While researching a 98 XLT 4.6 V8 with 60000mi I am thinking of buying I have come across items such as spark plug blowout and failing COPs. Is this common? Is it just the internet that exagerates this things. How hard is it to do routine maintence such as plugs, brakes and such that someone should be able to do at home without special tools? Thanks

 

I'm not sure how "common" the plug blowout is, but there seem to be some tell tale signs right before it happens. Something to the effect of a ticking sounding like an exhaust leak. Coils do go out, at 60k I'd think you would still be fine as long as the truck was taken care of. Brakes are pretty straight forward on these trucks, IMO.

 

If you do a plug blowout search here you will find that the majority of the cases if not all are 5.4 related. Something to do with not enough threads in the heads.