I can not say I have driven a 5.4 powered truck, but I did see one in action in the mud. Even with 35 inch tires it would still throw rooster tails a mile long! Definately a very lively engine, indeed.

 

I dunno if Ford significantly boosted the power in the 5.0 in five years, but my dad has a 90 F-150 with a 302 and it does not have nearly the power of my 97 with a 4.6. Pop's truck has 3.55 rear-end with an AOD and mine has 3.55 LS with a 4R70W. The sad thing is pop's truck still has the stock wheel size. Mine has the metric equivalent of 35's. The tire rob an ish load of power, but mine will out accelerate, out haul and out tow his by far. The other thing is we just built the 302 in his truck and machined it very tightly. He has since put 12K on it. Mine just had it's first tune-up at 102K with no indication of blowby like his had. My dad is old school and believes in building motors every 100K, but when my mom bought her 2000 Grand Merc., he was convinced, as in three years she has 92K on it and we are just thinking about a tune-up. I then upgraded from my 76 to the 97 and he was stunned that I never have anything to do on it. He was also stunned the first time we towed with it. My dad was wrenching Ford's when FE's were new tech and has nearly every Ford Service Certification since; he agrees, there is no comparison. Guys, the new mod motors are really not all that hard to work on in my opinion. Yes to do it easily a tester is required, but the beauty of it is that you hardly (at least everyone I know that has a mod motor) ever needs to work on it.

 

Why don't you guys search around on the web for the torque curve for all the different engines? You might find that at 1000 rpm the new 3valve 5.4 is producing in the neighborhood of 300ft-lb. That is actually quite impressive for low-end on a gas engine. This is comprable to Dodge's new hemi that they are bragging about.

I'll say this: I have towed loads with almost everything that ford has produced since the early eighties. Everything from a ranger to a '99 powerstroke. The 5.4 acutally does quite well, in my opinion. So does the 351, but I would choose the 5.4L over the 351. It has a better torque curve, and seems to pull a little better. More importantly (for Ford), it passes fleet emissions standards, so Ford can sell them.

But, if you really want to pull a load, The Powerstroke beats them hands down (Sorry for stating the obvious, It's just that I am still impressed every time I pull a load with one).

 

Why don't you guys search around on the web for the torque curve for all the different engines? You might find that at 1000 rpm the new 3valve 5.4 is producing in the neighborhood of 300ft-lb. That is actually quite impressive for low-end on a gas engine. This is comprable to Dodge's new hemi that they are bragging about.

I'll say this: I have towed loads with almost everything that ford has produced since the early eighties. Everything from a ranger to a '99 powerstroke. The 5.4 acutally does quite well, in my opinion. So does the 351, but I would choose the 5.4L over the 351. It has a better torque curve, and seems to pull a little better. More importantly (for Ford), it passes fleet emissions standards, so Ford can sell them.

But, if you really want to pull a load, The Powerstroke beats them hands down (Sorry for stating the obvious, It's just that I am still impressed every time I pull a load with one).

 

I haven't driven a NEW Ford (2002+) yet, so I cannot comment on the new 3v 5.4s. I do, however, have no less than 4 Ford trucks on my fam now and can comment on a few things here.

First, the best engine that I have ever had - in MY opinion - is the 352 that I've got in my '67 F-250. That thing could outpull my 351M, 351W, and 300 any day.

The truck that is my current daily driver is a 1995 F-150 that has the 5.8 /EOD in it. I've got almost 150,000 miles on this engine, replaced nothing but the plugs, wires, and serpentine belt. Very reliable, 17mpg, VERY strong.

The 351M is in a '79 F-250 with the C6 in it. Sounds nice with straight pipes, but I haven't had much luck with it. I put this engine on the "junk" list - although that is MY OPINION

Lastly was my '88 F-250 custom with the 300 I6. I actually sold this truck a while ago and regret every dollar that I made. It was BY FAR the most reliable and fun to drive truck I've ever had. Easy to start in the winter, easy to work on, and enough torque to do anything that I ever wanted to do. I got 18+ mpg with that truck... I refuse to believe that the modular engine is better than the 300, but as I mentioned - I have never driven a new one, either.

Ford didn't "go wrong" with the engines in my opinion. They've always had decent powerplants.

Ryan

 

What makes the 351M junk? I have one in my 77 highboy, should I replace it? I have a hard time believing it is junk, it gets excellent oil pres, and it pulls really strong. It doesn't run hot either. I ripped the front driveshaft in half climbing a log pile in high range!

 

Like I said, my opinion of the engine is not very high because I've had all sorts of silly problems with mine.

On the same note, I had nothing but problems with my first 351W (carbureted 1985). I took a chance and got one in my '95 and I have never regretted it.

Perhaps I shouldnt have said "junk"... I should have said that I 've never had a good experience with it.

Ryan

 

I have been told they have an oiling problem in the two rear mains but there is a fix for it I also have been told. What kinds of problems has your 351M given you, what can I expect to have to do with mine? It does have a bit of a miss when you stomp on it but it also hasn't had a good tune up in years. It fires right up everytime I go out to start it.

 

the only thing that i think everyone can agree on is that prices have gone WAY out of step with reality. it is absurd. i could afford to buy a new truck but why the hell would i spend that much $$ when i don't have to. if others want to and can afford it, then that is their choice. it doesn't make them stupid. what makes somebody a moron is when they go out and buy one of these new trucks who CAN'T afford it. this country is loaded to the gills with people who justs keep buying and buying like it is their God given right to get new things every day yet they don't have the money to pay for it. so they rack up huge debts, declare bankruptcy and leave the mess for the rest of us to clean up. aisde from my house, i don't buy anything i can't pay for in cash.

oh yea. and by the way, i don't understand the automatic-only V8s. What fun is that?

 

RonF150

Man!...You got that right, nobody seems to know how to manage their money today. They don't have their priorities straight. I buy what I can afford and build what I want.

 

I have heard nothing but great things about the 5.4L, the 4.2 on the other hand I have heard nothing but problems.. I'll keep be my strait six, I hope when ford puts a six in the 2005s that it isn't the 4.2 and at least make some kind of decent manual transmission.

 

I have not heard anything bad about the 4.2s yet. My uncle has one in a 98 F150 2wd with the 4.2 V6 and a 5 speed manual. The truck has over 110k on it with no major problems. It is a nice truck for running around town and light hauling. But I would take my 84 F150 with a 300 six 4spd granny any day over that truck. The 300 will outlast and outpull any 4.2 any day of the week. The new aluminum 5 speed gearboxes have nothing on the old cast iron 4 speeds.