I'm planning on buying an F-150 soon and I would like to know what kind of difference in power/speed there is between the 4.2 v6 and the 4.6 v8 and the 4.6 vs the 5.4. I don't think I'll get one with the 5.4 becuase I want a stick, so most likely I'll get the 4.6. Another thing, I was talking to a couple of guys at work and they said I should get a Chevy because it has a better engine and supposedly the Fords spend a lot more time in the shop then Chevys (one of these guys is a former mechanic). Thanks.

 

You might look, or tell your friend to look at the Consumer Reports repair ratings between the Ford and Chevy. Could you please elaborate on what "because I want a stick" means so we can help more?

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification,Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back.

 

Hi TruckBuyer
Wecome to the site.
After reading your post, it seems to me you are leaning towards a V8, and I do not have much experience with the 4.2
To answer your question I would need to know a few things.
1) do you want 2 or 4 wheel drive.
2) Regular cab or SuperCab.
3) are you goung to tow.

The 5.4 has more get up and go than the 4.6 and there is not much difference in fuel millage. If you are going with a 2 wheel drive the 4.6 would do fine. If you are going for 4 wheel drive , or if you tow anything heavy go for the 5.4

As far as Ford or Chevy's having a better engine, or being in the shop more. Of course I am biases toward Ford.I would say that Fords are just as reliable as Chevy, and I have heard the new chevy's are having as many if not more problems than the Ford.

Look at any of the truck leasing companies, Ryder, Penske,Rollins, AMI.And see what they use a shop, and rental trucks. They all have Fords, must be a reason for that.

Good luck with what ever desision you make.

Don


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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bullet Cat Back, Superchip,WMS Velocity Tube with modified K&N filter.
Centerline Saber rims 17x8" with Firestone GTA 275/60hr-17 tires.





[This message has been edited by Don C (edited 07-22-2000).]

 

I prob can't help you much but.....
Are you trying to decide on if you want to spend the extra money for the 8cyl ?
I know a couple people who have the V6 and have no complaints with power or gas milage.
They haven't had any real engine problems either.
I have the old 300 strait 6 in my truck and I swear by it.... it drinks gas like it was a cold beer on a hot day but.....
As for the "buy a chevy" like others have told you, Don't put much in the "They say this and they say that"
I was a chevy man at one time. From the 70's until '95 if it didn't say GM it was garbage in my eyes. I have had 5 chevys in my liftime and the only one that ran trouble free was an 88 S10 p/u I had with the 151 4cyl (iron duke) engine and of cource GM discontinued it cause it was just to dam good.


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96 F150 XL,special
Air/PS/PB/AM-FM-Cass/
Light Package/300 I6/
5 SP Man/...
Nothing fancy just my little baby

 

From what I get from your post you want a manual trans. And the V8 so the 4.6 is your only option on that my 4.6 with auto has plenty get up and go for a 4x2 reg cab with the 3.55 rear end gear before I bought mine I test drove a v6 manual and to me it felt weak and lack of power so I decided to go with a V8 auto as I didn't like the feel of the manual in the truck the only down side to the auto is it uses more gas the best thing for you to do is test drive trucks with all 3 of the engines and buy the one you feel happy with.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

[This message has been edited by hmustang (edited 07-22-2000).]

 

As far as I know the 5.4 is automatic trans only. I want a stick shift. I mainly want to know if the 4.6 V8 is a strong engine. I don't plan on towing much (furniture or such things on occasion). The model I was looking at is the XL with a 4.6 manual, 3.55 axle, reg cab and 139 wheel base. I basically want the truck because I like the look and it's nice to be able to transport stuff if I need to. Good exceleration and top speed are important to me. Thanks

 

I drove a V6 with the 3.08 gears. I hated it, brought it back. I bought the 4.6L powered supercab, just enough power with 3.55 gears. It really needs 3.73 gears. At 60 to 70 mph in 4th gear (hwy) it will not accel quickly (barely increases in speed) unless a downshift is forced. Towing a seadoo trailer forces the truck to cruise along at a slightly higher load and it will not accelerate at all without a downshift (hwy only) I have driven the 5.4L also, it is a big improvement in torque, just what a 5000 pound truck needs! I get terrible gas mileage (14 hwy) and the 5.4 is actually a little better.
Chris

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98 SC 4.6L stepside, Gibson headers, Gibson single exhaust, superchip, Intake mods, Piaa's, high end audio stuff.

 

As your preference is a 5sp, and you like good acceleration, then the 4.6, 5sp, 3.55 rear end, seems like it would be a combo you should testdrive..

From light to light, folks with the 4.6+auto tranny will probably pull ahead some because the quicker shifting auto, but you'll still have a great feel because of the 5sp..

The manual tranny is a truck tranny so its not quite as smooth shifting as smaller vehicles, but the clutch pull is nice and light.

Stay away from the 3.08 ratio. Sure it will help your highway mpg some, but it will probably feel lame..

hmustang had good advice, test drive a few and see what you like..


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Y2K F250 XLT SC 4x2 5.4L 5sp 4.10LS

 

Hey I had a Chevy and I liked it.......... then I grew to hate the damn thing. My dad had a chevy, hated it, traded it for a Ford. Now I have a Ford, no problems. Then again my brother has a Chevy no problems. Be careful though, once you hit the high miles in the GM trucks it takes your life szavings to get them running again.

