I'm thinking about buying a 97 F-150, with either a 4.2 or 4.6L engine. doesn't really matter which one to me.
just want the truck as a daily driver. i want a short bed, 4x2, either standard or extended cab. I plan on lowering it 3/5 and doing a few minor appearance things to it.

Anyway, is there anything i should look out for when going out to look at trucks? any certain recalls?
which engines had piston slap? any other problems?
which engine would be more reliable for me? and for the 4.2 auto or stick? Thanks! - Josh

 

CAUTION!!!!!!

Stay away, I repeat, STAY AWAY from the 97 4.2L V6!!!! Just about every one of the 97 v6's have faulty gaskets that will fail and destroy the motor. I think there is a recall on this. Not for sure though. Early 98 v6's may have that problem too. Your best bet is to buy 99+ 4.2L just to be on the safe side. But as much as I hate to say it, because I drive a 4.2L v6, the 4.6(any year) is a better engine. My 01' 4.2L V6 has had no such problems though. It has been a great engine. But I think this problem lies with the 97 & early 98 v6's.

 

Hummm.... my 97 with the 4.2 V-6 has been a great truck, I've replaced the problem gaskets. The only reason for one to blow up is by driving it without fixing this well know problem or by being just plain stupid.

 

well i'm trying to keep the cost of the truck low, so thats why i'm gonna get a 97 hopefully, or if not a 98, so then it looks like i'll be hunting for a 4.6L V8

so no usual problems with those?

thanks!!

 

Nope no probs with the 4.6 that I know of.

Buzz whatever your name is: I was telling Harley that these trucks have known problems. So that he doesn't go out and buy a piece of ***** that he'll have to spend a fortune on to fix! Who are you calling stupid? Yourself? I wasn't implying to your truck in particular, just warning someone before they make a costly mistake. That's all.

 

Now why would I call myself stupid? I haven't blown any engine I've ever owned, nor am I calling anybody else stupid either. Go back and read my post again!

 

The point of this post is to gather info about a 97- 98 v6 f-150. Or a 4.6 as Harley stated. I simply told him to avoid the 97 4.2 because of their KNOWN faulty Gaskets. Then you come along, and get all pissy just because you happen to own a 97 4.2 v6, taking offense to what I said about the 4.2! I'm glad you got your faulty gaskets fixed. Good for you. But I am informing Harley to avoid these engines because of their problems. Don't get your panties in a wad just because I said something negative about the 97 4.2L. It's a known fact that these engines have faulty gaskets, and about the "blowing up" of the engine you are whining about, I know if you have bad gaskets and you completley disregaurd the fact that they are bad, and drive the truck without fixing it, that they will eventually blow the motor. I don't need you to tell me that. I'm not stupid. I said in my first post, the gaskets will fail and destroy the motor. Sorry, I should have said the gaskets will fail an destroy the motor if not taken care of immediatley. There, are you happy now? Either way, these engines are nothing but a problem, which is the total point of the post. And to caution Harley#356 about these engines.

 

LOL!! Looks like to me YOUR the one whinning and getting your panties in a wad!! LOL!! Have a great day!

 

What are you doin', setting there waiting on me to post something so you can come back with a smarta$$ comment? I bet you are... Btw, my panties are always in a wad and I bitch about everything. What's your point?

 

I have to disagree, it is NOT a well known problem. If it were a well known problem then a 97 4.2 wouldn't be worth more then a few hundred dollars...

It may be well known here, and in some small Ford circles, but out in the general population it isn't really known.

So Harley, unless the owner selling it has some kind of proof the problem has been fixed and there is no known problems with it I would stay away from any 97 or 98 4.2

 

Thanks for the info guys. this is exactly what i was looking for.

common problems, or stuff prone to happen, whether the original owner fixed it or not, i still need to know about it so i can check to see if they did.

I'm probably going to go with a 4.6L V8, 5 speed if i can find one

Thanks everybody

 

Your welcome.

 

Yeah and I can be a smartass...get use to it!

 

Good for you.