Father-in-law has a 1998 F-150 Super Cab 4x4 with the 3rd door for sale.

I've debated several times on buying it, and now I think it's now or never.

I've always kinda-sorta liked these trucks, but I've never bought one. The newest F-150 that I've had is the 1994 that I have now.

The truck has the 4.6L and it is an automatic.

The only experience I've had with a 4.6L is in a 1997 Thunderbird with 70,000 miles on it. The original owner that I bought it from said that it had a head gasket recall in 1998, and both had been replaced at the dealer (she had all of the documentation).

Did the 1998 F-150 4.6L have any head gasket problems?

Overall, I guess what I'm getting at, I'm skiddish of buying this new of a truck, even though it is 8 years old.

I've ALWAYS had a pushrod-V8 truck, and if I get this one, I'll be going to a DOHC V8 powerplant. I'm just trying to see what kind of luck that ya'll have had out of your own.

The truck just rolled over to 140k last week. He drives it 50 miles a day, and it's been really good to him.

Also, is there anything that I REALLY need to watch out for on these trucks? (Electrical issues, structural, etc.?)

Thanks, fellas!

Nightrain

 

i have 265k on my truck and still going but the weak link was the drivetrain......the transfercase exactly so I removed the ESOF OEM transfercase and added a aftermarket "atlas" transfercase and am very happy I did since this stopped the problem.
I am considering rebuilding the engine soon, other than that it's a good truck/

 

Transfer case, eh?

I never expected that one...

I'm guessing these are chain drive units, like almost all the rest.

What happened to your t-case?

Thanks for your response.

Nightrain

 

I can't think of any major pattern failures, there are little things like the door latch switches sticking and leaving your dome light on, all doors get a small crack in the paint at the base of the window. I have about 210K on my '97 5.4L and have had no real problems. Alt. went out about 10K ago, rear U joints went bad at about 150K (mainly because I went to 33" tires), rear wheel seal started to leak at about 180K (33" tires again) I just had my sifter linkage get loose on me and had to have it all tightened back up and my cluster lights all burned out at about 180K (I drive with my lights on all the time) I'd say I have $1500 in repairs in it and about another $1500 in maintenance in it. If it is well maintained they should go 300K miles with no major problems IMO.

One nice thing is the 4.6L still has the coil packs in '98 so you won't have the 8--$$50-100ea. COP's crapping out on you.

I found that when I quit driving mine 70+ miles a day thats when more things started failing, they like to be driven.

 

I have a 97 and it has been pretty good so far. It has its small stuff that me and a million other people have problems with, but all in all its been pretty good.

 

The transfer cases in these trucks are generally reliable....as long as they have oil in them
I've seen a couple with leaks that were bad enough that they lost all their oil and burned up. You'd think the owners would notice the puddles underneath but apparently not.
Some of these engines had head gaskets that would leak oil. The most common place it shows up is above the starter. If it's not leaking yet it probably never will though.
Ball joints and tie rod ends wear out occasionally. Not too big of a deal but something to be aware of.

 

Thanks fer all of the replies.

It doesn't sound like they give any more trouble than any of the other Fords I've had... (Which don't get me wrong... It ain't been much).

I'll let ya'll know how it all turns out!

BTW, do ya'll think the truck is worth $7k?

1998 F-150 Extended Cab XLT 4WD
4.6L
Automatic
Third Door
Power Everything
Rust-Free Body
Good Paint
Good Glass
Bedliner

Only thing I've noticed is that it needs a set of tires.

Nightrain

 

I have a 97 supercab with 400000km on it (I think that's about 250000 miles). I bought it fairly recently, but have been very impressed by the workmanship and the fact that it drives like a new vehicle. I did the ball joints and a few other things, but mostly just regular maintenance. Probably my only complaint is changing spark plugs, a very time consuming affair (it's the 4.6).

 

Ummmmmm, that'a 4.6L SOHC, just to be picky DOHC's, like the Lincoln Mark's have, have two cams per head.

My '98 4.6L SOHC P71 Crown Vic has 103000 police service miles and 67000 me miles (170000) and runs like a scalded dog! It will puff a little smoke after idleing for an extended time though. I just bought a '98 F150 S.Cab 4x4 4.6L with 163000 miles on it but haven't driven it enough to give a report on it. I always liked the 5.0 HO push rod motors best but the 4.6L SOHC's have changed my mind!

 

I've got a 98 F-150 4wd Off Road and it's been a very good truck for 117k miles now. The only major part I've had to replace was the alternator. I've changed the plugs out once and since I rotate the tires at 5k intervals I'm only on my 2nd set of tires and brakes. It's been a very easy on the pocket book on operating costs.

Minor issues are a couple of the dash lamps are out and I had to swap the heat/air **** out because it started slipping.

Only negative I have is that I wished it had 4 doors but have managed to live with 3 doors for 8+ years now

I wouldn't hessitate to head out cross country in it.

$7k sounds pretty good considering they listed at $30K when new.
I would recommend going to one of those blue book web sites to get a ball park price to see what they're worth.
I haven't checked the resale value out I guess because I haven't thought of trading it yet

 

Ahh, my bad...

An engine website that I looked up said that the 4.6L in the F-150 was a DOHC.

I'm fairly-doggone sure I'm going to get this truck.

I'm going to drive her again, and give another once over...

If it satisfies me once again, she'll be mine.

Thanks fer all of the replies!

Nightrain