Hi guys, new guy here looking to become part of the F-150 family.

I am currently looking at 2 1997 F-150's, one with a 4.6 and one with a 5.4, both with off-road package. My questions are these?

1) How is the realiability of each motor? Is one markedly better than the other?

2) I don't tow alot, but I have a 17 foot Alumicraft boat, and I do tow it at Interstate speeds often. Would the 5.4 be better?

3) Is there any way I can tell if the truck has 4 wheel ABS without going out and actually trying to lock up the wheels?

4) The 5.4 has 66,000 miles. I put on about 20,000 a year, do you think it will be hard to resell it with over 100,000 miles in 2 years?

Thanks for any info you can give me!!

 

Weapon14-I can't speak for the 5.4 but I can for the 4.6. I tow a 16' flats boat and infact just towed from Tampa to the Keys and back this past week. I tow with the overdrive off and at 65 MPH I turn 2700 RPM which gives me plenty of power to pass and accelerate. I have a guide friend that tows with the 5.4 and he really likes the extra torque of that engine. Either engine will do the towing you want to do. I think the gas milage is about the same. I was looking for the 5.4 but it was not offered in the STX package. Good Luck I hope this is of some help to you!

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98 White 4.6 Triton STX, Flairside,Class III hitch, Blue Cobra Stripes, Euro Lid by Astro, Bed Rug, Fiero Wing, Air Dam, Ground Force 2-4 Drop, Super Chip, K&N, Jet coated JBA stainless headers, Magna Flow Muffler with Stainless Duals.

 

Hi Weapon14, I have the 5.4 and I give it a thumbs up also. If the only difference in the trucks is the motor then just get the one that had the better owner.

The 5.4 should be cheaper with 66k on it. Unless that is, both trucks were used in the Space Program.

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99 Lariat Normal Cab 2WD 120"WB 5.4 3.55LS, Tow,
Dark Toreador/Gold, Line-X
raoul_oba@hotmail.com
F150's of Virginia
Just cause we're from Virginia don't mean we're(well, you know)

 

Well, you said you don't tow much so the 4.6 will give you better gas milage when you're just driving around town. Something you should do is take a few minutes and read up on the 5.4 piston slap problem just so you can listen to see if the one you're looking at has it. Have you tested the 4x4 on each of them? Do they have service records of oil changes ect? I don't suppose the original owner kept the window sticker with all the options from Ford??? Check to make sure the clip in on the rear springs. Make sure you have black lug nuts. Another topic you can read here is Romeo vs Windsor in the 4.6 engine. If they were well taken care of then it's only a matter of you making up your mind on which one. Well, this should get you started

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2000 F250 Crew Cab 4x2 6 speed Diesel XLT Super Duty, Woodland Green
Power Mirrors, 3.73 LS, Captains Chairs, ARE tonneau top, mud flaps
Trailer tow Pkg, Class IV hitch, sliding rear window, running boards
rear privacy glass, 265/75/16 AS OWL tires, am/fm/cassette/cd
Clarion APA 5240 amp

 

Pick up the 4.6l. It will give you no trouble towing that boat, it has passing power, gets good mileage, etc. Like Tina said, the 5.4l could possibly have Piston slap.

 

Tina made some great points. I had the 4.6 and it will tow your boat without problem. Just make sure it has the tow package. If not, you will have to make sure it has a tranny cooler or add one.

For ABS, the only thing I can tell you is to look at where the brake lines from the Master Cylinder goes. They both should go into a "black box" below and a bit towards the front. From there, it should branch out to the 4 wheels.

4 wheel ABS was an option in '97. Chances are the trucks you're looking at only have rear wheel ABS.

 

I have owned a 98 5.4L and now a 2000 5.4L. Very strong engines. Everyone is correct about the possible piston slap issue in the 5.4L (97-early 99)....I would highly recommend asking the dealership if you could have the 5.4L truck for a day...and start it early one morning (while it is cold outside).

Ask them if this truck has the piston slap problem or if the engine has been replaced. They might try and play dumb..but this is a known issue.

Either engine will pull your boat just fine..the 5.4L will simply have more grunt...and a 1997 will use slightly more fuel.

Make sure to also check to see if either one has the:

1) Door crack problem.

2) Sliding rear window leak (if equiped)

3) Cracks in the water channels on the roof.

Best of luck and WELCOME!!

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99


[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 01-11-2000).]

 

Consider a NEW one.
With the way F150s hold thier value they don't depreciate much and sometimes (like in my case) a NEW one is only $2,000 more.
PLUS you get a FREE 3yr/36,000mile warranty.
(If you want an warranty on a used one it will cost you)
By time I took into consideration the warranty cost I was looking at less than $1000 difference.
PLUS you get EXACTLY what YOU want.
If you can't save at least $5,000 over the price of a new one then just buy a NEW 2000 F150.
See the "truck costs" section on how to get the best deal.

