I currently have a loaded 2000 ranger xcab that i am looking to sell and purchase a 2001 f150 reg cab. my dilemma lies in what engine to get... My choices are the 4.2 or the 4.6. Is it worth the extra $750 for the engine plus having to make up for the $500 less rebate for the extra hp and tq of the v8?
Also while browsing these boards i see a few posts about the reliability of the manual trannies available in the the f150. do most of these probs occour in the 4.2 or 4.6?
Thanks!

 

If you get the 6, sooner or later you'll find yourself wishing for more power, probably while trying to move a load of lumber down an on-ramp, or at some other in-opportune moment. If you get the 8, you'll never wish you had gone with just a 6. Is it cost-effective> That's your own opinion. Personally, if I could've gotten the V-10, I would have, regardless of cost! But then, maybe I'm wierd....
-Joe-


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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, color matched trailer hitch with stainless steel ball, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

 

Your engine will depend alot on what you plan on doing with your truck. If you just want a great looking truck to drive around in, the 6 will probably suit you fine. If you plan on towing much the 8 should be your choice. Plus if you go with 4X4 and/or supercab and plan on towing/hauling definately go V8. Also I believe there are more performance mods available for the V* if you are interested in that. I would hate to spend 20k or more on a truck and find out later you would rather have that V8 under your hood instead of that $500.00 rebate you supposedly got.
Jeff

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1999 F-150 Lariat 4X2
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield
VentVisors
Class III hitch
Ford molded mud guards
Soft tonneau cover
Factory CD with changer
Tinted windows
Factory fog light kit

http://www.my-f150.com/lariatregcab/


Watch out NHL, Jagr and super Mario
Best in the buisness

 

My feelings are that the V6 is not nearly as reliable as either of the V8's. The V6 family from which the V6 is prone to head gasket failures. These failures have been found the truck V6 also. As far as I know, the trans is the same in manual equiped 4.2's and 4.6's. In either case, the towing capability is greatly reduced with the manual trans.

Unless you are a compete gear head or do heavy hauling the 4.6 will fill all your needs. IMO it is the best blend of cost, durability, and resale value. It is relatively flat here, and my long heavy truck pulls a open car trailer with 3500lb car very well. It will see wide open throttle to maintain 70mph on a long uphill. It will get 19 mpg at a steady 70 mph on the highway, unloaded.

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97 XLT S/C Long Bed 2wd, 4.6 Romeo, 4R70W Trans., 3.55 LS, 197,000 miles



[This message has been edited by Bent6 (edited 01-17-2001).]

 

the only reason I have a 4.6L is there were no 5.4 lariets available on the east coast at the time & my 95 was smashed up & I needed a truck. The 4.6 does ok but the numbers on the board have the mileage about the same as a 5.4. Next will be a 5.4 whatever.

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97 Lariet-sc-4.6-4x off road-auto-3.55 LS-
superchip-K&N-3"
pvc air box mod-Granetelli MAF

 

I know I'm sold on the 5.4, like they say "There's no replacement for displacement"!

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Truck on order: Delivery date April 4 2001

2001 F-150 XLT Super Cab 4x4
Black Clearcoat Metallic
5.4L W/ Auto
3.55 Limited Slip
Skid Plates
Trailer Tow - Class III
Medium Graphite Cloth Bench
Single CD
255/70 R16

1st Planned Mods: Ravin Z55 or Z33 Exhaust, Superchip

 

I'm lucky, a small voice in my head would say "Get the V-8", then "Get the lightest vehicle with the biggest engine". My opinion only, Good Luck either way.

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.

 

Heres what cha do!.. Go with the 4.6 even if it has the $1250 difference (750+500), put the automatic behind it, and the 3.55 limited slip behind the automatic. You will be pleased. I went with the 4.2 and am mot too happy with it. It runs fine, dont get me wrong, but it has to rev up to get any power out of it, and in my case it gets less mileage than the 4.6 does.. NO SLAMMING FOLKS!!, as my work vehicle has a 4.6 and my personal truck has the 4.2!. The 4.2 IS reliable, but I would go with the V-8 FOR SURE next time. Not to mention that the cool exhaust upgrades sound way cool......... By all means, TREAT YOURSELF!!!!!.
(Oh, did I mention that the 4.2 uses a shot glass for an oil filter??.... LOL...
Rick............

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"99" F-150 4x2,SC, med red / silver, 4.2L, auto, 3.55's, 265x16's premium snd w/cd, 4 wheel antilocks, leer "too heavy" matching cap, Mobil 1.
"Gutless thing!!"

 

Thanks for the replys guys! Does anyone know when they stop taking orders on 2001 model f150's? because i need as much time as possible to raise the money to afford the truck (im only 17btw) as far as putting an auto behind it, i can't and i really don't want to... i can't because its too much more money, and i don't want to because i really love driving a stick, and im not really gonna be hauling anything REALLY heavy so the decreased towing ability shouldn't factor in that much.
i do have a question though... what do you think i could sell my ranger for (not gonna trade it in because ill take a beating on the price)
its a 2000 s-cab, xlt, 3.0/manual, 2wd sport. it has power/convience packages, rear slider window, flareside bed, dual media audio system.
it only has 8500 miles on it also. most of the 2k rangers i see on like auto-rv and autotrader are like 17,900 or so for a 2k 4x4 s-cab, so im thinking like 16,500 for mine... sound right?
Thanks again guys!

 

Just a word from some one who knows.
I bought a 99'F150 single cab short bed V-6 5_speed about 18 months ago. With some air box mods and a Flowmaster,I notice little difference in the 2k x-cab 5-speed 4.6 that I drove the other day. I on the other hand (previously owning a single cab 4.0 5-speed, modified slightly,hang'in with 5.0L) am a GEAR HEAD.So tomorrow Fri.19th will go test drive a 5.4 single cab.