I also work in a Ford parts dept. and the v6 w/ 5-speed is a great choice if you want only good, cheap transportation. Stay away from the 5.4!!! They (Ford) have a "special service message" out for replacement of the rt side cyl head and have realeased a new style of gskt since they "thinned out" the originals to get more H.P. It is not a recall, yet, but we have been doing a few of them and expect to do several more. The 4.6 is as solid a motor as you can get(except for maybe the old Ford 300-6cyl.) and the power difference is NOT as noticable as you would think, especially if you get a manual. I have always been a Chevy man but since I started working w/ Fords, and Dodge, (dodge sucks!!) I can't deny, they are the best built. My advice is, if you just need some wheels, and only pull a couple Quads, then get the v-6 5-speed. If you want your truck to perform like a fully modded raptor, get the 4.6. STAY AWAY from the 5.4!!!-For the next year or so anyway!!-- Wait til 2005-06 for the new 6-cyl twin-turbo diesels they are gonna put in the F-150's!!!!(you didn't hear that from me!!!)

P.S. A piece of useless info, Ford says that when their techs do the work on the cyl. heads on the 5.4, that they have to remove the engine because the head is too heavy to possibly lift off the engine without scarring the block by dragging the head across as it is removed, this is why the original replacement head gaskets were failing.

 

Check out the f-150 forum on f150world.com they have pics of the 04 with the new 3 valve per cyclinder 5.4 so check it out

 

How much of a toy hauler are you talking about? None of these rigs will pull a regular "Toy Hauler" like a Weekend Warrior. If you are just pulling an open trailer with bikes and quads aboard an F-150 is a great choice.
I got tired of losing CHEVY transmissions in burning bits of metal left streaming down the road... So I got a Ford F-250 SuperDuty Crew Cab to do the work. I got the V-10, which suits me fine, I get 16mpg on the highway with no load. It is a massive truck. Just right for a "Superlite" FK-21 Weekend Warrior, which weighs 4100lbs empty. Tow capacity of the truck is 12,000 lbs. If you pull 5,800 lbs with a 6.000 lb tow capacity you are going to have problems....

 

So what is a cheap mod to get more power on an F-150?? Chip, exhaust ????

 

I hate ford! buy a dodge with the new 5.7 hemi, or a silverado

 

the old ford vs chevy battle, you got to love it..

 

My dad owns a F-150 4x4 Lariat Crew cab with the 5.4 in it it gets fair gas milage. We get around 14-17mpg when driving with the quads and the suspension is very soft.

 

I have a 98 F-150 4.6 with 154,000 miles on it , runs the same now as when I bought it.Some freinds of mine are mechanics at a lincoln dealer. Lincoln was using this engine in cars way before they used them in trucks and almost never see hard engine failure. The 4.6 is the best american made engine ever built IMO.I was also a mechanic for over 15 years and have rebuilt well over 100 auto and marine engines.So I do know a little bit of what I'm talking about.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

HOw fun is it to drive the 4.6 V6 in the five speed manual? Is it ok? or is it like driving a boring slow truck like a toyota 4 banger pickup? I will be hauling only 1 quad in the bed at a time. I am also considering the 4x4 model with an extended cab...
Does the 4x4 and extended cab make the truck a bit slower? does the extra drive shaft compromize performance and add to maintenance costs?

and finally how much HP does the v6 have?


thanks very much
800

 

Those Powestroke diesels are intense, I was driving one with a 5sp stick pulling a 22' pontune boat and you almose don't have to downshift. go around a curve at 20mph in 4th gear and hit it the torque is amazing it just climbs. I recently had to do a graph for math class and I did it on the top selling trucks in the U.S. (Ford,Chevy,Dodge) Ford came out on top almost double chevy where dodge was last. I would consider Toyota Tundra all I have read is good things about them.