2015 Navigator V8 upgrade

[Hectorg123]

Hello again all,

I've made a couple posts before about upgrading my 2012 Navigator L to look like a 2015. More and more it's looking much too complicated. So now I'm thinking maybe I'll get my hands on a 2015 Navigator L and throw a nice rebuilt 5.4L V8 from my 2012 Navigator into it. How complicated would that be?

 

[bbf2530]

Hello again all,

I've made a couple posts before about upgrading my 2012 Navigator L to look like a 2015. More and more it's looking much too complicated. So now I'm thinking maybe I'll get my hands on a 2015 Navigator L and throw a nice rebuilt 5.4L V8 from my 2012 Navigator into it. How complicated would that be?

Hi Hectorg123. The short story: It will be at least as difficult or even more so, than upgrading your 2012 to look like a 2015.

I’m sure others will also jump in with more advice, so keep us updated and good luck.

 

[Hectorg123]

Hi Hectorg123. The short story: It will be at least as difficult or even more so, than upgrading your 2012 to look like a 2015.

I’m sure others will also jump in with more advice, so keep us updated and good luck.

Hmm, I'm wondering which route will be better, I already have a 2012 so I could get all parts from a junk yard, and have a body shop repaint it. Only issue is what would I need to do for the electrinics to function properly, lights, cluster gauge, stereo, steering wheel, etc. will all be different. I assume doing the engine swap will mostly consist of reprogramming the computer to know it's a V8 and not the Ecoboost. Motor mounts, and transmission should line up near perfect, I think

 

[bbf2530]

Hmm, I'm wondering which route will be better, I already have a 2012 so I could get all parts from a junk yard, and have a body shop repaint it. Only issue is what would I need to do for the electrinics to function properly, lights, cluster gauge, stereo, steering wheel, etc. will all be different. I assume doing the engine swap will mostly consist of reprogramming the computer to know it's a V8 and not the Ecoboost. Motor mounts, and transmission should line up near perfect, I think

Hi Hectorg123. Sorry if my reply was confusing.

I would not recommend either project. Modifying a 2012 to look like a 2015 would be expensive, difficult and time consuming. And trying to stuff a 5.4L V-8 from your 2012 into a 2015 (which did not offer that engine) would be the same. Either way, you are likely to wind up with a large, expensive, problem-plagued paperweight.

However, this is a decision for you to make. You know your bank account, amount of free time, patience level, skill level etc.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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[driller]

Hmm, I'm wondering which route will be better, I already have a 2012 so I could get all parts from a junk yard, and have a body shop repaint it. Only issue is what would I need to do for the electrinics to function properly, lights, cluster gauge, stereo, steering wheel, etc. will all be different. I assume doing the engine swap will mostly consist of reprogramming the computer to know it's a V8 and not the Ecoboost. Motor mounts, and transmission should line up near perfect, I think

I can't say for sure but wouldn't you have the same issues with the electronics putting the V8 in place of the Ecoboost? I highly doubt the powertrain control from the Ecoboost could be 'reprogrammed' for V8, so you will need the computer from the V8 trying to assimilate with the different modules of the 2015 model.

One avenue you may explore would be a standalone EFI programmer running the V8 and then figuring out what all would be needed to operate the other electronics.

 

[Hectorg123]

I can't say for sure but you wouldn't you have the same issues with the electronics putting the V8 in place of the Ecoboost? I highly doubt the powertrain control from the Ecoboost could be 'reprogrammed' for V8, so you will need the computer from the V8 trying to assimilate with the different modules of the 2015 model.

One avenue you may explore would be a standalone EFI programmer running the V8 and then figuring out what all would be needed to operate the other electronics.

True, I was looking more into it. I would be better off putting a crate engine in the 2015, or a 5.0 coyote swap with a similar year.

 

[Action]

A crate 5.0l will be the same. Unless they come with electronic controls.
No controls, no way to operate fuel injection and ignition.
Unless you are going with old school carburetor and ignition.
Plus mounting and connection to an electronically controlled transmission.

Installing a different engine requires different engine controls.
The engine controls that came with the vehicle are tailored to the specific engine in the specific application.
With electronics the modification you want to do is extremely complex. Nothing will be easy at all to the point of seeming impossible.

The 2012 will have the 5.4l 3v engine. (this engine variation was used in 2009 to 2014 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.)
The 2015 will have the EcoBoost V6.
The engine controls will be very different.
In addition, the PCM integrates body and chassis controls into the 'box'.
There isn't going to be any reprograming that works.

As suggested above, the engine swap you want to do might be done with standalone engine controls, but even that the job will be difficult and expensive. In addition to mounting engine in the vehicle. And better get a transmission that is compatible to the engine.

Hope you have a lot of money and patience.

Action

 

[Vics 2024 Black Label]

A crate 5.0l will be the same. Unless they come with electronic controls.
No controls, no way to operate fuel injection and ignition.
Unless you are going with old school carburetor and ignition.
Plus mounting and connection to an electronically controlled transmission.

Installing a different engine requires different engine controls.
The engine controls that came with the vehicle are tailored to the specific engine in the specific application.
With electronics the modification you want to do is extremely complex. Nothing will be easy at all to the point of seeming impossible.

The 2012 will have the 5.4l 3v engine. (this engine variation was used in 2009 to 2014 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.)
The 2015 will have the EcoBoost V6.
The engine controls will be very different.
In addition, the PCM integrates body and chassis controls into the 'box'.
There isn't going to be any reprograming that works.

As suggested above, the engine swap you want to do might be done with standalone engine controls, but even that the job will be difficult and expensive. In addition to mounting engine in the vehicle. And better get a transmission that is compatible to the engine.

Hope you have a lot of money and patience.

Action

The only way that will work is if its a project car and not your daily driver,I built several cars that way as a hobby but it takes a great deal of knowledge of the vehicle your working on and what your trying to do.It took me up to 2-years to finally have the car up and running,and its very expensive and you must really love what your doing because it takes a lot of patience to make it all come together.

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[akras]

The only way that will work is if its a project car and not your daily driver,I built several cars that way as a hobby but it takes a great deal of knowledge of the vehicle your working on and what your trying to do.It took me up to 2-years to finally have the car up and running,and its very expensive and you must really love what your doing because it takes a lot of patience to make it all come together.

I would like to second that. And, in my view, a 2012 Navigator with a different (but still vanilla) engine does not sound exciting enough to do as a hobby. Just not worth the time, effort, and money. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course.

 

[Vics 2024 Black Label]

I would like to second that. And, in my view, a 2012 Navigator with a different (but still vanilla) engine does not sound exciting enough to do as a hobby. Just not worth the time, effort, and money. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course.

Yes I agree with you the cars I built had 800-1000 hp they were bracket race drag cars with plates.

 

[Vics 2024 Black Label]

Now if you want to put in a Godzilla with a supercharger or a predator engine from a gt500 Shelby making a 1,000 hp it might be interesting enough.

 

[Hectorg123]

Now if you want to put in a Godzilla with a supercharger or a predator engine from a gt500 Shelby making a 1,000 hp it might be interesting enough.

I actually love that idea lol

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