Hi guys, this is my first post on here. I am looking to buy a 97-03 4.6 4x4 5speed and found one (a 98) with a good frame and body for a good price but it had the sparkplug issue. I am weighing my options right now between fixing it (it was driven 600 km after the plug was blown out of the head) or doing a motor swap. The rest of the truck was well maintained as this owner had it since 01 and his son is a mechanic who maintained everything with oem parts. It has new breaks, master and slave cyl, new clutch 3000km ago, rebuilt T-case a couple years ago, t-case seals were done recently as well as all drive line fluids but it needs a rear main seal.

I am making this post to ask your opinions as to what is the best route. should I just fix the basic issues, should I swap the head, should I find a donor 4.6 and swap the whole motor, or should I look into a coyote swap.
I think it should also be noted that I can pull wrenches all day but computers scare me.

Please note that I like the 4.6 motors and the coyote 5.0 but do not like the 5.4's. Really looking for thoughts on what gives the best bang for my buck. If I get this truck it will mostly be a work truck but I want something I can take out hunting and fishing. I will also be doing some off roading and hauling trailers from time to time.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Fix the blown plug with a Timesert or a Lock N Stitch. Those are the only 2 inserts that work.

 

I'm a new F150 owner (1999 5.4 auto) who has just run into this issue while doing what I had hoped would be a quick spark plug swap. My situation is that it looks like someone improperly repaired the number 3 cylinder, using a helicoil perhaps, as about 2/3rd of the insert came out attached to the spark plug.

Is there anyone on the forums at this point who rents the Time Sert repair kit? I emailed a member, Galaxy, but got a bounce-back email and a quick look at his profile visitor messages shows that he may no longer be renting it..

Thanks! Tyler