Are thse 5.4L bottom ends generally noisy? My 01 with 95k, bottom end is noisy on startup, ut once it gets warmed up, it's generally quieter. i bought the truck with 84k on it, so i do not know it past life. I know the injectors are quite loud compared to any pushrod engine.
Rich

 

I've heard some that make noise and others that are quiet as a sewing machine. I would say that it getting quite when it warms up is a good thing.

Mine is fairly quiet at start-up but as it warms up, develops a distinctive knock. Sounds like a diesel as a matter of fact I suspect I have a rod bearing telling me it's tale of woe after 119,000 miles.