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'97 F-150 XLT Expidition front end (no idea why). 17inch 4x4 wheels with 32 inch tires flowmasters with tips, K&N filter, 5-spd, 4.2 V-6 bedliner, bright clearcoat red, stepside, hidden hitch, 3.55 gear ratio, tinted windows and a BIG reg ford sticker on the back window (my greatest joy is cutting people off who have calvin pissin on the ford sign and they HAVE to look at my big red sticker)

 

Dear Truckbuyer:

It sounds like your truck purchase is being made on emotion rather than function.

That's not bad. Or good.

But it will help you understand your choices.

If for function, you'd have a list of attributes that your truck must satisfy.

Since yours is but a very short list ("...I want a stick shift...I don't plan on towing much...I like the look...able to transport stuff if I need to...Good exceleration and top speed are important..."), you've only one choice -- and you've already seen it:

The standard-issue 4.6L manual-tranny truck.

You'd have the most popular truck on the road today -- which means that resale should be good.

Now, go pick out your color!

Enjoy,

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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Truckbuyer, considering what you want to do and expect, the 4.6L is perfectly fine. You'll be able to spin the wheels, if that's what you're wondering. I had it in a '97 4x4 SC SB Auto 3.55LS and never had a complaint about it. There's enough low end torque to get you moving. Where it poops out is a the top. Forget about maintaining 55 mph in OD (auto tranny) on an incline. You should get much better perfomance with the stick, especially since it's in a much lighter truck than what I had.

 

Truckbuyer,

I've got a 97 F-150 4x4 EC SB with the 4.6 auto and the 3.55 LS axle. For my needs it is ample (I also have a K&N filter and cat back exhaust).

Since you want a 5 speed you have to go with the 4.6. The only thing to keep in mind is that if you are towing heavy loads alot then the 5.4 would be a better choice. It has more torque which wouls make towing heavy loads much easier.

The only thing I tow is a light 15 foot boat and motor and for this, the 4.6 is more than ample. In my truck, the engine pulls very well off the line and accelerates respectfully up to around 60 - 70 mph. As stated earlier, the engine starts to run out of gas after about the 75 mph mark. Since the hwy speed limit here is around 60, that is no big deal for me. Passing power is also ample wehn crusing at around 50-60.

If you travel at speeds greater that 75 or if you have heavy loads frequently, I would go to the 5.4, it pulls stronger under those conditions. The 4.6 is a great engine for all round use and I think you would be happy with it from how you describe your needs.

p.s. I get around 17-18 mpg in city and 22-24 on the hwy. Not bad at all for a heavy 4x4. Those numbers drop considerably in winter though . . . haven't calculated the mpg but it is horrible, mind you most cars are in winter's up here (-20 F is not uncommon).

One last thing, I have had no engine problems with my 97 4.6 and Ford recently announced it went over the million engines produced for this motor. It is used in F series trucks, vans, mustangs, police cars, taxi's and numerous other applications. It is a very reliable engine and a good one at that.

 

Cougar Guy you say you get 17-18 mpg city and 22-24 mpg highway you must drive with a very light right foot as my 4x2 reg cab with the 4.6 auto gets 11-14 mpg city and about 15-18 mpg highway.

 

I have the 4.2 and 5 speed it does a good job around town.I get 18-19 in town with air.on the highway it does a very well I can hit 90 to 100 very easy not that I do it often but no problem passing.has good low torque, mid range ok better power after 3000 rpm's.of course I also have a super chip.

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------------------------- 99 SILVER XLT/REG.CAB/4.2/5SPD/3.55/K&N Airbox Mod/Gibson Sweptside/Westin Black nerfs and now SuperChiped

 

Truckbuyer, to get the best feel for the power you need go test drive all of the different models you are considering. From the sound of it, it seems like you would be the happiest with the 4.6 5-speed and 3.55, maybe even 3.31 gears.

In a couple of towns over (closest ford dealership) where we do business I talked to a couple of technicians about the reliability of these new trucks. He claimes that there is some type of delivery service in that town (he told me the name and everything but I forgot it now) that has the 5.4 and 6.8 in there vans. All of there vans have between 400,000 and 500,000 miles. Original motor and transmissions. They said that they did have to put carrier and axle bearings in the rear end and small thing every once in a while. They also say that they have seen some 4.6s with over 400,000 miles and thats what all of the cop cars use. I am not sure if he referring to cop cars with 400,000 miles or not. I would not think they would keep them that long. I am not too familiar with the town but the next time I pass through I will stop at the ford place and get directions to the place. I will bring a camera and take a picture of the odometers, that would be cool to post on the board. As for chevies, the new ones seem to be falling apart from what I have seen on the internet. The older ones seem to hold up better. Although it seems as if ford have less smaller things go wrong. From friends and family it seems as if The chevies go through more starters, altenators, compressors, lights etc than fords. Most people say that chevies have good motors, but I have seen 3 4x4s in town that have new motors, all 350s mid 90 models, 1 @ 90,000 miles 1@ 13x,000 miles 1@ 134,000 miles. Most people that use there ford comparably with the above see 180,000-200,000+ miles. There is one guy in town that has over 500,000 miles on his original 300 six cyl. and original auto trans. These are all interstate miles though, drives alittle over 200 miles a day to work and back.