I have an '04 Heritage with a 4.6 in it and I have no big issues with it's performance. Of course I don't really haul anything large but the truck seems to go along fine. I tried out an '04 FX4 with the 5.4 in it and there was very little difference in the two trucks-at least nothing leaped out at me.
I've seen many threads on ditching the 4.6 and maybe in the newer body styles they may be dogs but in the older body styles they seem to work...

I guess the statement I saw earlier stating that it don't matter as long as it's an F-150 and the owner is happy should come to mind...

Bill

 

I'm sure it is. After all, it does have 8 cylinders, right?

 

...and there's room for improvment...

 

the non pi 4.6's ARE dogs... those are the ones that are the main gripe.

 

non pi?

 

The 2004-UP F-150 are heavier than your truck, that is why the 4.6 is not a good engine choice for heavy applications, such as towing, and just all around poerformance, go & test drive a newer F-150, & you will see for yourself!

 

A lot of difference in weight, i would think, between the 2 trucks. The 4.6 in the Fx4 might not have been so good. I had to take my Screw in for maintenance once and thet gave me a loaner that was just like my truck except it had the 4.6. If that was all that had been available when I purchased my Screw, I doubt I would have bought a Ford. A 4.6 in a Heritage is probably just fine, as is the 4.2.

 

Every engine offered in an F150 has it's place and performs fine for what it's intended use is going to be....

Bopping around town, having a nice V8 sound, some minor hauling around and the 4.6 will do just fine....

If you want to street race, tow or whatever, then you need the right tool for the job and getting the largest engine available is the only way to go....

So, there is nothing wrong with the 4.6. Nothing wrong with the 4.2 either. If, that's the tool you want to use for the job at hand. Just don't expect them to do the same thing when the required tool is a 5.4...

Mitch

 

I'm sorry, I left out a few facts. The FX4 had a 5.4 in it and it really didn't impress me very much. I judged this by the "suck in the seat" factor which it didn't have much.

I traded in a '97 4.2 and I really believe that the 4.2 would accelorate better.
I had the choice between the '04 FX4 and the '04 Heritage. The heritage had a lot less miles on it and a 4.6 and the FX4 had a 5.4 they were close to the same trim level though.
I had a bunch of mods on my old truck that fit right on the newer truck so that was my decision breaker...

I guess pulling power considerations never struck me, I would have went with a diesel if they did. The 4.6 really revs quickly, it reminds me of an older mustang witht he sound and fast revving motor. I have a side exit Vortex exhaust with duel 3 inch tips.

 

I will be racing(local 1/4 track)my '05 4.6 by the end of the year! Stage II heads/custom cams/.67 Turbo/some other goodies are in the works to be completed this year. I'm shootin' for 425-450 rwhp. Doubt any 5.4/5.6/5.7 around here can handle that!

 

Get a trailer, the differences will be fairly obvious between the two. The 5.4 is one of the few engines designed specifically as a truck engine and doesn't act much like a race car engine.

 

Hey, all I can say is I've got a 1997 F150 XLT super cab, 4x4 and it weighs a lot and has 170,000 miles on it!! When hitched up to my #5000 TT with the wind resistence of a BRICK and going up a 6% grade it does very well with 32" tall tires and a 3.55 rear gear ratio.. (I do have the E4OD trans as well)

I tow over the Cascades to Eastern Wa all the time and it does just fine....

Sure, I'm in 2nd gear on those grades, but I'm only pulling 3000 rpms to maintain 50 mph and that's all you need to get over the pass and still PASS ALL the SEMIS and the other SLOW POKES!! Who cares if that BBD pass me at 65mph.... I'm usually on their A$$ on the down hill side of the grade anyway...

Like I said, get whatever engine suits your needs and be happy with it! If you want to tow a #10,000 TT, a 4.6 is not going to do it!! If you want a to tow a #5000 TT a 4.6 will do it, but the 5.4 will do it better....

Mitch

 

my 4.6 has done everything ive wanted it to do, including beating a 5.4 2v same body style as mine

 

Doing what??

 

40,000 trouble free miles so far. Towed a lifted superduty screw, towed a grand prix v6, payloaded 900 pounds of concrete, moved a dozen times (not just me) gotten almost 20 mpg on the highway, beaten a 5.4 2v screw, etc etc