It's kind of funny that the 4.6l v8 is that bad. The 5.4l v8 is just as worse off the line unless you got some sick mods. I'm just talking N/A stock. I test drove both a 4.6l and the 5.4l v8 in the XL LB 144.5" WB both with autos, and the 4.6l was the worst, but the 5.4l was a little bit better, just more torquier with the 5.4l. When I got behind the wheel of the 4.2l V6 with the stick, it was a whole 'nother story when I revved it up to just 1400 rpms and spun the tires. Reminds me of driving a Mustang, but is able to pull everything I've thrown at it. Even stuff not even recommended for the 5.4l!

And besides, who said a V6 in a 1/2 tonner was bad?! Everything's gotta be the V8... oh lets supercharge the V8...

Too bad that some of these aftermarket companies don't make S/C or Turbo kits like they make for the 4.6l and the 5.4l V8. (Maybe it's a hint that the V8 is really THAT bad... haha). IF they did make a S/C kit for the wonderful 4.2l V6... boy boy boy, it'd beat those V8's.

 

I've test driven a bunch of 4.2, 4.6 and 5.4's when I bought both of our F-150's. And I really couldnt tell much difference in any of them, of course the 4.2's were reg cabs while the 4.6's and 5.4's were all in Scabs and Screws, so there was a big weight difference. Something that I think is misleading is I think the 5.4 may be somewhat detuned when you first buy them and the computer lets it wake up a little after it has so many miles on it. Reason I say this is I work with a guy that had a '04 with the 5.4 SCrew and he told me that he noticed his truck getting more power the more he broke it in, plus I've been with him when he has gotten into the throttle pretty hard on acceleration and none of the trucks I have ever test drove pulled like his.

 

I have a similar truck, only its 4.6 V8. Actually its 97 F150 4x4 ext cab 8 foot box, with 3.55 gears and a 5 speed.
In my opinion it is a little "choppy" compared to some I driven, but it is a truck after all with 3.55 final gear ratio. If its anything like mine, it does take a bit to get used to, but after that, you should be good. I like the manual shift tranny, and always buy ones that do. I have done some research, and from what I found the Mazda built 5 speeds used in Ford half tons, are "better" than the GM Getrag built 5 speeds. At least the Mazda 5 speeds can handle normal towing, (4000 lbs). From what I've read and heard, the Getrag 5 speed's in the half tons are barley rugged enough for a small trucks.

Good luck!

 

Ford's manual tranny's in their trucks have always been more about beefiness than about user comfort. I've owned a 02 Ranger with a 3.0 and a manual, a 05 with a 4.0 and a manual, and put a good number of miles on an 01 F150 with a 4.2 and a manual...

I've found that when shifting, it's much easier to do it like this:

Say you're in first gear...and you're about to shift to second...put a little backwards pressure on the shifter lever and depress the clutch as you let off the gas...the shifter will slip right out of gear into neutral just as your gas pedal is all the way off and your clutch is a half-second from the floor...soon as your clutch hits the floor, slip the lever into second and you're golden. After a while, it becomes one smooth, fluid motion with perfect shifts every time.

I've put about 40k on those three trucks and it's pretty effortless to shift a Ford nice and comfortable for me now. I can shift those more smoothly than an automatic Ranger shifts itself.

--

My girlfriend's dad has a Tacoma and while I hate Toyotas, I absolutely love how that thing shifts. You can do anything you want with the clutch, the gas, the shifter, and it just goes right into gear, no questions asked, completely smooth every time.

It's just a Ford thing.

 

I only need to press my clutch in half way if that when shifting and its still nice and smooth. I still have the original clutch in it with 164,000 miles.

 

haha nice...not in Pittsburgh

My clutch in my 89 Toyota lasted 90k miles and that's about the most anyone around here has ever gotten.

 

Whys that?