I am looking for a truck...very new to the truck world.

How good of a combo is the 4.2 with auto trans & 4x4???

What is a '98 F150 XL Short Bed worth with that combo (49,000 miles)?

The truck is extremely clean, two tone paint, alloys and has sliding rear window & bedliner.

Thanks...any comments and advice would be appreciated.

Tom

 

I'd tend to stay away from the 4.2, both of my mechanincs tell me that they are designed so poor that when you change the oil, it take a minute or two for the oil to actually reach the engine, in fact both mechanincs told me that those people ended up having to replace the engine, at ford's expense, the engines had no more than 60,000 miles on them..... wish they still offered the stright six

 

The "KellyBlueBook" price is $12,045. But with that 4.2 I wouldn't touch it. They are not knowen for lasting to long. Good Luck!

1979 F-150 4x4 351M C-6 NP205
2001 Ranger XL

 

I just picked up a 4X2 1999 F150 XL 4.2 with auto and 68/K miles for $9000. I checked this machine out upside down and sideways. The 4.2 starts first time, and runs strong. No smoke, no leaks, no noises, no hesitations, compression is normal and even on all cyl. The truck runs and drives beautifully. To me it seems to have enough power, but not an excessive amount. It does not have the push a V8 would, and I didn't expect that it would either, but I know if I had to I can get out of the way. I avoided the 4 cyl models like the plague, and specifically looked for a 6 cyl in a Ranger or the 6 cyl or small 8 cyl in the F series because I knew the 4 cyl was weak in the Ranger. I've had the 6 cyl Ranger before and had NO problems with that motor other than valve cover leaks after over 100/K miles. If your used to a larger machine or vehicle with a V8, like my 2002 Trans Am, your going to think its slower because it is. If you drive a smaller car like a Honda then its going to feel more powerful. Many truck owners like big motors and that feel only a nice V8 can give you. Not a thing wrong with that. It depends on what you are going to do with your truck. I got mine to do some light commuting and more specifically to allow me to say NO to "do you want this delivered for $50?". I just bought a house and will need lumber, furniture, appliances, landscaping stuff etc etc etc etc. So for a few years I'll need a truck for practical purposes. It will not be bounced relentlessly around a construction site hauling 1 ton loads. I might suggest going to review sites and see what actual owners have to say. EPinions is one good such site and the F150 got great ratings and reviews. Either way, good luck. Good clean used trucks are almost impossible to find at any price. I looked for two days straight and found NOTHING 4, 6 or 8 cyl in the 1997 to 1999 year range in Ranger or F series. The wife and I were going out to a late dinner after the second day of running, and she spotted my truck in the used car lot at a Nissan dealership 4 miles from the house no less. Carfax was also clean showing no major accidents and NO major mechanical work in the vehicles history. I take pretty good care of my vehicles in that I keep them waxed, keep the maintainence up to date, and do the oil change regularly so I hope to have no troubles with my Ford. So far so good....

 

depends on what u want to do with it?, i personally would not own a full sized pickup with a v6..i just like the power of the v8, and haveing that extra power if you need it, but thats just me

if u just buzz around town and just need it for lawn stuff and that sort, why not just save the gas on a v6..i personally go off paved roads alot on dirt/rock/no roads lol, at lakes, shooting ranges, and other things like that, so a v8 is sometimes more practical if im going to be hauling something in an offroad situation

 

we have a couple f150 4 x 2s with the 4.2L, one with about 168,000 and one with about 110,000. No problems out of either of them.

I would buy one myself, not enough power, especially when in a heavy 4 x 4.

 

 

I have a 98 F-150 xl with a 4.2 liter and it has 175000 miles on it. The only problem I've had of it was the linkage cable came unhooked and the people i bought it from left the bolt that holds the caliper on the brakes off. That's it