(stock)4.2L=205 HP: 252 lb.ft torque
(stock)4.6L=231 HP: 292 lb.ft torque??? not sure about the trq.
If I remember right, there is a 40 hp loss with the auto, and about 20 hp loss with the manual. If you take a 4.2L with a manual tranny(@ 185 rwhp), and run it against a 4.6L with an auto tranny(@189 rwhp), the horsepower and torque is about the same. But the 4.2L manaul is geared lower than the 4.6L auto. End result? The 4.2L will win.

 

I knew someone with more knowledge then me would come along.

Excellent job Peacemaker. And some of these guys think a 4.2 can't compeate with the V-8...

I know for the two 4.6 (V-8's) I bet it really sucks when they have to tell their buddies they got beat by a V-6

 

fast is defined different for eveyone.
a v-6 stick with: 4.10 gears, a chip, pulleys, better filter intake system, electric fans, and a better exhaust would be a good starting point should put you in the mid to upper 15's, sythetics in the rear trans and motor, some roller rockers, and headers would further the cause and a wet no2 with a safe 50 to 75 shot would put you in the higher 14's.
except fo the gears, all could be done in the drive way with a buddy in one day easy and most of the mods are in the $200 to $300 range, except for gears and a good no2 and headers. even somone on a budget could get all of the above in a year or year and 1/2.
I would like to see someone do all the above, run it at the track and see what the 4.2 is capabile of with modification that the average guy could pull off without going broke or having the truck down for a month.
also, IMO, all of the above would not effect streetability and mpg might actually improve. i am a v-8 fan and all of the above done to a v-8 would be faster but if the v-6 is what you have to work with then go for it.

if any one has a better layout to go fast in the 4.2 lets hear it. also is anyone interested in what a 4.2 could run if it involves pulling the motor and risking the drivabilty of it? maybe in an older car but not my fairly new f150.

 

Can you say, wow I could of have a V8?. I couldn't resist.

 

Like I have said before, I have had both the standard and auto in the 4.2. Yes the standard was faster in the end, but the auto seems to be much quicker at the takeoff. I guess one of the reasons for the difference is that my old manual only had the 3.08 gears in while my truck now has the 3.55LS's in it, providing more takeoff power. I have seen the specs and there is only like maybe 5 hp difference. There might be a 40 hp loss in the 4.6, but not in the 4.2, but I really don't know.

Yes, they are not a real fast truck. I know that. These trucks were not designed to go fast. If you want to drive fast or race, then that is what the Lightning and other models with the 5.4 are for. Besides, going fast will only lead you into trouble, by getting tickets and jail time. To me it is not worth it to try and go fast. Yes, I would like a little more horsepower, especially when I tow, but I do not need that much for daily driving. It has plenty of enough power for that.

Btw, I am getting sick of people trashing these trucks. I brought this truck because it was the only supercab in my price range that I could get. I really wanted at least a 4.6, but I have been extremely happy with what I got.

Please do not come here and trash our trucks even if they are only a V6. Just because you do not like them, does not mean that other people do not like them.

 

well said BROTHERDAVE

paulv, who are you talking to? check the sig. I have one.

 

I know that you have a 4.2. I was not talking about you or anyone in particular. I read these forums all of the time, and it seems to me that there are several people who seem to hate our trucks or this engine. When I read your post where you called them slugs, I guess I got a little mad. I did not mean to sound like I was talking to you. Sorry about the earlier post. Everybody has their own opinions on things, and I like my truck. Maybe you don't, I don't know.

I know they are not the fastest thing around, but again, it is all that I can afford right now. So I am going to make the best of it.

I have a question for you, what you consider fast?
just kidding!!

