I've noticed in the signatures that many of you seem to have the 4.6 with a 5-speed. I'm curious, did you have to order it that way? I've never seen anything but the auto on a dealer's lot with the V-8. I watch the used car ads, too, and rarely see that combo. Just wondering.

 

I doubt you will find 1 person on here with a V8 5speed they bought off the lot.
Dealers don't normally stock them

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99 XLT 5.4L reg cab
4x2 120" Wheelbase
4 wheel disc brakes/ABS
5 star larait style wheels
Toreador Red/Silver
3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL
Delta toolbox
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)
Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp for components.
Jensen 50x2 RMS for subs.
2 6.5" Bazooka tubes
Lowering shackles?
Columbia SC

 

If the dealers don't stock them how do you test drive one before buying?

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1997 F150 SWB reg cab 4.2L V6, 5 speed, K&N filter, Flowmaster Exhaust

 

The V6 Automatic has a higher towing capacity than the 4.6L stick that is another reason the dealers don't stock them.
This is because the Ranger and the F150 from what I have seen elsewhere on this site share the same tranny.
If they offered a stonger manual tranny with the 5.4L I would have bought one.
I don't know how you would test drive one hopefully Tina will see this and answer that for you.
Or just go into Ford chat tonight.
I noramlly see tina in there on Thursday nights.

 

I'm here to prove you wrong!! Just kidding. I actually bought my 5-speed off the lot. Look at my signature and you'll see what I was looking for. Not a good combo to want seeing that it took me 8 months to track one down. I looked in OH, PA, and MD, and 1,000 trucks (no joke). I found 3 that had a 5-speed. If you've heard of RICART Ford in Columbus, OH (supposedly the world's largest according to the commercials), they had one out of at least 300-400) close to what I wanted. It was a flaredise, and I'm not crazy about the look. Plus it was a repo. The majority of the trucks were extended cabs autos. Anyway, they are few and far between. I couldn't afford to order because it would have been a '99 and I liked the 6.9% finance rate I got through Ford. From what I hear, 5-speeds aren't as popular (at least in my area) as the auto. For me anyway, it's more of a preference.

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1998 F-150 XLT 4x4, Regular Cab, Short-Bed, 4.6L V-8, 5-Speed, 3.55 Rear Gears, Dark Toreador Red

 

Tim-1911. I had to order mine. didn't want many options but I did want a V8/5spd. I'm not overly crazy with the quality of the jap trans but I just cound'nt get an automatic.

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99 F-150 XL 4x4. RC Flareside 4.6 5spd, 3.55LS. gibson 3" cat-back, K&N Gen ll.Westin step bars.Ventshade window deflectors and bug deflector and a cool white shifter ball. The SILVER BULLET. Rock and Roll...Baby!!!

 

Henry Ellal, any particular complaints about your trans performance or is it just your personal preferance? I remember back in the 80's being in a garage when this guy found out his new Bronco had a Japanese transmission. **It hit the fan.

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1997 F150 SWB reg cab 4.2L V6, 5 speed, K&N filter, Flowmaster Exhaust

 

I ordered mine with a 5 speed too. I have 3.55 gears but I wish I would have got limited slip. The sales man talked me out of it. What was I thinking?

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'97 F150XL 4.6L 5 spd 4x4 SC, Quicksilver Metallic,
265/75-16 Wild Spirit MPT tires on factory steel wheels, K&N air filter, Leer fiberglass topper, Access Roll-Up Cover, bug deflector, rear custom Ford mudflaps, bedliner, Pioneer Supertunner CD, 4 Cerwin Vega Speakers. Future mods: BFG's and wheels, bucket seats, shocks, duel exhaust for starters.

 

There are 8- 4.6 5-speeds at Charles Gabus Ford in Des Moines. 4 of them are 4x4 extended cab xl's w/Nascar pkg.

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1998 F-150 XL flairside 4x4 4.2 5-speed tow pkg. XLT interior except locks/windows
white w/teal&silver graphics
pioneer cd pioneer6x8's
K&N
3.55ls
16" progressive rims
255/75/16 BFG'S
in process of many mods

 

I test drove the auto and then ordered the 5speed. My husband thinks I'm a nut for driving a stick shift, but I love it. Also the flowmaster sounds grrreat when I downshift When I ordered, the salesman seriously tried to talk me out of it. I didn't budge and got the 3.55 and limitedslip too. These are really rare puppys at the dealership. If I ever buy another, it'll be the crewcab with a 6speed diesel. I gotta shift

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Hey, Tina. My wife loves to shift, too. You're not alone, but you're sure rare!

She hates mini-vans, which all her girlfriends have. She learned to shift on my Porsche when I met her, back when she was driving a '66 Nova with a Powerglide. Since then, she polished her shifting on our BMW, then the Jetta.

I think she likes the truck because it gives her a sense of protection and control over the road-jerks out there. To her, the 5-speed gives her still more control over the machine. I agree. And it probably helps with the gas mileage, too.

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1998 XL SC short-box 4.2 5-speed 3.55LS, Pacific Green, A/C, factory box liner, factory dark tinted rear glass (like the XLT), cassette, carpet, Canadian XLS package (split bench, chrome wheels, side mouldings, box light, tailgate lock), sill guards, Windstar (driver's) wiper blade (the one with the air scoop). Oh ya: snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

New 2000 F-150 on order, coming last week of October. Same mechanically as the current one except black, XLT, CD and side steps. Great trucks!

 

tim_1911,

A V8 and 5spd is a rare duck in Ontario Canada. Before I ordered my 2000 the Dealer searched and could'n find any. I ordered my 97 with a 5 speed. I do not like the idea of a computer deciding when I should shift. My wife's 99 Explorer has the SOHC and 5 spd auto. There is no compression in 1st gear. That sucks when descending a hill. My wife knows how to drive a manual but perfers an auto. My 15 yr old will have no choice, manual or no drive...

Regards

JMC

PS.. Besides with a manual you never get asked to borrow your truck.

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On Order: 00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd
using: Wife'S 99 Explorer till arrival

 

Rangers get a Mazda R1 5speed. F-150s get a Mazda R2 5 speed. My '94 F150 has a 11" clutch. I was thinking about a v8 with 5speed. All the talk about hard to find has changed my mind. I get the Ford employee discount so basically you have to get what on the lot.

My 5 speed with 2.73 gears is a pain in the *** to drive.

 

tim-1911. Sorry about not getting back to you. I prefer a smoother shifting trans. My 96 ranger had a mazda trans also and the notchiness has been the same with both.It shifts smoother when it's warm and at certain rpm's.

I had to order mine and it took about six weeks. it was built in Canada.

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99 F-150 XL 4x4. RC Flareside 4.6 5spd, 3.55LS. gibson 3" cat-back, K&N Gen ll.Westin step bars.Ventshade window deflectors and bug deflector and a cool white shifter ball. The SILVER BULLET. Rock and Roll...Baby!!!

 

The salesman talked my dad out of the 5.4l. He said its not worth it.

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Fast46Triton

1999 Ford F150 XLT Supercab, Shortbed, 4x2, 4 wheel disc brakes/4 wheel Anti-Lock Brakes, Cloth Seats, Amazon green, 16" All season tires, Soft Tonneau Cover, CD Player, 4.6 liter Triton V8, 3:55 ls, towing package, 4 speed auto, K&N Airfilter
Future Mods:
1)Superchip
2)Airbox Mod
3)Gibson Exhaust