 

54regcab does have a point. They arent much more. Actually, some have found a F250 {99-00} Superduty for less than a similary equipped F150. And also the 99' 5.4 carries 260hp for the f150 and the SD for 2k carries the 260hp 5.4l also.

 

54regcab makes a great point. When I first started looking for a f-150 I was looking for a 97 w/ a 4.6 and good milage. The average cost was around $20k. Im not sure what the used 150's are going for now, but i got my New 99' f-150 fully loaded w/ the mighty 5.4 for $23k!!. Well worth the extra 3k. Also be avised that the average of $20k for a used 97 was from private owners. I checked out a used 98 w/4.6 and 30k miles on it and it would have cost me 22.3k minimum. Again well worth the 700 bucks

Be avised though, finding a f-150 with 4x4 and a v-8 can be very expensive. If you want a supercab or a xlt or lariat its going to be real expensive. The sticker on my truck was $27k!! Wait for deals though or get used either way you will be getting a great truck

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1999 Silver F-150 XLT Supercab Triton 5.4L 4X2 3.55 LS class 4 whell ABS/4-W disc

Stuff I did not need but came with it
Class III Towing package
Power driver seat
Remote keyless entry
Free Floor mats :P
Hell of a ride

Mods I hope to do
1. Superchip
2. K&N air filter
3. Gibson Exhuast

Add-ons
1. Bed liner
2. Hard bed cover

All I'll ever need with this bad boy

Will be getting pictures soon
ccr-rules@worldnet.att.net

 

weapon, I know someone who is selling a
1999 f-150 with low miles

 

I have the 4.6L in my 97 , I love it. I`ve had no problems so far with it & it has 42,000 on it now. Well , normal mant. , tires & custom mod.s I`ve done. My vote is 4.6L if it has the ORP & Tow package. Both engines are fine IMO.......Lariat1

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Red/Silver LARIAT, 3Dr.SC,Flareside 4x4 ORP,Tow Pack.,Graphite Interior,60/40 Bench Seat W/Power Driver Seat,6 Disc Changer & Cass player,Tilt Wheel, Crus. Control,AC,Rear Sliding Glass,Power Windows & Door Locks,A.R.E Fg. Bedcover,Zie-Bart Total Paint & Under Coating Protection W/Sound Deadener ,3.55LS,4.6L,Auto,Spiltfire Platinum 3 Sparkplugs,New Motorcraft Drive Belt,K&N Airfilter W/Mod.Factory Airbox,Tornado Air Man.,WMS Velocity Tube,Custom Dual Exhaust W/20`` Chrome Tips,AVS Window Shades & Door Sills & Tail Lite Slots,GTS Carbon Fiber Headlite Covers,FORD 2-Piece Bra, Tinted Windows, Pendaliner Tailgate(Inner)Cover,Ford Security System W/Motion Alarm,Fog Lights, Foglites Works W/Brites On, FORD #1 TRUCK Under Glass On Front Bumper,Custom Ford Oval Red Decals,A/TS Goodyear Tires,Perfomance Fiction Carbon Metallic Disc Brake Pads, Owens Fg. Step Boards,55 Watt (Replacement) Backup Lites,Pilot 55 Watt Back up Lites On Hitch Under Truck. This is LARIAT 1... IN The Great State Of Indiana..........http://hometown.aol.com/terrylariat1...page/auto.html A very Proud Member of ...www.f150online.com

 

Thanks for all the replies guys and gals.

As far as going with a new truck, I have a friend who works in a small dealerships, and he will give me invoice price on new, and with what I want (SuperCab, ORP, CD, bedliner, etc) it comes in at about 24,700. The two trucks I looked at last week were just under 19,000, and I would have a real tough time coming up with the extra 6 grand or so. (

So, I am resigned to looking at used. I am finding good deals on 97's with over 55,000. The miles don't scare me, I think a well maintained truck will go 150K easy with minimal probs. The problem is if you want to sell it again or trade it with over 100K.

The truck I am looking at with the 5.4L is $18,400 with 66,000 miles, and the 4.6L is $18,900 with 56,000 miles. Similarly equipped, but 5.4 has captain chairs. I am leaning toward the 5.4 I think.

 

weapon, I think this guy would sell his f-150 lariat super cab with 6k and captains
and tow package and cd changer and ext. warr
for about 21,000. I think its 4 mos. old.
e-mail at WLeibfritz@prodigy.net for more info

 

Weapon,

Thats a darn good deal, and you should go with it. Superchip it, add an exhaust, and youve got the 99' 5.4l