I want to buy a 4x4 SC with a 4.6 and a 5 speed trans. I'm concerned about highway cruising speed(will it cruise at 80-85 easily) I also want to hear how will it handle mountain roads. My old truck a 94 4x4 with 33's and a 302 / 5 speed didn't like mountain roads. I'm planning on ordering 17" tires. Any info will be appreciated.

 

With the new Super Crew, it's a very underpowered vehicle with the 4.6 engine in our opinion, we have a lot of customers with those new Super Crews. Almost every one of our customers who has the 4.6 wishes they had the 5.4, though I think you can only get a manual transmission with the 4.6, and that might be why you want that motor.

If you can tolerate an automatic, the 5.4 would be a much better engine choice from a power standpoint, especially in any kind of mountain roads, hills, etc. We live in the mountains as well, so I know what it's like.

The reason this is more of an issue with the Super Crew is simply from the added weight. That vehicle weighs considerably more than the other F-150's, and it shows in the performance and gas mileage.

Best of luck whatever you decide,

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Info:https://www.f150online.com/rally2000/index.html


[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 07-25-2000).]

 

Relic,

I have had my truck in the same configuration that you are looking at since February. With a superchip and K&N and Gibson Exhaust, I have been very happy with the performance. Four wheeling in Utah, highways at 80 mph.

Obviously its not as much power as the 5.4 with the auto. But for me, the extra money and getting stuck with an auto wasn't worth it.



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2000 F150 SC SB 4x4 XLT
Trition 4.6, 5 sp manual, Factory class III tow package, sliding rear window,
3.55 LS pumpkins, P255 70R16 slippery when wet Goodyear RT/S

Mods: Lund Deflecta-shield II, K & N filtercharger, Gibson 3" side swept cat back exhaust

 

I have the heaviest combo available (excluding the Super Crew) with my truck with the 4.6 and 5 speed manual. (4x4 SC LB) I have the towing package (3.55 gears) and it will travel down the road at 75-80 just fine. It handles mountain roads really well, 4th gear is required for long mountain passes (65 mph easily).


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1999 XLT SC, 4x4, Long Bed, 4.6 with manual trans. Deep wedgewood blue



[This message has been edited by Huckster (edited 07-25-2000).]

 

Hi, Relic. Just to let you know, my V-6 5-speed with 3.55 gears purrs like a kitten at 75 mph (130 km per hour). The gas pedal is barely depressed at all on the level stretches. The motor is turning over at 2,500 rpm, which I've done for hours at a time going back and forth from Ottawa to Toronto and (every single weekend this year it seems) Ottawa to Montréal.

You should have no problems going faster with your package although, ironically, the higher tires may drop the motor off its torque peak and (according to some members here) make the truck seem a little sluggish and slower to respond to the throttle.

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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 limited-slip. CD, remote entry, factory side steps, FORD box liner.

My third F-series: '73 F-100 Custom 240-cube 3-speed, '98 F-150 XL-SC 4.2 5-speed, and '00 F-150 XLT-SC 4.2 5-speed. GREAT trucks!



[This message has been edited by Shifter (edited 07-25-2000).]

 

Relic,

Mike Troyer makes a good point with the super crew, but are you looking at a super crew or super cab? If it is a super cab then the 4.6 will be fine if you don't plan on any heavy towing.

Just check my signature and you will see the config of my truck. I have a few mods, bet even stock the 4.6 5-speed will do just fine.

Regards

Sean
SLC, UT

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Extended Cab

• Deep Wedgewood Blue
• 4.6L Manual Trans
• Ford Tonneau Cover
• Magnum Bug Deflector
• Panther 16x8 wheels with 285/75 R16 BFG All Terrain T/A
• 'Superchips' Performance Chip
• K&N FIPK (With custom mod)
• Westin Side Bars (Black)
• 3" Jardine Cat-Back Exhaust with Crome Tip
• Clear Corners
• Tinted Font Side Windows

 

Hey Mike...I just purchased a new SuperCrew 4x4 (4.6 Automatic) and it has great power and gets good fuel mileage. The 4.6L motor may not have the pulling power of a diesel, but it's no slouch!!

Yes, a chip and a cat back exhaust is a great idea for the 4.6L, but look at all the 5.4L owners that are requesting these same goodies. The day will come that I will purchase a chip for my 4.6L SuperCrew but not because I am dissapointed with the 4.6L, but because this is what I do with every motor...make it just a bit better!

 

I have a 97 Supercab 4x4 with the 4.6 and 5sp manual. I have 285 tires and the 3.55 gears.

It is fine on the highway. If you are towing, you will want 4.10 gears or 4.56 if you are going larger tires. You do have to on steeper grades downshift to 4th, but most of the time you can leave it in 5th.

Other mods I have are the airbox with K&N filters. I think that once I get a catback, I will have to downshift even less.

 

Ive have had the truck your describing for the past 2 years, and I can say that cruising at highway speeds, evan 80-85 shouldn't be a problem. Your gas mileage will go to pot at those speeds, but it will keep up. If you plan on putting on oversize tires, get the highest ratio rear axle you can. With my truck, I turn 2000rpm @60 in 5th gear, 3.55 rear axle, standard tires. 80mph would be about 2700rpm.