alright, so, i have an 89 f150- 5 speed, 300, beautiful new paint job. It was my grandfather's. My dad's boss is selling a 04 f-150 that was used as a commercial vehicle, and i could buy it for very cheap considering the miles it has on it. It's an extended cab, with the 5.4. I know its a personal opinion, and i really like both trucks. the thing is, if i sell my truck for that, i think i would really regret it. I have heard alot of bad things about tritons and i am skeptical about how reliable it would be compared to the six. I have drove a new f150 and they aren't all that powerful. what would some of you guys do?

 

Are you happy with what you've got?

 

I think we know which one will be running a few years down the pike, and it uses fewer spark plugs, too. Nothing against the Triton, but from the problems with the cam chain tensioners, coolant seepage, and whatnot, it is not as durable as the 6. I'd call it a more delicate and sophisticated design. Still don't know why they went OHC.
If you don't plan on keeping one or the other long term, it really doesn't matter.
tom

 

Keep the 300 cuz it's been in the family. Company trucks are usually plain janes, and they are more than likely beat

 

I own one of each, both are in the sig. Keep the 6. I love my Lightning and wouldn't trade if for anything, but if I had to drive it everyday and do normal maintenance on it I would go crazy. The fact that changing the plugs on a 5.4 will cost you around $350 should be enough of a deterrent. One other queston to ask is which 04 is it? They made the new body style that year as well as a heritage edition in the old body style. The newer body style has the 3V 5.4 in it and they are very well known for the spark plugs breaking off in the heads costing thousands of dollars to repair.

My old 300 keeps on ticking at 323k miles and the whole truck is solid as a rock. My sig says no squeaks or rattles, but I got my first rattle a few weeks ago in the driver's door panel. Full coverage insurance is about $400/year, it makes lots of torque, and it gets reasonable mileage. Newer truck=higher insurance, no torque and probably worse mileage.

BTW, check out the Oklahoma forum at the bottom of the forum list. There are quite a few of us in the Tulsa area. The posting is quiet right now, but there are a few GTG's each year.

 

yeah, it's the new body style with the 3 valve. its not in very bad condition but my friends tell me to keep the six. i saw a dyno on the 3 valve triton and the peak torque isnt until about 3 or 4 thousand rpm vs 2000 for the six. I dont know people just say they're overrated motors.

 

My first motorhome was a 1990 E350 chassis with a 460 V8
My second motorhome was a 1997 F53 chassis with a 460 V8
My third motorhome is a 2000 and it ain't a Ford because frankly, I don't want this overhead cam stuff. My boss had a 4.6L Crown Vic and the timing chain blew. Guess what? Interference engine. Car is history. Even if not interference, the cost to change out the timing chain is extreme.

I'd stick with the big six.