i have a 1997 f-150 4.2l flairside.i'm wanting to add a few performance parts to it,but my 1st main problem is this:the person who owned the truck before i did had an engine out of a newer model put in because the original engine had a really bad knock in it.there is a sticker with a date on the drivers side valve cover that says 27 may 2004 along with canada and some other stuff.my first question is this the engine build date? and my 2nd question is if so then is this engine considered a 2004 or a 2005? my local ford dealer can't answer this simple question!

 

Well do you know when the original owner replaced the engine? The way you say: "...had an engine out of a newer model put in..." sounds like he put in an NBS (new body style, or 2004-2009 body) which would be odd because they have ETB and a harmonic balancer. If this is the case, you would search for that year engine.

BUT...I highly doubt this is the case. My 1998 4.2L went out in 2001-2002 so it has a 2001-2002 (Cant remember which year) engine in it, but that dosent matter because the design is the exact same as the 97's (sans the intake manifold). The Canada sticker you refer to is the engine assembly, as it is built in the Ford Essex plant in Canada. Could you possibly post a shot of the engine to be sure whether or not you have a NBS or OBS engine? But from a technical standpoint, I would believe it is an OBS engine so you would search for 1997 parts.

-Alex

P.S: It appears you are a new member in here, but for starters lets see some pics of the truck. Also, you might get more responses if you put this in the V6 forum.

Greetings from our state Capitol!

 

i have a 1997 f-150 4.2l flairside.i'm wanting to add a few performance parts to it,but my 1st main problem is this:the person who owned the truck before i did had an engine out of a newer model put in because the original engine had a really bad knock in it.there is a sticker with a date on the drivers side valve cover that says 27 may 2004 along with canada and some other stuff.my first question is this the engine build date? and my 2nd question is if so then is this engine considered a 2004 or a 2005? my local ford dealer can't answer this simple question!

 

thank you sir.that's partly why i'm trying to figure this out because i'm wanting to purchase an underdrive pulley from troyer,but not sure about the harmonic balancer.i know i have the 7 pulley system and the belt for a 97 fits perfectly and a 2004 belt is way to big! i know some there has gotta be a big differance between a 97 and an 04-05 as far as the computer,connectors,etc. that's why i believe alot of the 97 parts were just put on the newer engine.just wondering if a harmonic balacer from the 97 would even interchange with a 04-05 engine? troyer says no! they say the 97-98 has one style,the 99-00 has another style and 01-04 has another! i'm so confused!

 

please don't double post


https://www.f150online.com/forums/19...-new-post.html

 

please don't double post, hopefuly the mods will combine these threads or just delete one

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v6...onsidered.html

 

Threads merged.

 

danny, if you could post a picture of the engine I could easily tell you. troyer is right. there were a few changes inbetween the years, especially the harmonic balancer on the NBS engines. again, do you have access to a camera? can you take a picture?