Better check those death rattles maybe a plug getting ready to go
It is a known problem with the 5.4

 

Read in a mag that Ford has gotten all it can out of the 5.4 modular design and new engine in the works for 96
Dodge and Chevy are ahead in the game

 

Whatever it is, I'm not losing sleep over it. I'll keep dreaming about the windsor stroker powered Bronco or truck in my future. Heard the same rumor about a new engine. Hope this one doesn't turn into another Ford abortion.

 

My EOD lasted 62,452 miles before the sun/shell gear busted. Had the gear replaced for a measely 1,000.00. So I wouldn't brag too much about it. The only positive thing I can say is that the clutches were in good shape.

 

As far as the cost issue goes, the price of trucks has definitely gone up a lot faster than inflation - they are pretty overpriced nowadays, though they aren't as bad as the sticker prices would lead you to believe. For example, you can pick up a base-model F150 (V6, stick) for less than $14,000 - and a 4x4 with the 5.4L V8 (auto) will run you around $19,000. Those prices include the destination charge, and you should be able to get them at that price at most any dealership if you negotiate.

As far as the 5.8L vs the 5.4L, I've owned both and think the 5.4L is the better engine - it has as much (if not more) low-end torque, more horsepower, is more fuel-efficient, and from what I've seen lasts at least as long as the 5.8L. Some of the local farmers and ranchers have the 5.4L in their trucks, and several of of them are over 200,000 miles with no problems - and one is over 300,000 miles. That isn't to say that Ford hasn't made any lemons, because they have - but in general the 5.4L appears to be a very durable engine. I just hope mine proves to be as reliable as the others I've seen.

LK

 

I have to say the 7.3 PSD is very strong, I got stuck out in a flooded field up to my frame in my 84 (stock bald tires open rear at the time). My old buddy came out there in his 94 F250 4x4 Crew Cab PSD and yanked me out of there like it was nothing. If that 6.0 PSD is any more powerful than the good ole 7.3. Well I would like to see one in action!

 

you couldn't pull a 4000 pound trailer with a 351? Sir, let me ask you what you've done to your engine? I don't know how many miles you have on it, or if you change the oil or what you do with it, but for a 5.8 liter not to be able to pull a trailer like that sounds absolutely absurd to me. As a matter of fact, a small little rant as this has been bothering me for quite some time, it makes me ill coming into these forums and reading some of these posts. If I read another person say a 6.9 liter diesel is a pig, I'm going to scream. Why you can't get you 6.9 out of its own way or at highway speeds, I can't tell you, but don't generalize the whole line of motors because you got a bad engine, or more likely than not, abuse and beat the living crap out of yours! On the same note, I'll also scream if I ever hear a 300 inline six has "frame twisting torque" (Please, all you I6 fans don't attack, I mean no disrespect. I know the I6 is a good engine, an excellent and reliable engine for a truck that is needed to work, but don't pretend its something its not.) So I don't sound like a hypocrite, I KNOW a 351w isn't a perfect engine. Hell, theres no such thing as a perfect engine. If there was, there would be no competition between Ford Chevy Dodge etc. However, the 351 in my truck has never let me down, it pulls and hauls loads without even breaking a sweat. It's no speed demon, but who needs to do 80 miles an hour, reving your engine at 5800 rpm with 30 bags of concrete in the back of your truck? My truck can reach highway speeds comfortably with power to spare, as well as pull stumps and trees and other vehicles out of mudholes with relative ease. Don't think I'm bad mouthing the new 5.4's, they make impressive power according to Ford motor company. I've been in them, driven both trucks, and for me, If theres a job to do, out comes the old 5.8 liter.
I apologize for the rant and long post.

 

blue torpedo and others--this thread is getting really stale. There are what i consider ridiculous posts about what a Ford cant do (cant pull a light trailer, give me a break), how crappy fords are (last only 60,000 miles, give me a break) and even the post title is extremely biased "where did ford go wrong". Everyone is free to post their opinion but far as i am concerned Ford has yet to deliver a sorry truck product. Yes, ford isnt perfect and yes, despite quality assurance checks all manufacturers have a certain quantity of crappy product that floats to the public. Life is not about guarantees or absolute assurances. My 97 4.6 auto with 147,000 miles has a whopping total of $7 in repairs (oil filler cap). maybe my repair history is one out of a million, maybe the rigorous maintenance schedule has helped or whatever. Bottom line remains the same: 147,000 miles and $7 bucks in repairs.

 

This is very true, Ford has made these changes to meet the needs of todays consumer. Today nobody has time to go out and fire up the truck 5 minutes before they leave go where ever. Society moves at a much faster pace now and rarely does the typical person want to take their vehicle in to get tuned up every few thousand miles. They need a vehicle that can handle neglect for long periods of time and still be dependable, not saying the old stuff can't ; but it just requires more attention more maintenance. I also must agree, this thread is getting pretty old.

 

Fellas, you act like the 5.4 has only been out for a year or two. You treat it like the 6.0 PSD. The first eggshell F-150's came out mid 95. The 5.4 has been in many of them since. It is eight years old. I know there are alot of ppl out there that put a load of miles on their trucks, hard miles at that. I put 5K on my truck in a month, most either with a load or a trailer, or a load and a trailer. When I was looking for mine, I ran across alot with 300K miles. The 302's and 351W's I have pulled apart with that kind of mileage and use had already been built and bored twice before I messed with them. My truck has 105K. I just changed the plugs! On my 84 (w/ a 351W H.O.) I replaced plugs every 40K, not because I wanted to, bc it needed it. My point is that the 5.4 is tried and true. In the last two years Ford sold 1,800,000. I am sure a good share of them had a 5.4. Here is another thought. The first mass produced 4.6 was in the Crown Vic/ Grand Marq. Cops and taxi drivers beat the snot out of them all day long and put an ish load of miles too. They still keep buying them. Mod. motors last! I am not saying that they are super powerful, but they are more powerful than the motors they replace and a heckl of alot more reliable.

 

I just read in the newest issue of Four Wheeler magazine, they did a comparison on the brand new GMC Sierra 2500 HD (Duramax), Dodge Ram 2500 HD ( Cummins 24v H.O.), and the new Ford F250 Super Duty King Ranch (6.0 PSD). Yes the other trucks were a little more refined than the Ford. But when push came to pull the Big Bad PSD stomped the rest of em into the dirt! The Ford towed a 7000 Lb trailer through the 1/4 mile better than a second faster than the rest. Steep hills limited the Dodge and GMC to 70 MPH, where the PSD would run 85 plus MPH; up the same hill with the same load. That new 6.0 is one heck of an engine!

 

I have own fords with the old 360's, 302's, and 351's I also own one with the a 5.4 that has 80,000 miles bought new with 0 problems. You couldn't pay me to give it up for one of the other engines I listed earlier, there just simply is no comparison. The other engines were in nowhere near as good a condition at this mileage, as this 5.4 is. The 360 actually seem never made it much past 80,000 as it had to be taken out of service.

 

I do find the 5.4 modular V8 very impressive, very powerful and torquey. But I would probably choose the older motor in some respects because they are much easier to work on and the parts are cheaper. On the other hand the 5.4 holds up very well, and doesn't seem to mind being run at higher RPMs.

 

I messed up.

 

I drove my dad's 2001 f-150 around and it does not even compare to my 302, my trucks has a lot more power but he gets better mileage.