Because I think going fast is anything above 80mph

 

Ok yes the difference between the 4.2 and 4.6 isnt much but really i believe its very hard to push this much wieght for a little v6. Yes there are some mods you can do to give yourself some hp but i honestly think you would do much better with a 4.6 and that manual. as i understand it the 4.6 and 4.2 have the same engine mount making the swap easy and if your 4.2 is in good condition you can probably sell it and i see 4.6s on ebay all the time for about a grand. A thousand bucks for 25 hp isnt great but the potential to push the truck further after that will be much much greater. I think theres a much more limit on what you can really pull outta that v6, not because of displacement just because of cylinder count. But if you really wanna keep the 6er, exhaust, pulley, chip, 4.10 gears, dont do headers, NOS. Those are the ez ones.

Why was talleywacker banned. That guy was a freaking information manual when it came to that lil 4.2, and even tho it wasnt the fastest truck ive seen it was definately respectable esp for being the 4.2.

 

paul - the talleyban was because he insisted on pushing a product that was against the board rules, i dont know for sure but i think the moderator asked him more than once to stop and he kept going. funny thing is he raved of this chip how great it was and promised dyno sheets and track time and i have yet to see any. last time he posted a time was 15.7 which is 1/10th faster than he posted for the superchip. jnbmx, talley whatever he is still here and if he has a better plan than what i laid out he will post it. i left out the ported throttle body because I question it.

also my idea of fast. now i know there are faster but these are the number i consider reasonable.

v-6 truck in the 14's
v-8 truck in the 13's
lightning in the 11's or low 12's
good running street car 11's
all of the above are true street cars that would pass emission testing with a/c and power steering.
strip car minimum low 10's

btw i have a formula that goes 12 n/a and 11 with no2, has a/c, 3.27 rear gears, and passes testing with a small cam .219 @ .050 lift and .525" duration and 10.25 to 1 pistons (premium unlead no problem). i have no doubt it would go 10's if i pulled the sway bars, put 4.10" in and went with a bigger cam and removed the emission stuff and a/c. not what i want.

 

OMG!JnBmx is Talleywacker? Say it isnt so!!!!!!!

 

Seems to me like you guys have a complex. The truck isn't the quickest, but it's a darn good truck. I have never heard a squeek or squeelch out of the engine, the styling is great, and everybody wants one. I don't think its a matter of you all bashing these trucks, i think it's a matter of "little mans syndrome". We got little motors. get over it. We may have small motors, but at least we're not lacking in other areas where size matters. All I know, is that i raced a 4.2 manual standard cab, agianst my supercab auto 4.2, and i kicked his a$$. Everyone keeps saying that the manuals have more horses over all at the wheel, but it didn't seem that way to me.


Let me know something

 

i personally dont have anything against the truck but i wouldnt buy one. I've seen v6 manuals beat v8 autos but ive drivin the 6 and it really cant haul alot of stuff and it just feels underpowered. Yes the hp rating is much off but thats just at the peak. Talleys made his quite impressive but for the money he put he i think he coulda done so much more with a 4.6 or better yet a 5.4. I would always feel like im pounding performance parts into a non performance machine.

 

I wouldnt know if my auto 4.2 would beat anything;i'm scared to romp it thinking the timing cover or the lower intake could take flight! It does have good throttle response though.

 

Originally posted by BlueOvalFitter
... i'm scared to romp it thinking the timing cover or the lower intake could take flight!

The worst that can happen is it blows up in your face and then you get a new engine (5.4L). Not too shabby for a little.. romp.

 

jnbmx.
first of all my car, truck anything i have, or have had, runs what it runs... excuse..blah blah blah.

i dont need to know your trucks situtation or tune you run 15.8 how difficult could it be?

how about the top 3?

hey at least i got you to quit playing "the Im not tally game"

how about you go to the track and show us some times? tell me when you going and im there.

I have, I have also asked him why he has ran 14.5 for 2 years and asked him why he offers all the reasons he should run 13's but hasent. hopefully this spring he prooves me wrong. of couse he does have the fastest n/a truck here.

I would love to see you bust a 13.3 or 13.0 from a shot of no2