A little history about me:
I grew up with Chevrolet's and I'm still quite fond of them. In fact I have the 85 Camaro I bought in 94 or 5 a few years out of high school. I am super familiar with their Gen I and Gen II V8's up to the point where GM switched to the LS platform with the COP ignitions.

I've done almost all my own repair work, for the most part, because it seemed more cost effective and I do possess some mechanical skills. I even did a year of auto tech at a Tech College before a life event changed that path.

I firmly believe anyone can fix anything given enough information and the will power to get it done. I'm not afraid to take something apart if I have a picture of how it goes back together.

On to the meat of my quest for more knowlege:
So from my profile you can tell that the Ford in my collection is a 2003 F150 5.4L XLT/FX4.
I've had the pleasure of tearing the heads off of the engine after removing it from the truck. So I have a working knowledge of the modular engine in it's 5.4L configuration.

Let's start there:
a) from what I've seen and heard the 4.6 and 5.4L both use the same block, with a longer stroke to make the 5.4L. correct?

b) I understand that, at least for the 5.4 it went from a 2V (like my truck) to a 3V and also a 4V version in later models.
1)When did they solve the plug problem with the 3V and later versions?
2)In the 3V I know there is a cam phaser elimination kit to eliminate the possibility of failure there. Pro's and Con's in your opinions?
3) Did the 4.6 follow these valve configurations too? No one talks about the 4.6, I've heard it's kind of a slug.

c)I've seen some posts involving the 5.0L, I do know this isn't the 302 I would recognize. Is this engine also based on the 4.6/5.4 style block? I'm sure Ford's marketing is probably at least partially responsible for the displacement number because my mind jumps to the old reliable small block.
Why did they create this engine, did it replace the anemic 4.6? And is it related to the "Coyote" motor?

I plan to upgrade to a newer truck in the not too distant future (a year or so), so adding to my knowledge base will help me with my decision process when it comes to Ford choices.

Thanks in advance for your input, and sorry this was really long winded.

Gene

 

In 2003, which you have, there was the 4.2 pushrod V6, 4.6 2V and 5.4 2V modular V8.

In 2004, the 5.4 2V was replaced with the 5.4 3V with phasers and 2 piece spark plugs.

In mid-2008, the 5.4 3V received a head redesign with conventional 1 piece spark plugs.

In 2009, the V6 was dropped and the 4.6 2V became the base engine. The 4.6 3V out of the Mustang was added to the lineup and the 5.4 3V was unchanged. All but the 4.6 2V received the 6 speed automatic. The 4.6 3V was far from being a slug. It had phasers and 1 piece spark plugs.

In 2011, all engines were replaced. The 3.7 NA V6 out of the Mustang became the base engine, with the 5.0 Coyote out of the Mustang and 3.5 twin turbo Ecoboost V6 as options. 6 speed auto standard across the board. The V6's were based on the Duratech and the Coyote was based on the modular platform. The 6.2 "Boss" was available in limited quantities in certain configurations, it became the standard gas motor in the Super Duty replacing both the 5.4 and 6.8 V10.

In the 2015, they went to the aluminum body, replaced the 3.7 NA with a 3.5 NA, and added a 2.7 TT Ecoboost in between the 3.5 NA and 5.0. The 6.2 was dropped.

In the 2017, the 3.5 TT Ecoboost gets a 10 speed auto, supposedly with the other engines later.

The 4.6 2V was not exactly anemic. It was not built to tow heavy, but for a basic work truck and daily driver it did a good job. Granted - in a 2004+ 4x4 Screw it was a bit doggy, but what do you expect? That was a heavy truck. Even the 4.2 V6 had more HP than the old 302 you are familiar with, and almost as much torque. My standard cab 03 with the V6 and a 5 speed stick has plenty of guts.

The new 5.0 actually replaced the 5.4. The 3.7 replaced the 4.6.

 

When the 5.4 came out in the truck, didn't it have an iron block while the 4.6 had an aluminum block?

 

Thanks glc, great information.

 

There were some aluminum block 4.6's but not in the F-150.

 

Does the 5.0 have any quirks you should look for? For example the 5.4 3V with noisy phasers