Sourcing a Coyote Engine: Where to Go & What to Look For

This is Part 2 on our series covering Ford’s indomitable Coyote engine. Catch up on all-things Ford Modular and the birth of the Coyote HERE. Keep reading to learn more about sourcing a Coyote engine.

What are you willing to spend on an engine? Sure, cash is king – but that’s not all that’s involved. You can easily spend hundreds of hours not just sourcing an engine, but also building it to meet your demands.

At the time of writing, a Coyote crate engine from Ford Performance will set you back around $10,000 for a 460-hp unit. The company is also more than happy to ship a 580-hp beast to your door for a cool $20k.

“Honestly, if you want to buy everything new, you will spend that – and more,” says Justin Burcham, owner of JPC Racing. (He should know. His Maryland-based parts and accessories shop specializes in high-performance, late-model Mustang swaps.) According to Burcham, a Coyote swap will generally land in the $20K range, depending on options and what goals you’re trying to accomplish.

Now, someone who’s out of touch would simply ask, “What’s your time worth?” because that’s primarily what your money is saving you. Instead of spending those long nights in the scrap yard or searching through the classifieds – then coming up with a build plan and executing it – you flip through the catalog and pick your favorite engine.

That’s very nice, but it’s not right for everyone – and it’s not just about the cash.

A single horsepower number isn’t all you need to know about an engine. How and when it makes that power is equally important. After all, the behavior and specs of the engine will ultimately determine what it’s good for and, more importantly, if it fits into your own situation. All those details can be controlled if you opt to build an engine yourself. And, admittedly, even if you spend a good bit of your yearly income on building a Coyote, there are a lot of things you can do along the way to lessen the smackdown it does to your bank account.

One thing to realize however, is that while you can save some money sourcing used parts, it’s not a guarantee. Between the time spent searching and haggling over price, and the bill from the machine shop, that $10,000 price tag for nearly 500 hp starts looking pretty good. In fact, it might be the most affordable option if you don’t do your research or ask the right questions.

So, what’s it gonna be: Crate or Classifieds?

Sourcing a Coyote: Where to Look

You’ve ditched the idea of saving time and getting a sweet warranty. That’s great.

Welcome to the dark side.

Before we get into this, now is a good time for a little disclaimer: It cannot be stressed enough how important planning is. You might be looking to take this route to save some money, but it’s easy to spend way more than you originally thought without a solid plan in place. Keep in mind the core engine alone can run you a couple thousand dollars, so it’s imperative to know as much as possible about what you’re investing in – and how it fits your build plan.

Take the time to figure out what you want to build, based on the money available to you. Then, determine how much money you’re willing to spend on each and every part that it will require to get you there. This will make it much easier to figure out the total budget for sourcing a Coyote – which will provide a good idea of where to start looking.

Hitting the Junkyard

Going to the junkyard is a great way to save money. Plus, Coyote engines aren’t some rare gem that will never show up. Ford has been slamming them into Mustangs and F-150s since 2011. Both of those are really common platforms, and a busy scrap yard is bound to bring them in.

You’re not the only one hunting Coyotes, though.

If it’s not another hotrod hero hot on the trail, a local engine builder might get a call for first dibs. That’s especially true if you’re only looking for a prized pony car that’s packing that 5.0 liters of fun. So, you need to know what you’re looking for – and be ready to act fast before someone scoops it up on you.

“Most of the Coyote engines found in the junkyard will be from an F-150. They have slightly lower compression and different cams to make more torque for the truck application. These are suitable engines for a swap – it’s just that the power band will be slightly different,” explains Burcham.

This illustrates why it’s so important to craft a plan and find the engine that best fits the bill. Parts like pistons (to boost the compression where you need it) can set you back a good amount. Or maybe, that low compression is better for the boosted beast you’re looking to build. It all depends on the situation you’ve created.

Opening the Classifieds

Modern classifieds like Craigslist, Letgo, Facebook Marketplace, and many others are likely to have Coyotes listed. Depending on the area you live in, that might be your best bet.

One of the great things about classified ads is the access they give to sellers looking to part ways with a project. You can stand to make a pretty good score if someone is simply trying to wash their hands of something, as a lot of the work might already be done for you.

But before you jump on just anything, it’s important to ask the right questions and know what to look for. Sometimes, a project might be attached to the phrase “ran out of cash” in these listings. That can mean many things and not just that the owner fell on hard times. For example, it can mean the engine is in need of some serious repairs that the previous guy wasn’t willing to spend the money on.

