Well I'm a die hard ford guy I currently own 4 super dutys, a 2010 auto 6.4, a 2005 auto 6.0, 1999 6 speed 7.3, and a 1999 5 speed 5.4. I can't say enough good things about my diesels, but this 5.4 is killing me. The only reason I bought a gas engine is so I can always count on it to start when it gets really cold. Well it will do that, but it has zero power and the tranny feels terrible. So in what direction should I go to replace it? I need something that starts when its -15, has enough power to pull a 24 ft cattle trailer at 75 mph, and under 7500 bucks. Looking at my options I can't see a ford diesel because the 7.3's are just cold blooded, and 6.0's and 6.4's are out of my price range. I don't want another 5.4, but what about the 6.8 v10. The only other ford option I really have is a 460 and after than I'm looking at either a dodge 12 valve cummins, chevy 454, or chevy 350. Enough with the let's hear some opinions.

 

V10 with 4.30 gears is a good choice.

 

do you feel like spending about $1,500 (4x4), or $700 (4x2) vice getting a new truck?

regear your 5.4 truck to a 4.30 or 4.56 gearset. The added gear reduction will make a huge improvement in pulling power. Your highway RPM at speed will be about 200-300 RPM higher however.

also, the 99 motors were a Non-PI. Swap the heads and intake to a PI version. Good for about +40 HP with tuning.


otherwise, a V-10 does sound good. You can help the 5.4 2v out some, but there isn't a huge amount of improvement without spending a ton of cash.


Besides, I'm always a fan of the bigger motor. 6.8 > 5.4 IMO

 

I second the V10, but on a budget of $7500 will be hard to find one with a decent amount of miles. But I hear about V10's with over 300,000 miles I would try to find something closer to 100,000 miles or less. Sell the 5.4L and start looking for a V10. Also go over to the V10 forum and start reading. The earlier V10's have a problem with the spark plugs poping out, but they fixed that I think around 2003, when they went from the 2 valve head to the 3 valve head.

I am sure someone with a little more knowledge will chime in.

 

The v-10s are great motors. My dad has a 2000 with 260,000 miles on it and hasn't had any engine problems. We snow plow and he pulls a Large trailer everyday and has done a thing to it.

 

V10 the 460 will probably get the same amount of MPG's anyway if that is a factor into yuor decision making. i love my V10 though.

 

We have a 460 at work and not only does it not get as good of MPG's, but it doesn't have the same power as a V10. Anyway, either re-gear it as others have said or look for a higher mileage V10. For some reason the general public gets worried when odometers get about 150K. I've seen a few work-truck style Super Dutys around here in the $5K-$6K range and even one very nice crew cab Lariat with a 4" lift and nice wheels go for $10K with 150K miles. I almost bought it, thinking it had been cared to from day one and likely had at least another 100K of trouble free driving, at which point I could just buy a $4000 long block, install it myself and keep going.

 

I agree with this. Regearing can make a big difference. That truck probably has 3.73 gears in it right now, not really meant for towing big loads.

Otherwise, you could sell it ant get a V-10. This will get you more power but you will still want to make sure it has at least 4.10 gears or it's not going to be a huge difference over the 5.4.

I wouldn't suggest going with an older truck with a 460. Your 5.4 has about the same power as a 460, so you would still be in the same boat.

A couple other things to think about:

1. Sounds like this is a backup truck that will spend most of its time sitting. If this is the case, I wouldn't count on it to start on those -15 or colder mornings any more than the diesels.

2. You don't NEED to tow your cattle trailer at 75 mph, that's what you WANT to do. You will still get where you are going at 55-60 mph, it will just take a little longer. I never go over about 65 when pulling a trailer, even if I have enough power to go faster.

 

To the OP... What is your Zip Code?

 

The change to 3v in the gassers happened in 2005, it was the diesels that changed to the 6.0 in 2003.

I've got a 3v 5.4 and I wouldn't want to try pulling a loaded 24' stock trailer at 75mph w/ it. I'm sure it would do it, for a little while anyway, but I'd probably be running 7,000rpm and getting 2mpg. Not to mention it would take me 10 miles to get up to speed. You should be looking at a v10, gears alone aren't going to solve your problems on a 1999 5.4.

Even w/ a v10 pulling a load that big, that fast you'll be getting abysmal mpg. For those not familiar w/ stock trailers, the load he's talking about could easily be pushing, if not exceeding, 20,000lbs. Seems like it would make more sense to keep one of the diesels in tip-top shape and always plugged in or inside a heated building.

 

The extra thread count in the heads was started in the 03' MY for the SD gassers.

The 5.4l is the base engine and it doesn't have a lot of power. Your 99' has th enon PI 2V which has around 235hp. Shifting the gas engine like you do the diesels your used to will only make it worse. Even with a gear change the engine 5.4l will be down on power and run out of breath in the upper rpm range. The V10 with the 4.30s will be a good choice but choice but it delivers power diferently than the diesel so you can't shift it like a diesel. Just the way its when you compare an NA engine and force induction engine.

 

I would pick one of those diesels and just plug it in every night. Even if you had to run a generator to do it. Otherwise you don't have the budget to get what you want.

 

do you have access to a heated garage for the PSDs? Even a small lean-to that blocks off the air at night will do the trick. plug in a simple wall heater and keep the temps about 50-60F

several ways to skin a cat man

 

Have a 460 and a V10 in family.
V10 is consistently 1-2 mpg better, and more power.

 

Pfft, you don't even need that. Mine 07 will start unplugged at way colder than I want to be outside. Last winter I want to say it was closer to 10 or 15 below and my 07 started without an issue. Unplugged.