I like my 4.6. Got 15.1 mpg last year and I have a lead foot all city driving.

5.4 are known to spit spark plugs and the V-6 97-98 have gasket problems.

 

You can get 2 trannies.

Look on the door jam, under "tr". E means you have the 4R100, U is the 4R70.

I have a '97 (bought used in august). It's been a good truck. No major problems. Has the 5.4L, no rear sliding window, has door crack on both sides.

When I bought it there was a problem with the door ajar light staying on, but some WD-40 in the door latch fixed that.

No oil consumption problems, and it feels very powerful.

 

I have a '97 SCab with the 5.4 and love it. The only problem I've had was the leaky rear window (no door crack problems). It's got 106,000 miles on it and is still going strong. It has survived trails, washes, dunes and 7,000 pounds of trailer on a regular basis. I have the 50-state model (for CA) which comes with the bulletproof 4R100 (which is built to withstands 1000 lb-ft of torque). I never liked Ford until this one. If you can find one that has had a relatively trouble-free life you should be good, but I definitely recommend the 5.4 (it's all about the torque).

 

The 4.6L is a good motor and is supposed to be just about trouble free.
It is however pretty much a slug in my opinion,especially in an ext cab 4x4.
In a regular cab 2 wheel drive it may be adequate but anything else no thanks.
If you even think you are going to towing/hauling get the 5.4L.
Once the 4.6L starts to work hard any advantage it had on the 5.4L in gas mileage is gone,and I actually got as good as or better mileage with both my 5.4L's than with the 4.6L in all conditions,but especially when towing or hauling.
Get the 5.4L!!

 

98 4.6 w/ 61,000 on it. No probs other than little things (door crack, rear window leak, ping and piston knock in really cold conditions) I feel that my 4.6 is a great engine but if you wish to pull heavy loads for long ranges, get the 5.4 As far as reliability, the 4.6 is unbeatable.

 

I have a 2003 EXT cab 4x4 with the 4.6 auto combo and I have not regreted this purchace at all. The 4.6 is plenty strong and hauls my 5000lb truck no problem. I didnt find the 5.4 was all that much more powerful than the 4.6 when I test drove them.

 

What'd you do to it?

 

I have the 4.6 in my '99. I had the head gasket leak while under warranty. That is the only problem I have had except a miss fire with around 55,000 on it. I upgraded the coil packs and wires and replaced all 8 plugs. I know have 65,000 and haven't had any more problems (knock on wood). A friend of mine has the 5.4 in his truck and complains about the gas milege alot. My truck accelerates as well as my friends 5.4 after I did my mods (see signature).My 4.6 has been a great engine, but I will probably get a 5.4 in my next truck after I pay off my GT Stang.

 

the leaking rear sliding window seems to be pretty much standard issue on these trucks... mine only leaks bad when I run it through the wash, something about the angle of the spray I imagine.

 

Go for the 5.4, that way you'll have the extra power when and if you need it. 330 cubic inches is not that big.

MR

 

It all depends what your looking for. Need to pull a heavy trailer all the time get the 5.4, want better gas mileage and decent power get the 4.6 . If you modify the air intake, slap in a flowmaster y-pipe and 3" system you'll have pretty much 5.4 power but keep your gas mileage provided you keep your foot out of it. Some 5.4's blow plugs and have piston slap more than 4.6 .

Contrary to belief, a stock 4R100 will not take 1000ft.lbs of torque. They die fairly often behind the 7.3L Powerstroke and it's only pushing 500ft.lbs and not even the version of the 4R100 in the Lightning will handle 1000ft.lbs. You can build a 4R70W to handle over 500hp and a 4R100 to handle even more, with custom parts and careful assembly. Main thing to keep in mind is 20-30k fluid change in the tranny and add a decent sized cooler after the factory radiator tranny cooler element.

Not that there's anything wrong with a 97' F-150 but general rule of thumb is to try to avoid buying the first year of a revised model as there's usually a few bugs to work out.

My 98' had door cracks on both driver and passenger side doors. Had it fixed no-charge last time it was in the body shop for something else. Also have rust starting on bottom of door seam, inside edge. Seems a common problem too. Doh.

Otherwise I've had to replace a spark plug wire and plug just out of warrantee which Ford raped me for. Since then change to MSD wires and changed plugs twice. Changed rear axle fluid, tranny fluid, added tranny cooler, Jerry Mod on tranny, intake mod, custom exhaust, done the brakes which need doing again - rear first, changed coolant, changed serpentine belt, cleaned throttle body. No other problems.

If you want more power later add an ATI Procharger blower on it. About $3600 from Trixters Racing.

 

I guess I have been fortunate not to have had the leaking rear window problem with my truck. My truck continue's to run trouble free for me. Just turned 48,000 miles last weekend.

-Brian

 

4.6 is a good engine, 5.4 might be better if you are constantly doing heavy towing.

 

After two years of ownership of a used 99' f150 supercab flareside 4.6 4x2 as well as two years on this site, and if I could do it all over again, I would AT LEAST look for:
(1) the body style I like (easier to paint it the color you want);
(2) interior color/style I liked (easier to paint it the color you want);
(3) R4100 transmission if it came in the bodystyle I wanted.
(4) If I wanted a 4.6, I would get a 2001 or newer so that I would get the Performance Improved (PI) heads, yet some have head gasket leaks (fixed with re-decking heads and Technical Service Bulletin T.S.B. anti-leak head gaskets as well as the shorter stroke 4.6 does not make as much torque as the 5.4.
(5) I would try to get the tow package for the trans. cooler.
(6) If I wanted a 5.4, I would get at least a 99 for PI heads, yet some 5.4s have had sparkplug blowouts (fixed with thread inserts/heilcoil) and head gasket leaks (fixed with re-decking heads and TSB anti-leak head gaskets as well as higher reving puts more stress on the longer stroke/higher torque piston rods).
(7) If I wanted a supercab, I would get at least a 99' so that both "suicide" doors opened up.
(8) If I was going to do EXTREME high performance mods to it or constant towing with it, I would go with the 5.4. You will have more options with it ( more superchargers to choose from, lightning swap parts, etc) and it will cost less to produce more torque than in a 4.6. However, the 4.6 is more higher reving friendly. Yet, if you end up put a forged internal block in it, the 5.4 only has a cubic inch advantage over the 4.6.
(9) For off-road or street use fun, get a roots supercharger, for the race strip go forged block and a turbo.

Note: I considered most of this before buying. I used four (4) free locator services and found exactly what I was looking for at the price I will willing to pay (except I did not get a blue or black interior). At the time, the 5.4 was much higher than the 4.6 and I planned to use the difference in cost for a supercharger system anyway.

My 4.6 now has almost 110,000 miles on it. It has over 40,000 miles of hard hitting roots supercharger use. Although, I will be putting a lightning supercharged 5.4 engine in it soon, the 4.6 is still running strong with the supercharger and providing instant tire burning white smoke with either a 5 or 11-12 pound boost pulley.

 

What is this door crack everyone is talking a bout?