Question:

Why does the HP rating of different year trucks change with the same engine? I understand what Ford may have done to change the HP from year to year; it seems like it went up for one year, and then went back down again.
'97 = 205hp
'98 = 210hp
'99,'00 = 205hp
'01 = 202hp

I am quoting these numbers from memory, so if I screwed up, forgive me.
I guess my question is, what happened in '98, and was there some problem generated with that extra 5hp that made them change back the next year? Was it an exhaust change that would make an exhaust mod less effective on a '98? Anything I should worry about? Anything I could be thankful for buying a '98?


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'98 SC XLT 4.2
4x2 3.55 ls
Gibson 3" cat back
K&N filter (who doesn't?)
Cpt. chairs, and those oh so cool auto headlights.
Factory door steps to get my pants dirty

 

I have never seen that HP rating. To my knolodge all the 97-2001 4.2s have 205HP. I know that I have read on the Blue Oval News web site that in 2003 the Hp is jumping to 210.

 

Good Point. The only problem is that we are only told the peak horsepower. As we do not see what the power curves actually look like, we have to take their word that there is more power. You have to ask yourself why a 205 HP F-150 can smoke a 200 HP Windstar.

With this in mind, even though the HP may appear to be lower, the power curve may actually be flattened out, or the peak HP comes at lower RPM (like how many of us take our P/U's to 5500 RPM anyhow?) Along the same lines, Chevy's claim more HP than Fords, but are they any faster? 400 HP doesnt do any good if its at 6000 RPM or higher. Its all in the HP and Torque below 3000 for normal drivers and 4000 for aggresive drivers (autos will upshift before then anyway).

To actually answer the question, from 97 to 98, to 99 I think Ford did some minr tweaking in intake runners and small things like that.

Long winded answer, eh?

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98 Red F150 XLT,
Reg Cab, Short Box
Leer Tonneau
265/70R16 Bridgestone Duelers

 

i just got a chevy single cab rent truck with the 4.8 v-8. this thing halls a$$. it would destroy my 5.4 extended cab truck. the pull this thing has between 60 to 80 is incredible for a stock small v-8.

 

Too bad the rest of the truck is a POS! lol

 

i stole a dodge with a 39.3 litre and it pulls good from 2-3 mph and it can beat my 1.4 cyl truck w00t


hehe

You must have been mistaken. THat truck has a supercharger and has been bored to 6 liters!

 

I got an 89' chevy with 4.10 on a 5.7l damn that thing could pull a house down....after I was sick and tired of getting my *** kicked with my 4.2 and my friends 5.4, just breakout the beat up ol truck and show'm what 4.10's and a 5.7 will do. I like chevs....just to bad im in love with fords.

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Things to come: coil spacers, 4.10 gears, Grill
ilmagill@aol.com For Pictures :
www.geocities.com/ilmagill

 

Peak HP came in at about 4300 for my truck....After mods it peaked at 4000 and stayed consistant up until 4600, we stopped at 5000.

 

I know that the 97 models were rated at 205hp at 4500rpm but there flyer also stated that at 5000rpm it was rater at 210hp. This was the same hp as the first of the 4.6l put in the 97's. I have the original brochure from ford to prove it if anyone doubts it.
SK