I am new here. I always had Ford’s growing up, so I found a deal on a 1998 F-150 with the 4.2 V6. It is red 3 door in great shape, run good. I took it on a few trips and I got a miss. No big deal just needs a tune up so I did the 4 O2’s, plugs, filter, coil, wires, and even the alternator as it was starting to make a bad bearing sound. Then the miss got worse. I do not want to be a parts changer till I found the trouble. So I took it to a shop the see if they could tell me what to fix. Bad news it was the motor number 1 had bad rings and valves. So now I am pulling the motor this weekend if I get done putting a new tranny in an Explorer (long story). After I get it out I am going to order a Jasper as I have always had good luck with them and at 1700.00 I have a new motor. A hard pill for a truck I got 2 week for driving out of.

Now that given the back ground here is what I am looking for. I am going to port and gasket match the heads just to make things flow better and there is no cost just time in this mod, but what more would anyone do? By the way I am putting all new pulleys and water pump radiator all the stuff for a new motor. I got this for mild towing and good MPG. I have a C1500 350 and a Magnum to go fast.

 

I got a 98 as well a couple of weeks ago, but I already knew I had a rod knocking in it. The PO had 14,000 miles on the oil (with a filter I've never seen or heard of before). I got it out and apart, but at first glance it looks like they do alot better job at port matching than they have in the past. My 5.2 magnum motor had at least 3/16 around the exaust ports...

I think you're on the right track though. I've been wondering kind of the same thing though. Anyone have any more input for more output?

Frank