I have just purchased a 1999 F-150 2 wheel drive with a 4.2 V6. Are there any issues with these motors? I am completely new to these gassers and am trying to learn everything i can.

 

Well,
Honestly...they're a little under powered for a 9-10 thousand pound pickup...even unloaded. Heck even the 4.6 that I have is underpowered for what it is. If you do a search of the forum Im sure youll find all the issues that folks have been having .
-Chris

 

9-10K lbs? A 2wd with a 4.2L will come in around if not under 5Klbs

They had head gasket issues in the first few years but I think they fixed that by '99

 

My 06 2wd regular cab 2wd only weighs 4600lbs. A 99 is probably under 4000lbs.

 

The 9-10 k was meaning loaded...or towing ie like GVW.... truck plus whatever is being towed or hauled so say unloaded you wiegh in at 4,500 lbs...and your towing a 2,000- 3,000 lb car on a trailer your total weight will prolly be around 9,000 lbs or so. Thats the reason why I said " even unloaded" after that.

Sorry if that confused anybody. In other words what I was saying was that the 4.2 will be sluggish no matter what the condition....towing or empty.
-Chris

 

Ive driven my grandfather's '04 F-150 Heritage (regular cab, 4x2, XL, 4.2L with auto tranny) and its got plenty of power up to about 70 mph. It might not be a ground-pounding tire-smoker, but its got plenty to get the job done.

 

My dad has a '04 extended cab 4x2 Heritage as a company truck, and it has more than enough power for him. He's even squealed the tires on accident a few times (and he's an old guy that drives like one )

 

I've seen the 4.2 doing nearly everything that a 5.4 will do, short of pulling a 5th wheel, which I wouldn't do with a half ton anyway. My company, plus other utility companies in the area use them. We get 220 - 280K miles out of them if they don't get wrecked. Keep in mind this is with 5500 mile oil change intervals and very little preventative maintenance. I'm not condoning this... my company vehicles are very well taken care of.

 

The 4.2 has never had a head gasket issue! The 97s and some of the 98s have lower intake gasket problems.Also,the 97s and some of the 98s had timing cover gasket issues.A recall was done for the 97s but not the 98s.

 

I don't think I'd be pulling much with a 4.2L V6! Certainly not 5000 pounds...

 

Thanks guys. underpowered doesnt mean all that much. It has more jam than my diesel and there is no way i would even think of putting a load on it. Maybe a sled or a quad but this is mainly going to be my run around truck.

 

My point exactly haha. If youre just using it as a commuter then it should be ok.
-Chris

 

At least use to bed to justify getting a truck for a daily driver, you could get a focus for that . I use mine for hauling a 373lb. quad, and thats all the hauling if will ever do. It does it at least every weekend though, if not a couple times.

 

Isn't the towing wieght for a 97 f150 4.2L xlt extended cab 7500LBS?

 

Two weeks ago, I bought a used 1999 4.2L V6 2-wheel drive, F-150 with 175,000 miles on it and a complete maintenance history, with only synthetic oil used and it changed every 5,000 miles.

My issues seem to be common ones. One is that the digital odometer goes out now and then, but this is covered in the FAQs and I'll have a try at fixing any cold solder joints in the instrument circuit board.

Another is the "door ajar" light sometimes coming on even though the dome light is off and the warning chime isn't sounding. (I found something in the FAQs that suggests this might be cured with a generous spray of WD-40.)

Another is a loud buzzing/vibrating sound from beneath the vehicle. I crawled under and it seems to be coming from the rear transmission mount. I'd be interested in knowing whether it is a common problem and if there is a fix and about what a new mount might cost.

I plan to do some hauling of freight next week, and wonder if I can get away with loading 1,500 pounds into the bed? The pickup is a long box type and the "safety compliance label" on the driver side door pillar says: GVWR 5600 lb/ 2540 kg, Front GAWR 2800 lb/ 1270 kg, Rear GAWR 2900 lb/ 1315 kg. The tires are P235/70R.

Would be very grateful for any comments!