fordtrucks97up-digest Wednesday, April 22 1998 Volume 01 : Number 062



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Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 And Newer Trucks Digest
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In this issue:

4.6 v 5.4 V8? ["Kevin Hutchinson" ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? [Bill ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? [Robert Hill ]
[none] [Jay Murphy ]
F150 Tire Pressures [Jay Murphy ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? [Zach Whitehill ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? ["Union Auto" ]
Re: F150 Tire Pressures [Robert Hill ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? [John941 ]
Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8? ["Ann Mitchell" ]
ADMIN: Pardon our mess [Ken Payne ]

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Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 07:39:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Kevin Hutchinson"
Subject: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

Hi,

I am deciding on the F-150 I want to order and I would like to know
which engine to get. I understand if your going tow or not and so forth.
But what I want to know is for general use (like a little 4-wheeling)and
you've got the 4.6 V8 did you wish you had gotten the 5.4 V8 or if you
have the 5.4 V8 is it worth the extra?

Thanks,

Kevin
- --

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 11:28:39 -0400
From: Bill
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

Hi Kevin, my son has a 1997 F150 4X4 w/ 4.6 V8, Trailer tow package and
3.55 rear axle. Occasionally tows a 24' travel trailer. He tells me power
wise its very near the same as his old F-150 with 300 6 cylinder. He's also
been thru 2 rear ends, both replaced by Ford under warranty. He can't wait
for the lease to come due so he can get a F-250 and larger engine. He gets
about 8 or 9 MPG towing, I know people towing with the 5.4 and they seem to
average 10 to 11 MPG towing. As per your question of general use, he tells
me the 5.4 is the only way to go, but check the read end problem Ford had in
the 97's, see if its still a problem in the 98's. Good luck on you choice
and hope you enjoy the pickup. Bill

Kevin Hutchinson wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I am deciding on the F-150 I want to order and I would like to know
> which engine to get. I understand if your going tow or not and so forth.
> But what I want to know is for general use (like a little 4-wheeling)and
> you've got the 4.6 V8 did you wish you had gotten the 5.4 V8 or if you
> have the 5.4 V8 is it worth the extra?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
> --
> +-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
> | Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
> | List removal instructions on the website. |
> +----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 11:00:56 -0500 (CDT)
From: Robert Hill
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

I own a 97 F250 Lariat Lightduty shortbed wiht the 5.4 engine and tow
package. I tow regularly either a 28' enclosed car hauler or a 31' 5th
wheel travel trailer. I am please with the ability of the 5.4 to handle
the load; however, I have NEVER got 10-11 MPG while towing. I average
around 8MPG towing and have gotten a s low as 5 MPG while twoing the 5th
wheel and bucking a head wind. I average 13MPG empty. I guess this is my
real complain witht he truck, otherwise I love it.

When I bought the truck I was considering a F150 and looked at the 4.6
engine but opted for the 250 witht he 5.4 basically because I was buying
the truck to use as a tow vehicle not as a daily driver. The 5.4 does not
offer a tremenous amount of additional tow capacity but does offer more
torgue which is the real key to towing anyway.

I fyou are not interested in ever towing anything of any size, get the 4.6
since your around town and highway MPG will be better. However, if you
ever think it is even remotely possible that you will want to tow
something, get the 5.4 and maybe even consider paying a little more for
the F250 which gives you more payload capacity.

Bob


On Tue, 21 Apr 1998, Bill wrote:

> Hi Kevin, my son has a 1997 F150 4X4 w/ 4.6 V8, Trailer tow package and
> 3.55 rear axle. Occasionally tows a 24' travel trailer. He tells me power
> wise its very near the same as his old F-150 with 300 6 cylinder. He's also
> been thru 2 rear ends, both replaced by Ford under warranty. He can't wait
> for the lease to come due so he can get a F-250 and larger engine. He gets
> about 8 or 9 MPG towing, I know people towing with the 5.4 and they seem to
> average 10 to 11 MPG towing. As per your question of general use, he tells
> me the 5.4 is the only way to go, but check the read end problem Ford had in
> the 97's, see if its still a problem in the 98's. Good luck on you choice
> and hope you enjoy the pickup. Bill
>
> Kevin Hutchinson wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am deciding on the F-150 I want to order and I would like to know
> > which engine to get. I understand if your going tow or not and so forth.
> > But what I want to know is for general use (like a little 4-wheeling)and
> > you've got the 4.6 V8 did you wish you had gotten the 5.4 V8 or if you
> > have the 5.4 V8 is it worth the extra?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Kevin
> > --
> > +-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
> > | Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
> > | List removal instructions on the website. |
> > +----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+
>
>
>
> +-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
> | Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
> | List removal instructions on the website. |
> +----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+
>

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 09:14:51 -0700
From: Jay Murphy
Subject: [none]

I have a question concerning tire pressure for a 97 F150 (5.4 L, tow pkg,
17" wheels). The factory sticker on the driver's door specifies tire
pressure of 29 psi for the front and 32 psi for the rear. I assume that
these pressures are for "normal" driving without a heavy load. Can someone
explain why the lower pressure for the front? What pressures should I use
if I'm carrying a heavy load or towing? It seems to me that other vehicles
I've owned had front tire pressure greater than the rear.

