I have had both, on a 99 supercab and the 5.4 on my supercrew an I would definately reccomend the bigger engine. The truck is always running a little lower RPM and in the long run I am sure it will hold up longer.

 

I agree, I also had a 97 supercab with the 4.6 and after buying the supercrew with the 5.4 I'm very glad I got the bigger engine. The added torque is very noticeable and is as smooth as silk. This is a great engine.

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01 supercrew XLT,4x2,all black,5.4,captains chairs,355 ltd slip,trailer tow grp,remote keyless entry.
(MODS)gibson supertruck,K&N generation II air intake,expy console,lund intercepter,A.R.E LSII hard tonneau,tinted windows,E&G classics mesh speed grill,mud gaurds,ford seat covers, bed liner,ventvisor's,westin chrome nerf bars,smittybuilt outland sport bumper guard,KC daylighters, Hella fogs, Jensen flip down 6.8 TV, santeca 4" TV in passenger sunvisor,DVD player,panosonic cdqf800 fm-cd,pioneer 6865 speakers,keypad, lightning tails & brake light,hellwig rear swaybarics at http://www.f150world.com/4DOOR/

 

Consumer reports also recomends the 5.4

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www.f150world.com/HouScrew
Truck Specifications: 2001 Ford F150 4X4 Lariat SuperCrew (Gen.I) Amazon Green w/Harvest Gold Trim, 5.4L V-8, HD Tow Package, Bed Extender, Moon roof, Captains Chairs(front only), full leather interior as well as standard features in Lariat package.

List of current modifications so far: Stagecoach bug guard,
Billit Grill,
Westin chrome nerf bars, front windows tinted, wood grain kit, AudioVox 6.5" flipdown TV and VCP(DVD soon to come), Sony M610 flipdown head unit, Code SureStart Remote Start and Alarm system.

Waiting to be installed: Sony 10 disc changer, AudioBahn 5 1/4 component system front and rear, 3 AudioBahn 8" subs, 2 AudioBahn Amps

Future Modifications: AirForce One FIPK, Chip enhancement(don't know which one yet), spray in bed liner, bed cover, dual exhaust sytem

 

In real world driving you might see maybe 1mpg difference. Maybe not as you'll have to flog the 4.6 a little harder to get the same acceleration. If you take it easy you can get consistent 17 to 18 in mixed driving. I am and that's with 3.73 gears in back. It's gonna go down once I get the exhaust on though, I just know it.

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- 2001 F150 Harley Davidson Special
- 1993 Mazda Miata, wifes car
- 1994 Harley Davidson Heritage
- 1976 Honda CB750K, Original
- 1965 Honda 305 Dream, Original
- 1971 Triumph Trophy 650, Original
- 1971 Norton Commando
- 1970 Honda Trail 90, Original
- Yamaha 500 Short Tracker, racing #69
- 1984 Yamaha Virago 1000, wifes bike
- 1981 Honda Passport 70, wifes bike

 

As someone who recently switched from the 4.6 to the 5.4 I'd have to agree with the group as well. I've had all 3 modular motors available on the F-Series, 4.2, 4.6 and 5.4... My 4.6 was a 2000 which was rated at 225hp, so a 2001 with 235 might perform a little better, but I'd still put my money on the 5.4!

The biggest differences between the 2 that I notice is less frequent downshifting and dropping out of OD with the 5.4. Mileage is very close, I was averaging between 15.5-16mpg the last couple months I had the 4.6, so far on the 5.4 I'm running 14.9-15.3mpg.

Go for the 5.4!!!

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My New Baby: 2001 F-150 XLT Sport 4x4. 5.4L, S/C, S/S, Bright Red, Dark Graphite Int., 3.55, Class III Tow/Heavy Duty Cooling, 4 wheel disc ABS, Overhead Console, Factory In-Dash CD, Remote Keyless Entry.

Mods: Ziebart Rust Protection, Ford Bug Deflector, Ventvisors, Cabin Air Filtration

Future Mods: Running Boards/nerf bars, Superchip, Air Force 1, Spray-in Bedliner, and Retrax.

2000 Polaris Sportsman 500, Camo Green, 4x4, 499cc 4-stroke, independent suspension, shaft drive, 4 wheel disc brakes, etc.

 

score one more for the 5.4---of course I am probably partial because that's what I bought.

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2001 SCREW, Lariat, 4x2, Two-tone Black, 5.4 V8, Cab steps, Leather bench, cd changer, 3.55
FloppyDonkey2180@cs.com

 

3.55 ratio gears are the only ones available on the s-crew. go build one on the ford website and see for yourself. even with the trailor tow package and off road group ...the 3.55 gears are specified. even with the limited slip. mind you, i'm only talking about the s-crew and no other f150 series trucks.

