Many people on this board bought a 97 F-150 when they first came out. Some of those people dumped them, some got newer models as they became available, and some...kept them.

I am the original owner of my 1997 Ford F-150 4.6 V8 with ORP. I have 50,700 miles and am still enjoying this vehicle. I have moved twice. Once from SC to Pa and again from Pa to NC. Both times the truck pulled my entire apt. and myself to our destination.

Maintenance has been provided by Ford every 5000 miles. I have only had two minor problems outside of normal maintenance (clunk and broken seat). Both were fixed under warranty. I plan on keeping the truck until 2003 or 100,000k (maybe longer). I have my eye on a new truck but the truth is...mine runs too good to let it go.

I'd like to hear stories from those of us that are still putting miles on there original F-150's from 1997. Tell us your miles, stories, gripes, future vehicles, etc.

Thanks!

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau, Profile Windstream Side Deflectors and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html
<A HREF="https://www.alladvantage.com/joinsecure.asp?refid=LTM-954" TARGET=_blank>I made $450 surfing the web last month...you can too!
</A>


[This message has been edited by Triton46 (edited 05-11-2000).]

 

Another original owner here. I have a '97 4.6 liter 2wd. Picked the truck up in October of '96. Currently have 102,500 miles on the odometer. I still enjoy this truck as much as the day we picked it up! It has been by far the most reliable vehicle ever owned in this family!

The only problems to date:

-The chrome plating on the bumpers was faulty, one Minnesota winter full of road salt exposed that real fast! Ford replaced them under warranty. No problem since.

-The lug nut recall. Fixed under recall.

-The rear differential seal began to leak at about 30,000 miles. Ford replaced this under warranty.

-The infamous door crack on the driver side. Keep the touch up paint handy to keep the rust from taking hold. Appeared after about a year.

No other problems regarding maintinence to date. I have had all of the fluids replaced at their regular intervals. I run Valvoline 5w30 Durablend Oil with a Purolator Pur One filter on 3,000 mile intervals. I will be replacing the spark plugs sometime, now that they have reached over 100,000 miles. No problems have been noted with them yet. Brakes have been redone once and I am on my second set of tires (originals were General AS 550's - got over 70,000 out of them!). Fuel mileage has ranged from a low of 12.5 (in -30 degree F weather) to 23 mpg on the freeway.

Gripes include the tethered gas cap that rubs on the finish and scratches the paint, the steel spare rim so you can't run a five tire rotation (easily) to get some more miles out of the tires, and the door crack problem.

We have taken the truck on many long drives and hauled 2,000 lb trailers on may ocasions and had no problems. I never mind getting behind the wheel of this vehicle! Besides, the moonlight blue has to be one of the best looking colors out there!

For right now, there are no new vehicles in sight for me. So long as this one runs well, why look at anything else!

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside Bed, Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Matched cargo cover, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, Sliding rear window, and a bunch of sand tubes (it is winter, ya know...)

 

I got my 97 in August of 96. Sold it this past Sept. It was a 4x4 SC/SB XLT 4.6 Automatic. It had a little over 80000 on it when I sold it. It hauled towed trailers, went hunting, never a problem. It was at the dealer for a paint run and to get the exhaust replocated. It had the driveline clunk when I sold it to a friend of the family. Since september he has replace the rear slider window. Started leaking real bad the week I sold it to him. He has had to finally replace the original brakes at 82K.
He is now up to over 85K.

In 80K I relaced the tires once. Oil every 3000 miles and airfilter every 15-20K. Thats it.

The new owner has done a trans fluid change and filter, brakes and rear slider replacement.

Definatly a very reliable vehicle.

-jeff b.


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2000 F150 4x4 SC/SB 5.4 Auto, Tow Package, ORP (with the sticker for 2000), Cab Steps, Lariet.
Oxford White/Harvest Gold 2 tone.

 

Still got mine with 47,000 miles. Oil changed every 4,000 mi. with pennzoil 5w-30w. Driven daily to work and worked hard at the hunting lease. Loaded 1800 lbs. several times in the bed and pulled a 3500 lb. water trailer short distances at low speeds. No problems to date. Replaced POS GY RT/S tires at 45,000 mi with GY AT/S LT 265/70/17's and much happier. In town gets 13.5MPG and up to 19 on the highwat cruising 75 MPH. Very happy so far with no door crack, piston slap, leaks, clunks etc. Even keys don't hit the dash. I would only trade it for the Super Crew - maybe later.

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Mine: FOR SALE SOON...1997 F150, XLT, SC, Oxford white/maroon 60/40 cloth, 4x4 ORP, 4.6L, 3.55LS, 17" ORP wheels w/GY AT/S LT265/70/17, auto, 6 CD,Towing package, alarm, Rhino grill guard w/PICCA lights, dual exhaust. Bought new June '96

Wife: '99Explorer Limited,pearl white/tan leather,4.0L,4:10LS,CD,sunroof,towing pkg.,alarm. Bought new Sept. 1999

Next: 2001 F150 XLT SuperCrew, 5.4L, 4x4,3:55LS,tow pkg. etc.......

Previous: '65 Mustang 289 HiPo, '70 Chevelle SS 396, '70 Vette Conv. 350/350, 72 Datsun PU,'74 Vette TTop, '79 Blazer, '81 F150, '83 Bonneville, '84 Gran Marquis '89 TBird Super Coupe 3.8L SuperCharged, '93 Explorer 4.0L

 

Leased a SC 5.4L SB XLT 3.55LS in Feb. Traded at 42K.