Also, be aware that we are in the age of information. You might get lucky and find a busted F-150 on the marketplace or even under some covers in a barn. Don’t bank on the owner just giving it away, though. The Coyote is a killer engine, and everyone “knows what they’ve got.”

Picking Up a Totaled Rig

Another possible route is buying totaled cars and trucks. Online used car auctions like Copart will sell you a totaled vehicle before it’s shipped off to the scrap yard. This is a popular method for sourcing many engines, because not only do you get the driveline, but also you can part the vehicle out to recover your losses.

Again, this is something to be careful with—particularly if a front-end collision sent the vehicle to these dealers in the first place. The damage might go further than the sheet metal, and the engine may also be smoked.

It is also possible to wind up in a bidding war on a site like Copart, which can easily result in pricing yourself out of the set budget. It’s possible to counter the difference by selling parts, but that will take time. And since the vehicle is totaled, there’s no guarantee there are enough useable parts to offset the difference.

Spotting a Coyote in the Wild

So, how do you know it’s a Coyote? More importantly, how do you know if you’re looking at the exact right one for your build?

The good news is that identifying a Coyote engine is pretty simple. The first thing to know is the Coyote has been around since 2011 as Ford’s 5.0-liter engine option. So, if you spot a 2011 or newer Mustang or F-150 with a 5.0-liter engine, you know you’re in the right place.

How can you be positive, though? Thankfully, verification doesn’t require a dive into the engine bay looking for codes; the intake manifold is a dead giveaway.

The Coyote has an intake with a forward-facing throttle body, whereas other Ford modulars feature a throttle body-type intake with long runners. Mustangs may feature an aluminum variation as well. Also, a 5.0 cover might sit over the intake manifold anyway.

It’s worth mentioning the modular because it is the Coyote engine’s closest relative. Ranging from eight to ten-cylinder applications, all in V configurations, and with displacements from 4.6 to 6.8 liters, the Ford modular family of engines first landed on the scene in 1990. And while the Coyote is part of that family (a modular V-8 with a 5.0L displacement) it really is an entirely different beast.

The Ford modular will likely be in place of a Coyote in earlier model years – and might just land in its place on newer vehicles in a freak occurrence. (It also just might be an excellent substitute if the Coyote is out of your budget.)

Devil is in the Details

Knowing the basic appearance doesn’t narrow things down to a science, though. As said, it really does help to know as much as possible about these engines to ensure you end up with the exact version you want and all the correct parts.

With that in mind, check out the helpful table below borrowing information from a great piece over at OnAllCylinders regarding Coyote engine specs. Let the information help with you determine what’s going to be the best starting point for your build plan. Also, consider tapping into an enthusiast-powered site like Late Model Restoration (LMR). There, you’ll find plenty of insight, such as how to spot specific identifying features between the Mustang and F-150 Coyotes.

Feeding the Beast

Remember that bit about how important it is to have a plan? Well, here’s where it really comes into play.

Details, details, details.

You want to have the particulars nailed down before running off and buying an engine. For example, what’s your horsepower goal? That will help determine what parts it will take to get there. Do you plan to throw on power-adders? Well, it’s vital you don’t exceed what the engine’s internals can handle – which is something to work out at a machine shop. Keep that in the back of your mind, too, as you can easily spend a few thousand dollars there just sorting things out.

Furthermore, you need to know the Coyote platform inside and out. That way, you can decide what modifications are actually necessary to get the engine to behave the way you want it to.

It’s also important to think beyond the engine.

Consider the platform this beast is going into – and everything that will back it up. The transmission and differential are just as important, and need to not only match up physically, but also be capable of withholding the kind of power running through it.

Of course, there’s no way to know what kind of build you have in mind. However, here are some universal questions that will help setting up a sound build plan.

• What is the engine going into? Will the platform need modification to accept the engine?
• Can you buy aftermarket parts, or is fabrication on the agenda?
• How much power do you need to achieve your goal?
• Will used parts get you there, or do you need to invest in new parts?
• Have you considered a supercharger?
• Will the existing driveline accept the engine and power output?
• Will you need to modify the platform to accept a different transmission/driveline?
• If you’re swapping from a smaller engine, will the suspension handle the additional weight?
• What wiring and accessories are necessary to run the engine?

Running through these questions, you’ve likely realized there’s a lot more to spend your money on than simply an engine. Sometimes modifying a vehicle to accept an engine can be equally as expensive as the powerplant itself. And if you’re not careful with planning and parts sourcing, you can wind up throwing good money after bad on modifications that are simply unnecessary to your goal.

So, get cracking on that build plan and be sure to come back for Part 3 in this Coyote series – a dive into Coyote build ideas and the best aftermarket brands to get you there.