Junkyard Heroes: Is A Used Ford EcoBoost V6 The Hot Ticket for Engine Swaps?

• May 7, 2021
• Story By
  Mike Garrett

We’ve covered the Ford EcoBoost engine in great detail here on Driving Line—particularly as a swap option for restomod or even full-on track build cars and trucks.

Interestingly, Ford’s official support for the EcoBoost as an aftermarket swap option has fluctuated. Not long ago there were both EcoBoost V6 and four cylinder crate motor options available from Ford Performance, but at the moment just the 2.3L EcoBoost is available from Ford in crate form.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the EcoBoost V6 engines aren’t still options for your project. The more cars and trucks sold with these engines, the more of them appear on the used market, and they can offer a lot of value depending on your project goals.

Here are some of the most popular options:

2.7 EcoBoost V6

The 2.7 EcoBoost engine is one of the most common of the bunch, and a pull-out from 2018+ F-150 will set you back somewhere between $2500 and $3500 depending on mileage.

Not a bad price for an engine rated at 325hp and 400 pound feet of torque, and given that the 2.7 is a volume engine in one of America's best selling vehicles there should be lots to go around in the coming years.

3.5 EcoBoost V6

Next comes the larger 3.5L EcoBoost V6 which is the upmarket V6 option for the F-150 and other Ford SUVs. For comparison’s sake the same 2018 model year 3.5 EcoBoost F-150 engine makes 375hp and 470 pound feet of torque.

A look around shows that late 2010s 3.5 EcoBoost pull-outs are going between $3500 and $5000 depending on how complete they are and how many miles are on them.

3.5 EcoBoost (Raptor Spec) V6

Finally, there’s the alpha of the V6 EcoBoost engines (short of the Ford GT’s exotic version), the 3.5L from the F-150 Raptor. While its displacement is the same, the Raptor engine makes 450hp and 510 pound feet of torque.

As expected, a Raptor EcoBoost engine is going to set you back quite a bit more, somewhere around $7,000 for an engine alone, assuming you can find one.

Now even if you buy a used EcoBoost V6, there are still going to be significant steps to get in your car. For starters is wiriing - one thing that was made very easy by the now-discontinued crate motor packages which came complete with ECU and plug 'n play harness. 

You’ll also need to figure out a transmission. While opting for a matching late model automatic transmission is a possibility, Quicktime also makes a bellhousing which mates an EcoBoost V6 to a T5 or Tremec five-speed manual gearbox.

Ultimately, which EcoBoost engine is best will depend on your vehicle, your budget and your mechanically ability.

And that’s only if you’ve decided you prefer an EcoBoost swap over a more traditional V8 engine - and that’s what we’ll be looking at in our next story.