engine swap

[Copyman]

I have a 97 E350 box van and need to change engines and have found a 98 E350 ambulance that has a good engine. Both are 7.3 can anyone tell me the differences in the engines and if the swap will work, am planning on changing the harneses also.
Thanks

[351fifty]

If its an e99 than its intercooled and has 120 cc injectors, but not much else, if late 99 than 140cc injectors, up pipes, turbo, pmr rods, but mostly the same. Good luck

[alberta 7.3]

The 97 will have a mechanical fuel pump. 98 was a transition year, so the 98 may have either a mechanical fuel pump, or an electric one. If the donor vehicle has the electric pump, you will have to add it to your van's fuel system, as well as retain the newer style fuel system on the engine. The electric pump engines no longer have the cam eccentric to drive a mechanical pump, or the mounting holes drilled/tapped in the block, so you can't simply pop out the freeze plug and install the mechanical pump. Remove a valve cover and make sure the injectors have the same code (a 97 should have a part number starting with AB.) Swap in the 97 injectors if needed to avoid PCM/drivability issues. My bet would be that if the donor has a mechanical fuel pump, it will swap right in.

[Copyman]

Thanks for the replies, I do believe that the lack of mechanical fuel pump is present so will have to add the electical system If I change the pcm from the donor will that let me use the injectors out of the donor if they are different? That is ONE of the issues with the old engine.

[alberta 7.3]

If you change over the PCM, you will have a whole slew of problems. The wiring is different, and the late 98 uses a 4R100 transmission (An E4OD with a couple extra sensors.) The MAP sensor is different as well.