I currently drive a 04 F250 SC 4x4. It has a 5.4 with 78,000 on the clock. I haul a jeep and four wheelers. I need a crew cab due to my son out growing the Scab. I have started hearing a ticking noise from the motor, it soukds like an exhaust leak. I have had it to three shops including the local Ford dealership and no one can find anything wrong. I am considering going back down to a F150. I had a 97 with 4.6 and loved it. I found a 04 Lariat with 50,000 on it for 15,000. The 5.4 in my F250 is starting to scare me away from buying another 5.4. Should I be worried about buying another 5.4?

 

well the 5.4L has a tick thats caused by the cam phaser, but i see no point in downgrading your suspension and frame for the same motor, if you got a 4.6 you might have better luck but the power would be less

 

Cam phasers seem to be a pretty common culprit that give off a ticking sound. Might wanna research that, I've never had a problem with mine so I can't offer any first-hand advice. Sorry. I love my 5.4, besides those stupid spark plugs <shakes fist in air>.

I'm not positive but I think ford fixed the problem with the cam phasers in later models like '06 and later? someone correct me lol.

 

i'm not sure they fixed it but when i worked at ford we had warranty jobs on 07's and even 08's with that ticking
</shakes>

 

how can I tell if the moter is 3 valve or 2 valve? I am needing a crewcab and for the price of the 04 F150 vs a couple of F250's I have found I don't know if I can justify the extra money for a F250. If I bought another F250 it would be a diesel. There is the big cost is the engine.

 

should say right on the intake, generally the newer 5.4's are 3v

 

any V-8 2004-2008 F-150 with the new body style has either a 5.4 3v, or a 4.6 2v


I wouldn't be scared of the 5.4 motor. It's a pretty solid motor


make sure whatever you find has the Tow Package (4 pin, 7 pin wiring harness)

 

Really? Crap.
I was hoping that the ticking coming from my engine was from something else. Since I have an 08, I was trying to eliminate the camphasers thinking that Ford had fixed the problem.

 

All F150 5.4's above 2003 are the new 3 valve engines. Starting with 20004's your ok.

 

4.6 has a smaller rear axle compared to the 5.4 .... I would get the larger axle if towing its good insurance

 

I'm pretty sure the 4.6L is a 3 valve as well. that is what the triton stands for. That's what I have, and I think it makes pretty good power. I haul a motorcycle regularly and have hauled a buick from ft. drum NY to Ft. Campbell KY with no problems.

 

NOT TRUE

the old body style was available through the 2004 model year

at the same time, the new body style was available

so in 2004, there are 2 distinctively different F-150's available. You have to be very careful when purchasing them...and especially so when buying parts for them.

old body = 5.4 with 2v
new body = 5.4 with 3v

nope. 4.6 is the 2v in the F-150 from 1997 to 2008. The 2009 year models introduced the 3v 4.6 for the F-150.in addition, the Triton stands for the Truck version of the Modular engine (4.6 or 5.4). The 4.6/5.4 are available in cars, but aren't called Triton motors in that application.