I just picked up a 97 F150 4x4 with the 4.2 V6 in it for $500. The engine sounds like crap. The valves are slapping and it seems the cam lobes and lifters are done for. It also has a massive vacuum leak. My question is can I use any year 4.2 V6 to replace it? I was told ONLY the 97-98 can be used for my truck. If I can use any year, is there anything I need to switch over to make the newer engine work in my 97 as far as intake, accessory brackets or whatever? I was also told that the 1st gen 4.2 (97-98) had problems and to use a newer engine. So whats the deal. Use the 97-98 or go newer? Thanks in advance

 

The 97-98 model year engines used a lower intake gasket made by Felpro from the factory which shrunk after time, allowing coolant to seep into the cylinder. You can tear it down and replace it yourself, but from the sounds of it, I think it would be best to replace the engine. How many miles does it have? Any 4.2L out of a 97-03 will fit, but I'm not sure how PATS and the ECU lines up when that comes into play. The 04-08 4.2Ls have ETBs and won't work.

 

The engine has over 200K on it. So it would be best to use a 99-03 or a 97-98 and replace the lower intake gasket with a Ford one? Any idea where I can find a good used engine for sale? Ill pay to ship

 

Ouch. My engine went out @ 140K miles back in 2001, so we paid $4,000 and had a brand-new, zero-mile, off-the-line engine installed into my truck. Its almost up to 85K here soon.

How is the body and suspension? If its worth it, start looking around for engines from junkyards or local CL ads. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I'd go ahead and drop a 4.6L in it since they are: A.) more common and B.) more power/TQ for about the same mileage, but again- that's just me. I'm sure there are plenty of 4.2Ls still out there if you just need a grocery-getter. Around here, the JY's pull the engines and sell them separately as whole operating units.

Edit: Forgot to ask, what transmission does it have?

 

The transmission is a manual. Actually the body and suspension is nice. The interior is in descent shape too. Im just gonna use it for a work truck, something to daily drive. I dont want to put a crap load of cash into an engine.

 

best bet would be finding a used, decent shape engine with not a ton of miles, and something you can easily look over to see if it has any major issues.

 

Im gonna go back with a 4.2 but I want to go with a newer one (99-03). Is there anything I need to modify or take off my engine to make the newer one work?

 

if you can't get a full engine for your new one, you can either take what you need from the current engine, or go buy new reproduction stuff, which will probably be the better option.

IMO, i don't know what all I would trust off a 200k+ engine.