 

This is true, only 355 rear end is in the s-crew, no other options. Still, if you bought the 4.6 and one day needed more power, torque, what would you do ? My advice would be buy the 5.4 . Its not a bad idea to have more than you need, than not enough.

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01 supercrew XLT,4x2,all black,5.4,captains chairs,355 ltd slip,trailer tow grp,remote keyless entry.
(MODS)gibson supertruck,K&N generation II air intake,expy console,lund intercepter,A.R.E LSII hard tonneau,tinted windows,E&G classics mesh speed grill,mud gaurds,ford seat covers, bed liner,ventvisor's,westin chrome nerf bars,smittybuilt outland sport bumper guard,KC daylighters, Hella fogs, Jensen flip down 6.8 TV, santeca 4" TV in passenger sunvisor,DVD player,panosonic cdqf800 fm-cd,pioneer 6865 speakers,keypad, lightning tails & brake light,hellwig rear swaybarics at http://www.f150world.com/4DOOR/

 

I have to stand up for the 4.6L...because I own one and have never looked back in wondering about it's capabilities. The SuperCrew 4x4 I was looking at on the lot had the options I wanted and didn't have to wait 6 months for delivery if I wanted to order one. The only thing that stuck out was it had the 4.6L and not the 5.4L After driving both I decided that the 4.6L had plenty enough power for me and bought it. Since then I now tow a 4000lbs snowmobile trailer through the mountains, four place sport bike trailer in the summer and a 19'ski boat that my buddy own's and likes the way my 4.6L pulls and handles it better than his 1996 351 Ford 4x4 shortbox...so I end up towing it around for him...COOL!

The 5.4L guys will always brag that thier's is better because it's bigger (HA!), but think about this....BIG THINGS COME IN SMALLER PACKAGES!

The 2001 Triton 4.6L does the job....if not buy a power stroker or a V10!

 

My 97 was a 4.6 auto 4x4 3.55 ls. My 00 is the same config but with a 5.4. A-plan price difference 5.4 vs 4.6 was $600. It is worth every penny. I actually get 1-3 mpg better with the 5.4 so I can't see a reason not to get the 5.4 except for the cost.

-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.



[This message has been edited by FarmBoy (edited 06-20-2001).]

 

I went through the same thing when I purchased my SuperCrew back in January. It really comes down to what you do with the truck. I do some towing, maybe a few times a year with some hauling in between - the usual stuff like hay bales and home improvement supplies from Home Depot, etc. Based upon the discussions here, I went with the 4.6 engine. I could not see paying the extra $800 and lass gas mileage.

My heaviest load is a fully loaded horse trailer. The two horses together are about 2,500 pounds and the trailer is another 2,500. I have also had a pretty full payload in the truck. This has been no problem for my truck. The only time it downshifts is when you hit a significant grade, which is normal.You have to remember that the design engineers matched the drivetrain to the rated capacity of the vehicle. If anything, they would err on the conservative side.
I plan to keep my truck until it dies and I will never be towing/hauling more than I have.
I have a friend who just bought an Eddie Bauer full boat expedition. It has a 5.4 and class 4 hitch. He will never tow anything but it came with it on the dealer's lot. What a waste! Someone will get a nice truck one day that can use this stuff. All the dealers I looked at had fully optioned Screws. I ordered mine with what I wanted and needed. It came in 5 weeks after I ordered it and I saved a bundle of money. I

 

I started with a 99 SC 4.2 with 3.31 gears and it was underpowered. When I began to think about a Screw my first thought was to get a 5.4 since my SC was underpowered. I drove both and enjoyed the 5.4 a lot then I went thru the same process as GRUMPS and decided that the extra HP vs the extra $ was not enough value received and test drove the 4.6. The engine is very good and has a better durability reputation than the 5.4. In the end I opted for the 4.6 and do not regret my decision.

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Red 01 XLT SCrew 4.6

 

After owning a 98 SC with the V6, I went to test drive the SCrew's and started with the 4.6 V8. I found the 4.6 to be an adaquate engine for moving the SCrew. It moved much like the V6 with a superchip did in my SC. I then took out the 5.4 V8. This was quite a bit diffrent. It took me 500 yards to feel the diffrence in acceleration in the two engines. My choice was the SCrew with the 5.4 V8. Was it enough of a diffrence over the 4.6 V8? Probably not for the additional cost but after driving the V6 for 3 years, I thought it was time to get the bigger engine.

Randy

 

3 words....

Bigger is Better

 

per a post above...where is it written that the 4.6l has a better reputation for reliability than the 5.4l? this would be highly odd since they are basically the same engine sans bore, stroke and displacement.