Hey guys, I'm looking at getting into a 2001 4.2 F250 sometime in 2013, and later looking to purchase a 5th wheel caravan to tow.

I've found two 4.2L F250s with 5sp manuals in Victoria for under $50K, one has a full service history and one owner.

I'd like a 7.3 but I can't justify the extra $20K they want for the dual cab models, I can't justify $70K for something with 300,000km on the clock.

I'm an auto electrician and I'd also like to use the ute for work use, carting tools around and around the home stuff like carting crap to the tip.

What are the 4.2L trucks like? How are they on fuel? 95% of my driving is country highway at 100km/h, I very rarely have to go through traffic.

How big are the fuel tanks? The ads list 100L, I've seen some 7.3s with a 270L tank, is it possible to have one of those on the 4.2s for extended range?

I'd like a 6 seater dual cab, as I do tend to take people with me fairly often when I'm going out.

Thanks much guys.

 

Im no expert but these arent worth the money they once was. I would look around a little more if i was you. with the economy there are bargains everywhere and you will buy a 7.3 truck for 50k.
Ive only driven one 4.2 truck and i wasnt impressed, at that time i had only driven v8 petrol f trucks and driven a couple 7.3 trucks, trust me once you drive a 7.3 you wont have a 4.2.
As for tanks, not sure about a 270 litre but mine, my brothers old ex cab and his single cab have 140 litre tanks but most crew cabs ive seen have 110 litre tanks.
A mate of mine has a crew cab for sale for 55k, done 170k, has had a torque converter and valve body, got 20 inch rims with 35 inch tyres (new);

 

At least with the 7.3 you WON'T be wishing you got the bigger one.

There's been a couple of 4.2 reviews on the forum - Diesel Sub rates them for their bullet proof toughness - he's seen them absolutely thrashed day in day out and never fail. Mind you, a 4.2 in these big units and you'd wouldn't often ever be taking it easy would you?

The 270ltr tank is an aftermarket tank - called the Long Ranger Extended which is made for the 4x4 crew cab.

Do some research here and on the US forum to get a few ideas what to look for. On the 7.3 it is common knowledge that the auto trans (the R4-100) is the weakest point. Having said that you can get a fully rebuilt heavy duty unit freighted in from the US for aound $6k from one of the two specialist transmission builders over there.

As post above, I would not be paying $70k for a unit with 300k K on it unless there were receipts for a lot of new stuff, and it drove pretty much like a newish truck!

 

A local guy here has had 2 that have lunched on themselves.

Also the 4.2 i drove, he used it to tow his boat (biggish 22-23 foot) sold it and bought a 7.3, more expensive to run when not towing, but cheaper than the 4.2 when he is towing.

 

I used to be the engineer at FoMoCo on the Effies that were sold in Aus.

The 4.2's are very tough (as is the rest of the drivetrain). They suffer (badly) from turbo lag under 1600rpms, and aren't hugely strong above that either, but if you aren't running a race you probably don't care... that said the comparable Patrol/Landcruisers of similar vintage were hardly rocketships. They only came with the manual trans (which is good - as the 7.3's only came with the auto in the crew cab... and they can have a habit of going bang).
Early 4.2's only had lightweight springs underneath them at the front, so they can sag. Check the spring codes, and look to see if the vehicle is sitting straight (they start to sag more on the drivers side).

As for fuel, they don't use much less than a 7.3, probably around 14l/100k on the highway depending on driving style/what you are towing. They are "tractor" engines... i.e. completely mechanical, unlike the 7.3 which has electronic controlled injection, which means its much more likely that your local diesel mechanic will be able to work on it.


The size of the fuel tank is 113l for crewcabs (all Aus delivered crew cabs came with the 6.75' "short-bed") if I remember correctly. The fuel tank for super and single cabs is ~147l (both only came to Aus as long beds). The duallies delivered here had 150l tanks (narrow-chassis)

The only issue I foresee with the 4.2 is getting parts for the engine. The 7.3's are pretty much exactly the same as what was in the states, so getting parts for them is easy, but the only other markets where the 4.2 was sold was South Africa and Argentina/Brazil (where they have been sold with them since the 80's)

 

Thanks much guys! Excellent to have a Ford engineer here

With the 4.2 turbo lag, is this something you can fix with aftermarket turbo/exhaust and a tune? That avenue would be an option for me, and all mechanical injection sounds awesome, less to go wrong I guess

 

Hey mate, We used to have a 7.3, i wont say they arnt good but we now have a 4.2 and i think it is better than the 7.3, We treat the 4.2 (which is a RN XL tray top) with no mercy, we use it on the farm and it travels up nortern SA alot with a 23 ft gooseneck loaded with cattle, have at times hat 2 tonne of hay on the tray and still sat on 95km/h and got great milage from it. I would buy a 4.2 any day again, the wife loves it and it is a solid lil vehicle if thats what you are after, i cant say enough how hard we treat it and it just asks for more and more. As for parts, we have not had a problem YET, if i find something i buy it just to take up north so we have spares but so far havnt needed to fix anything. Highly recomend putting airbags inder the rear axles, just rides so much better as they get a bit bouncy after 400km of dirt roads. Highly recomend it, Matt

 

You can't "tune" the 4.2 like most diesels now days them because its all mechanical, you could probably do the old way of turning up the injection pump (although to be honest, I wouldn't know how it's done). Exhaust might get a few more hp, don't know - the 4.2's were almost exclusively bought by mining companies/rail etc. so I doubt many of them have been modified for performance.

Give one a drive, you might not find it that bad... but if you have driven a 7.3 you will definitely notice it.

 

Part of the fun of the 7.3 is that there is such a vast amount of knowledge, know-how, & after market parts for them. Anything you want you can freight across from the US. My 7.3 front was sagging & I freighted over a 'levelling kit' - bolted straight on, works a treat.
Having said that, if you find a good 4.2 and like it, go for it - you'll never have to worry about the drive train, but your engine parts/mods will be limited. If you're happy to keep it stock then that isn't a big problem either!

 

^^^x2, i know a guy that wanted to put a new con rod in his, could not get the factory torque specs, dealership wouldn tell, and there is no manual to find out.

stock be ok, but nothing aftermarket for them

 

So, was the 4.2 engine used for anything else? You'd think the same engine would have been used in another vehicle or tractor or something - and you might be able to get the engine specs via one of its other uses.

 

It's made by cummins so you would think it was!!

 

Hey Andy. Any idea how much lift is on that truck. I have 2.5" on mine and my 35" on 20" rims wont fit.

 

pretty sure its 6 inch, they clear real easy. He sell the wheels if ya wanted!!!!!

 

It was fitted to effies sold in South America and South Africa of similar vintage.
Its fitted to other similar vehicles in South America as well.
The new ones made in South America use the 3.9l Cummins (different motor)

The 4.2 sold here is made by MWM (A Brazilian company), which has since been bought by International.

I have attached the only docs (Maintenance manual) I have on the engine (doesn't give things like torque specs unfortunately etc.)