Fixed under warranty:
W/W switch
Lugnut recall
re-route exhaust
steering hydraulic line o-ring leak
plug-mounted ignition coil
mirror motor

14.8 MPG
drove like a dream
7.75 mpg towing @ 11000 GCW

Great Truck!

Prompted me to buy the new one.



------------------
Y2K™

XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 AW-Disc, 3.73LS, Skid, 7700# HD Towing, Chrome LT-245, Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, keyless, Toreador Red, called "Nick"

 

I'm glad that those of you that kept your trucks can give us new truck owners something to look forward to many years of fun driving these trucks and many miles as well hope you have many more years of service from your trucks and many miles of fun driving as well.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

I got mine June 12th 1996. I have LOVED it ever since.

Only problem: Pitman Arm replaced

That is it, after 66K miles! Knock on wood!

Changed brakes once, fluids always and several mods.

THREE MORE PAYMENTS!!!! YEEEEEEHAAAAA!!!

==============================================
'97 XLT SuperCab, Teal with lower Black. 4.6, Moderatly customized.
One of a kind. Born 5/96

Modifications made: Tinted glass / Window ventvisors / 10 Disc changer / Dash painted to match 99 Lightning / White Faced Gauges / Painted to match Bug Shield / Expedition front bumper w/ lights / Expedition console / Lariat fender trim / STX wheels/tires / Billet Grill w/ Mustang emblem / Painted to match Tailgate handle / Airaid / Superchip / Dual exhaust / ASC Electric moonroof.
==============================================

Click to see full pics
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=261902&a=1950017&p=20527412&Sequence=0" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=261902&a=1950017&p=20527415&Sequence=0" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=261902&a=1950017&p=20527419&Sequence=0" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=261902&a=1950017&p=20527484&Sequence=0" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=261902&a=1950017&p=17940491&Sequence=0" TARGET=_blank> </A><A HREF="http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/daytona/843/owners/97customxlt.html" TARGET=_blank> </A>

[This message has been edited by 97customXLT (edited 05-14-2000).]

[This message has been edited by 97customXLT (edited 05-14-2000).]

 

Very nice truck, 97. Very nice mods. That Expedition console looks great!

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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 limited-slip. CD, remote entry, factory side steps, FORD box liner.

My third F-series: '73 F-100 Custom 240-cube 3-speed, '98 F-150 XL-SC 4.2 5-speed, and '00 F-150 XLT-SC 4.2 5-speed. GREAT trucks!

 

Bought mine new in July '97. Have had rusty bumpers and AC recharged along with new brake rotors all done under warranty. It has been a great truck so far. But I only have 11K miles on it so I'll only know for sure in 5 or 6 more years.
Hope to have a lightning sitting next to her later this year.(they can chat in the garage while I'm sleeping)

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1997 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2L V6, 5spd, Superchipped, K&N Air Filter, Lund Deflector, Dash Mat, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Painted Tailgate Handle, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
1996 Shovie Cavalier (Don't laugh, it can lay down 30' of posi-rubber if you dump the clutch just right!)

 

11k...WOW! Thats like 4k a year. How did you keep such low miles on it?

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The Truck: 1997 Black F-150 Flareside. Regular Cab ORP and Towing Package
The Mods: K&N Filter, Eurolid Hard Tonneau, Profile Windstream Side Deflectors and Ford Bug Deflector.
The Site:
Triton's 4.6 Liter Web Page
www.mindspring.com/~acbradley/index.html
<A HREF="https://www.alladvantage.com/joinsecure.asp?refid=LTM-954" TARGET=_blank>I made $450 surfing the web last month...you can too!
</A>

 

Bought mine used in sept. of 99. So far I've had to have two O2 sensors replaced, had to change the plugs, and have had the front brakes done twice (ready for the third time). Both doors are cracked and developed the piston slap when the weather got cold.

The truck runs great now, and pulls a 2 horse trailer like there's no tomorrow.

If I had to do it again, I would have seriously shopped around. I thought I found a good one, however, it seems this one has cost me some bucks.

For some reason, though I think this is the second best truck I've ever owned, next to my 94 Ford Bronco.

My next purchase is completely up in the air due to Ford's poor service and the problems with this truck.


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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.

 

I to bought my truck used, in october of 99'. And I love it, only problems I've noticed so far is there is squeek somewhere on the streering arm, and the bed squeeks over bumbs. It's got 41k miles on it, and no other problems that I know of.

Actually there is a problem, I keep spending more money on new mods for it, or find something else to put on the list. But I'm gonna be keeping this for a long time so it's worth it.

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black 97' x-cab 4x4, 5 speed 4.6, black westin nerf bars, 6 cd changer and a 12 premier sub, pilot ground searchers, borla SS split rear exhaust, v-tech oval side window covers


soon: fipk, chip, rims (the ones I want are $2k with tires, I need more money)

 

My truck was bought new in July '97. It was a hand me down from my dad. But since then I turned it into car show form. The truck has 140,000 miles. The only problems I have had on it were the door switch and the a/c fan. The oil is changed every 2500 miles to ensure that it will last.

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97 Ford F150 XLT Supercab, 4.6 liter Triton V8 auto, 4X2, short bed, Hard Tonneau top, BugSheild, Trenz billet grill and bumper, Flowmaster dual exhaust, Trenz F150 emblems, Kenwood 2 Din cd\cassette deck with 4 mid. Boston Rallys, Belltech 4"/6" drop, Belltech Nitro Shocks, Billet Specialties 17" Eliminator rims fitted with BFG Comp. T/A ZR 255/50, clear turn lenses, clear tail lenses, K&N Generation II, billet antenna, tweed carpet bedliner