hello there guys I have a 97 ford f150 4.2L engine with over 300,000 miles and the engine just seized the other day and I been looking around to get info if its worth getting rebuilt or just getting a new engine or just scraping it but I also find out something bout the early f150 and wondering if that could be the issue or wat could cause it to seized but b4 it seized it got 2 codes which were p0303 and p0174 so if anyone can keep me with any info I would truly appreciate that
Thanx Derrick

 

It's a 97, so it could be hydrolock from a coolant leak.

Search "manifold" and/or "gasket" on these forums to see a ton of threads on the subject. This affected many 97s and 98s.

 

If the truck and the rest of the driveline are in good shape otherwise, get a rebuilt engine. Otherwise, scrap the truck.

 

Find a newer, used, lower mile 4.2 and replace it, great little engines.

-Steve

 

That is what happened to mine. It was a '97 4.2l with about 80,000 miles on it.

I got to work one day, shut it down. Came out in the evening, and it would not turn over. Battery was fine. Felt seized up. Pulled the plugs, and turned it over. Coolant everywhere.

Turned out to be the intake gasket.