The 4.2 is a Canadian Essex V6 (90 degree pushrod), it's nothing but a stroked 3.8/3.9 (Windstar, 94-04 Mustang...) and a pos just like it's ancestor. Thank God they ditched it for '09.

 

I have a 2006 F-350 4x4 with the 5.4 and I can tell you the motor (20k on it) runs just fine. I've owned a 86' 351HO and numerous 302's and none of them ran as strong as the 5.4. It is basic math, the more you haul, the more motor your going to need. I don't haul or pull anything over 10k, so this motor is more than able to do what I ask of it. I just sold my 2001 Chevy 2500HD with a 8.1 engine. That engine was a beast but had the worst gas mileage.

 

My Dad has a 2004 F-250 with a 5.4 and its everyone one can expect from a truck engine thats meant for towing. It's a ****ing strong motor as far as I'm concerned and I've done a fair amount of towing with it. It never blinked once. It has had great longevity too. Hes put 240,000 km on it in 3 years and never changes the freaking fluids and still no problems. I guess the only thing really I would change it a little more gas mileage, it eats a lot of fuel. But I mean really, what the hell do you want from a truck towing engine? You want fuel efficiency by a car. I'm really looking forward to that direct injection ECOBOOST technology Fords going to put out, should be sweet.

 

I used to have a 2002 Ram 1500 with the 5.9L, and I'll take the 5.4L any day over that. My SCrew would blow the doors off the Ram, and get better gas mileage while doing it. I was averaging 9 mpg in the Ram, and I'm getting 14 in the F150 (mostly city driving with both).