This is going to be a very silly question but I just have to ask . I have a 1998 F150, 4.2 V-6. Now here is the silly part. Every time I am going to buy something for the truck (motor) I have problems finding what I need cause everyone to inclued Ford (VIN# given) dealer tell me that the part that comes up is the one they want to give me and I tell them that is not the correct part . It does not look like that. I have a feeling that my motor is not a 1998 but a newer one like a 2000 model. So what I have been doing before I order/buy something I compare both 1998 and 2000 motor to see which one is the correct one. Now, the motor in my truck you can tell that it was not dropped in my some garage. All factory seals, labels etc.... are still under the hood. I cannot ask the previous owner if the motor has ever been replaced cause he has past away. So all that being said, is there a way that I can tell if my motor is a 1998 or not??? Is there some number some where on the motor that I can check? Thanks for any help!!!

 

I think their are stickers on one of the valve covers that will give a production date. I may be wrong though

 

I'll take a look at it in the morning, but to be honest when I replaced the intake manifold gasket and had everything removed and cleaned the entire engine, I don't remember seeing any stickers on the valve covers.
I forgot to mention what lead me to believe it might not be a 1998. I have to replace the HVAC water heater outlet tube cause its cracked. The one that is on my engine connects to the top of the water pump, one tube towards the driver side of engine and the other tube to the heater core and it has a smaller tube off that one about 3/8" that looks like an over flow that goes to the back of the engine on passenger side. The one that everyone tries to sell me does not have that small "over flow" on the side that goes to heater core, but thats what comes up when they run my VIN# Just don't get it!!! When I reseached the internet I found that tube on 2000 model on up. Did not see that tube on 1996, 97, 98 or 99.

 

I bet he's giving you the correct gaskets. Can you take a picture or provide a link to what your referring to exactly?

 

Jbrew....funny you said that. When I replaced the intake manifold gasket and went to get the isolator bolt, I found out that my truck didn't have those. The Ford dealer told me that those engine were modified/changed due to problems with isolator bolts. He did give me the correct intake manifold gasket, but the other places I check was going to give me different things. The service manuel I have calls for isolator bolts so I am a little confused on some parts for this engine. I have never posted pictures on here and I have no idea on how to post pictures so I can show you those parts I am talking about. Thanks for all your help.

 

KingRanchCoy.....There is a sticker on the valve cover with a date of 3/1998 and other numbers. Still I don't understand why is it that when I need a part for a 1998 engine it is different then what is on my truck? It always turns out to be a 2000 part ....Got me crazy....LOL

 

Jbrew....I'm still trying to get the pictures uploaded.

 

Jbrew...lets see if the pictures upload this time.


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OOPs....my bad. Screwed that one up.....LOL.......Any way, the part that is actually on my engine is Dorman 626-211 and the Ford OE# is F65Z18663AC which is the one they say calls for but I know it won't work cause of the small 3/8 over flow hose attached to the dorman one that is actually on my truck. Thats why I am confused as what year or mod's that were made to my engine.