you all ever noticed...

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Jan 2, 2004 | 09:45 AM

ibf250

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you all ever noticed...

that the diesel guys are all saying that the diesel is the best engine ever and that the v-10 wont pull anything and that the 5.4 shouldnt even be in a truck. the v-10 guys all say the diesel is a waste of money and the 5.4 wont pull anything. the 5.4 guys all say the v-10 drinks gas and the 4.6 wont pull anything. nobody seems to think any engine but their own will pull anything and i seem to be about the only one that is really pleased with the way the 5.4 pulls lol. i guess thats why they give us so many different engine choices. plus, it gives us reason to join forums like this one

Jan 2, 2004 | 10:01 AM

ggarrahan

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From: Saratoga USA

I have a 5.4 in my 2003 King Ranch Super Cab. The power is very good considering that it's only 330 cubic inches. But, I still think that it's a relatively small displacement motor for a truck, and I've never driven the truck with a load in it. Also, I don't understand why Ford is so hot on the OHC motors, the 5.4 is physically as large as a 460, but with 130 less cubes, and is hard to work on, even in a truck (try changing the plugs, even the oil filter is a pain to access in my 2wd model). It's really WIDE! I remember the old Windsor series of V-8s, those engines were so nice, small, and compact, had the distributor in front (great location for service), were very reliable, and could really put out the power! Oh well, maybe the 5.4 will be so reliable that I won't ever need to work on it.

Jan 2, 2004 | 10:13 AM

ibf250

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ive never had a bit of trouble pulling anything with my 5.4. used to pull a 6 horse trailer with six cattle plus a big bale of hay and only had to down shift out of 5th to go up a hill. as long as i can keep it above 2k rpm itll pull anything i put behind it with relative ease. i have noticed that a lot of the people complaining about the 5.4 have crew cabs and 3.73 gears, etc. but i am really pleased with mine. just about everyone in my family has ford truck, 300's, 302's, 351, and a 460 and i would take the 5.4 over any of them.

Jan 2, 2004 | 10:20 AM

ggarrahan

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From: Saratoga USA

Well, it's good to know that the 5.4 will pull like that, very impressive with a trailer and 3 cattle. Those must weigh in at about 600-700 pounds each, right? (I don't know much about agriculture). Years ago, a 330 CID motor would be considered small, like a 318 or 327. Times change I guess! I'll say one thing, my 5.4 starts fast, and is really smooth, plus has a good sound to when you get into it, even with the stock exhaust!

Jan 2, 2004 | 10:51 AM

ibf250

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the cattle weighed between 600-1000# each depending on their age. not sure what the trailer weighed, but i would estimate in the 3-5k range. so a total weight of around 10k on average. which is only 1k over what ford recommends pulling with it. all i pull now is a car hauler and race car, maybe 5500k, and the only time i have to downshift is if it gets below 45 mph going up a hill. speed limit is only 45 going to the track and its really hilly, so i usually just leave it in 4th the whole trip. its not the best puller out there by far, but it just makes me laugh seeing these guys saying that their deisel pulled a 70k tractor trailer out of a ditch, with 3 feet of mud, starting out in 5th gear, and didnt even have to mash the gas either. and then say the 5.4 shouldnt even be in a truck.

Jan 2, 2004 | 11:02 AM

ibf250

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and i agree about the old windsors being easier to work on too. ive got a 69 351W in a mustang i race and its the easiest car to work on ive ever had. has a total of about 3 wires and can change the oil filter from up top. ive not had to work on this truck yet, but it cant be any worse than the turbo coupes from 87-88. its almost easier to rebuild the engine on those things every few thousand miles than it is to change the oil or plugs lol.

Jan 3, 2004 | 02:35 AM

LxMan1

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From: Louisville,Ky.

I know what you mean about the TurboCoupes, but have you looked at a 89-up SuperCoupe? They are even worse. Nothing but blower plumbing everywhere.
That weight on an aluminum horse trailer sounds kinda high, but who knows.
I pull around 6000# with my 01 5.4L with 3.55 gears. I would highly suggest 3.73 or 4.10 for towing. It does ok once you get rolling, but my 77 with a worn out 460 will outpull the 01 and it has 32" tall tires and a 3.00 gear in it.
The 01 is trouble free, a/c'd and gets better gas mileage. For 330 CI, I can't complain.
Jimmy