I'm sure this has been posted here in the past, but how can I tell where my '99 4.6 engine was made? My truck, a 99 F-150 EX CAB SB 4x4 4.6 was made in Windsor, but does that necessarily mean the engine was also made there?

There reason i ask is that I'm wondering if my truck will be prone to the "piston slap" problem. The truck was manufactured in June 99. I understand that any engines made at Windsor after Apr 15 should be ok...if the truck was made in June, is it likely that the engine was made around that time too?

 

All 5.4's and V10's are built in windsor. Some 4.6's are in Romeo, and some are in Windsor. Check your vin number. Since you have the 4.6, check the 8th vin number. If it is a W its a Romeo and a 6 if its a Windsor.

 

My 8th digit is a W, so I must have a Romeo.
My question, are there any differance between the two engines, and what are they. Is one better than the other?
Thanks

 

There are differences in the Windsor and Romeo engines. I was reading through the engine overhaul section of my recent Christmas present - Haynes manual (thanks to my daughter!) and noticed that the head installation instructions call for different tools based upon the motor's origin. As far as which one is better, I'm sure there is varying opinions but I say they are both an outstanding design!

[This message has been edited by kkirt1 (edited 12-28-1999).]

 

BB

The sticker on the drivers side valve cover that has the build date will also tell you the place of manufacture. REP=Romeo WEP=Windsor

Don C

I looked at my 97-98 Haynes shop manual and from what I read and saw in the pictures, it appears that the windsor engine is a beefier built engine(no offense to the romeo owners intended). These are the main differences that I saw:

WINDSOR:
1)Larger Crankshaft Bearing Caps.
2)Six Bolts Holding Crankshaft Bearing Caps 2 main bolts, 4 locating bolts)
3)Double Row timing chains
4)Individual Camshaft Bearing Caps

ROMEO:
1) Smaller Crankshaft Bearing Caps
2) 4 bolts holding crankshaft bearing caps (2 main, 2 locating)
3) Single Row timing chains (bicycle chains)
4) Camshaft Cap Clusters (1 cluster=3 individual caps)
I think that the lower intake plenums are slightly different also.
The manual doesn't show it but there must also be a difference in the pistons or rods because windsors are getting piston slap and the romeos aren't. I'm not a mechanic so maybe a mechanic will respond and tell us the differences for sure.
They are both very impressive looking engines!
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99 4x4 SC Lariat 5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white



[This message has been edited by J.J. Middleton (edited 12-29-1999).]

 

Thansk for all the replies....I'm curious though, is the engine always made at the same location as the truck, or is this not necessarily the case, ie: a Romeo engine in a Windsor manufactured vehicle?

 

I think that it is just a coincidence that your engine and truck were made at the same plant. My 99 F-150 was built at Kansas City, MO and my 5.4L engine was built at the Windsor plant. My 97 F-150 was built at the Norfolk, VA plant and it also had a Windsor (4.6L)engine.

P.S. My engine and truck were also built in June 99 and it has piston slap.
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99 4x4 SC Lariat 5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white



[This message has been edited by J.J. Middleton (edited 12-30-1999).]

 

Romeo engine here and the truck was built in Norfolk.

 

BB,

Trust me your truck was not built in Windsor. Sometime mid year Windsor stopped making the 4.6 and only make the 5.4 V8 & 6.8 V10. If your VIN starts with a 2FT it was made in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

Kindest regards

Jean Marc Chartier

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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
SmittyBilt Nerfs, Borla Cat Back
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube,
Superchips

 

My truck has the Romeo built engine and the truck was built in Norfolk.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

Ill take the bicycle timing chain over the piston slap any day!Thank god for the number 6.

 

Thank you for all the replies. Happy New Year everyone!

 

I have the Windsor engine. Ditto on the VIN number for engine ID, plus my engine has a tag on the drivers side that says Windsor. You can see the tag when looking under the hood.

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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs