery to get the electronic throttle body to work with the MS, which will likely involve you having to write a bit of your own custom firmware for control and using the H bridge controller on an MS3e or MS3p. I have a feeling making the stock ecu work even if you need to have a billion unused computer modules jammed under the dash to make it happy (I bet the car wont start with the power window controller unplugged) will be easier.

Thanks for all of the thoughtful comments. I thought about this swap in two different ways, first, it would be nice if ford offered the ecoboost as a crate engine. The second way was to find a wrecked F150 and swap over anything and everything I would need. Who am I kidding, Im not capable of doing either! I see a few companies that offer performance parts for the 4L and that is probably what I would end up doing, stay with the existing engine and just get a little more power out of it. Still, having 400 hp would be sweet.

Ford said: Currently engine requires stand alone aftermarket engine controller and custom engine calibration to function

Ecoboost V6 crate engine.
http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=22829

Alan Cesar wrote:

Ford said: Currently engine requires stand alone aftermarket engine controller and custom engine calibration to function

Ecoboost V6 crate engine. http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_details.asp?PartKeyField=22829

Now that we will start seeing them actually on a race track, perhaps that stand alone controller with custom calibration will also start being available.

(Colin Braun recently set a Daytona Lap record with an Ecoboost V6 in a new "DP" car- or whatever the new class will be called)

What about this:

http://www.summitracing.com/int/search/product-line/vortech-centrifugal-supercharger-kits/make/ford/engine-size/4-0l-245

One of them on the page makes 330hp 337ft-lb. That's pretty good.

This is what turns me off of the new engines. Swaps won't be as... grassrooty.

N Sperlo wrote: This is what turns me off of the new engines. Swaps won't be as... grassrooty.

Why not? You need to add a laptop to your tool box.

You can make this swap work with all original electronics if you're a crafty MF and there is enough room under the dash to jam a bunch of computer modules you're not using. And are willing to use the key and ignition cylinder from the donor truck. And are willing to either have minimal to no gauges or use a tablet plugged into the obdii port as gauges.

N Sperlo wrote: This is what turns me off of the new engines. Swaps won't be as... grassrooty.

It's all about the demand. Some engines, like the LS1, have a strong enough demand that it makes good business sense to support it. You could say the same thing about the aftermarket support for the V8 that go into a Mustang.

I'm not so sure about this engine.

N Sperlo wrote: This is what turns me off of the new engines. Swaps won't be as... grassrooty.

I'm pretty sure people were saying that when electronic fuel injection became common.

They were a kinda right though, weren't they? We're crafty berks, and we find ways to do things, but it's getting harder all the time.