Thanks,

Jay Murphy
jay.murphy asu.edu

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 09:15:57 -0700
From: Jay Murphy
Subject: F150 Tire Pressures

I have a question concerning tire pressure for a 97 F150 (5.4 L, tow pkg,
17" wheels). The factory sticker on the driver's door specifies tire
pressure of 29 psi for the front and 32 psi for the rear. I assume that
these pressures are for "normal" driving without a heavy load. Can someone
explain why the lower pressure for the front? What pressures should I use
if I'm carrying a heavy load or towing? It seems to me that other vehicles
I've owned had front tire pressure greater than the rear.

Thanks,


Jay Murphy
jay.murphy asu.edu

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 12:21:47 -0500
From: Zach Whitehill
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

Kevin Hutchinson wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> I am deciding on the F-150 I want to order and I would like to know
> which engine to get. I understand if your going tow or not and so forth.
> But what I want to know is for general use (like a little 4-wheeling)and
> you've got the 4.6 V8 did you wish you had gotten the 5.4 V8 or if you
> have the 5.4 V8 is it worth the extra?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kevin
> --
> +-------------- Ford Truck Enthusiasts - 1997 and Newer --------------+
> | Send posts to fordtrucks97up listservice.net, |
> | List removal instructions on the website. |
> +----------------- Site: http://www.ford-trucks.com -----------------+
HEY THERE,
I HAVE A 97' F150 WITH THE 5.4L AND 3:55 GEARS. I ALSO GOT 285-75 R16
BF GOODRICH ALL MUD-TERRAINS AND I'VE EVEN RAN OUT OF POWER IN DEEP MUD
BEFORE AND HAVE HAD TO GO INTO 4 LOW. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF
YOUR GOING TO PLAY IN THE MUD, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TO MUCH POWER, GO WITH
THE 5.4L

ZACH

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 12:29:50 -0500
From: "Union Auto"
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

From my experience the 4.6L gets about 2-3 MPG better than the 5.4L. Both
can get good mileage but if you have a heavy foot they can get poor mileage
as well. We have many farmers (who need HD 3/4 ton trucks but had to have
the new style in Jan 96) who pull 20'+ livestock trailers (the rear
suspension gets fully compressed on one truck and is still going with 50K
miles) and have no complaints about the 4.6L (only thing available at the
time they bought). We have never had to put a rear end in any of these
trucks. If I were buying one I would get the 5.4L mileage were an issue I
would get the 4.6L. If they would put 3.73 gears with the 4.6L in a F-150
that would be ideal.

Nathan Bernard
Union Auto, Inc.
Union, IA 50258

- -----Original Message-----
From: Bill
To: fordtrucks97up ListService.net
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 1998 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?


>Hi Kevin, my son has a 1997 F150 4X4 w/ 4.6 V8, Trailer tow package and
>3.55 rear axle. Occasionally tows a 24' travel trailer. He tells me power
>wise its very near the same as his old F-150 with 300 6 cylinder. He's
also
>been thru 2 rear ends, both replaced by Ford under warranty. He can't
wait
>for the lease to come due so he can get a F-250 and larger engine. He gets
>about 8 or 9 MPG towing, I know people towing with the 5.4 and they seem to
>average 10 to 11 MPG towing. As per your question of general use, he tells
>me the 5.4 is the only way to go, but check the read end problem Ford had
in
>the 97's, see if its still a problem in the 98's. Good luck on you choice
>and hope you enjoy the pickup. Bill

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 14:08:50 -0500 (CDT)
From: Robert Hill
Subject: Re: F150 Tire Pressures

I run 35 lbs in my tires when not loaded and as much as 50 in the rear
when towing.

Bob

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 17:57:12 EDT
From: John941
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

>From personal experience and having the privledge of owning some really nice
trucks over the years-if you think you want it and can afford it, get it. Go
for the larger engine and then you will avoid the years of owning the truck
and always saying I wish I had got the bigger engine.
John

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 19:43:56 -0400
From: "Ann Mitchell"
Subject: Re: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?

- -----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Hutchinson
To: fordtrucks97up ListService.net
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 1998 9:31 AM
Subject: 4.6 v 5.4 V8?


I bought a F150 supercab 4x4 with the 5.4. So far no complaints. There's
plenty of horsepower and torque for 4wheelin and towing. If you plan to tow
get the auto tranny and HD electrical and cooling package. I'm getting 15
mpg and would probably get 13 if I had a 5.4L. I couldn't justify the added
drop in gas mileage for 10 more HP. A K&N airfilter and a catback exhaust
modification will get you 10 HP and improve your gas mileage.

Steve

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Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 00:33:30 -0400
From: Ken Payne
Subject: ADMIN: Pardon our mess

Our web site news....

Well, the new server is live. It caught me by surprize. Internic
usually takes 2-3 weeks to update a DNS entry to I applied today
to get the domain transferred over. I figured this would give
my a week or two to get everything working. Well, just when you
thought you could count on an organization to be slow they did
the update in 8 hours!

So now the new server is active, but many things on it will be
broken for the next few days (including chat, sorry). Current
list services are paid for through May 18th so I have 4 weeks
to get the new mailing lists working. One item in the works, a....

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