Any vehicle, any year, any engine or transmission will encounter one issue or another, some more then others, it all depends on how you drive it, how they've been driven, how you keep up with routine maintance and the conditions you drive it through or on.

I personally have 2 Ford pickups in my driveway. 97 F150 Extended cab regular box with the 4.6L V8 with 330,000KM and a 00 F150 Flareside extended cab with the 4.2L V6 with 365,000KM and both trucks have original pretty much everything besides wear and tear items.

Treat your truck good, and it'll treat you good.

 

2003 also have 8 thread spark plug threads instead of 4 like all the other years.

 

I have no complaints out of any of them. I had a 98, 99, and 05 v6, basic models with zero problems all with well over 100k, and I'm on an 07 stx 4x4 4.6 with 85k+ and it runs like a dream.

 

Possibly stupid question here, but what's an easy, surefire way to tell a 7700 series truck from a regular one? Is it the fact that they have the 7 lug wheels while all the rest have what, 5 or 6?

 

Yeah. That's the easiest way.

 

SO since I am going to be running boost...I found out it was not a good idea to swap in PI heads.

Now with some new found info I am going to look for 2003 5.4 heads and toss them in!

For the OP...

2002-2003 f150 with 5.4L I am on my second 2002 and love them! I found mine for $14,500 Its super crew lariat with the FX4 package. BOUGHT IT WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES. Be patient. "THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER DEAL" It took me about 2 months of searching before I found my perfect f150 with exactly every option I wanted along with the miles.

 

but you already have PI heads if you have a 2002.

 

Not necessarily true. The changeover to 8 thread heads was very late in the model year. In fact, there is one member here who has one of the very first 2004 NBS trucks built with a 4.6, and he found out the hard way that he has 4 thread heads.

 

'03 5.4 has been problem free w/ 81k on it.

 

02 5.4 lariat 7700 4x4 69000 miles no problems either.

 

Right! I believe sound deadening @ the firewall along with under the hood was added in 00 or 01 for sure. The 03 sports the updated/upgraded manifold composite. It wasn't thickened, rather, -a material change for increased strength.

SOME, have reported that all 03 heads aren't the same. That's what I hear anyway.. Some have upgraded plug chamber threads, some don't. Look up user "EnglishAdam". He has casting date pics of when the upgrade came to be.

 

:o - Crap! Yep, that is what I meant.

I thinks you ment to type "meant"...

 

2003's built after april MIGHT have 8 threads.. I have a 2003 engine in my truck built sept-02 and it dose not have 8 threads.

 

you got me!

 

Found a very clean 02 navy blue and grey on 33s exhaust, intake, and edge. Almost no rust, a little is expected up here. doors and cab corners are clean though. No leaks. Interior is about spotless, except some steering wheel wear. Developed a slight miss were checking out, most likely coil from my experience. Cruise and horn were out though, his mechanic is looking at it. If all issues are taken care of Im gonna jump on it. 9700 with 120k miles? sound like a good deal?


wish it was a late 03 with 8 threads but what can ya do.