id rather have a toy that can run without a battery and not burn up my alternator...

 

I strongly disagree with the negative statements about the 4.2l v6... I have one in my 1999 f150 4x2 and I LOVE this motor. This truck is just a DD that sees mostly highway, and the motor is perfect for my uses. My dad's truck has a 302 and I like the 4.2l a heck of a lot more, better fuel economy, and smoother running to boot! If you are going to pull anything with it then I would suggest a v8, but if it is just gonna be a DD highway queen like mine, then I would suggest the v6. I have about 122k miles on mine and expect to see at least 200k miles with nothing more than regular fluid changes and general maintenance. just MY 2 cents worth..

Brandon

 

I have a 99 f150 with the 4.2L backed with the 5-speed the truck currently has 356,486 miles on it as far as troubles truck just the normal fluid changes brakes just normal up keep other then I did upgrade the rearend to the 3.75 with disc brakes at 350k. Finally at 356k the transmission did go out do to what the truck gets used for and it well be getting replaced because the truck still has plenty of life left in it at 356k miles. I'm not going tell anyone what to do but I have owned Ford trucks with the straight 6 with the 5.0, the 5.8,4.6, and the 5.4 but honestly the 4.2 has been my favorite this truck is used on my farm for work which I travel the US for work so it sees the miles but on the farm it gets used as a work horse. I have the Gooseneck hitch in the bed and pull a 102" x 32' Heavy Duty Gooseneck 2-15,000 lb Axle trailer loaded with anything from hay to logs because we do our own logging to the farm. Also we use this truck to pull our 2002 38' fleetwood camper with slide-out its a 16,000lb camper we have pulled this all over the US for work I toe a 16' trailer with an average of 12 to 16,000 lbs of batteries since I would on cellular towers. I even use this truck for play it is the 2wd regular cab with the step side bed it has 7.5 inches of lift with 33" Nitto mud grappler's so it has by no means had a easy life. So my advice to anyone wanting to do a v-8 swap in a 4.2 f150 stick with the 4.2 upgrade it for more power which it already comes stock with more then the old 5.0 upgrade the rear-end to 373 gears and you will have a truck that will last you a long time minus all the cash it would take to do a v-8 swap

 

don't let anyone fool u this is a big job Explorer motor is what I used 5.0 out of a 99 I had to have custom p/s lines made and u will need custom ac lines if u want ac u will need a clutch kit for the motor u use so I used a 99 I got a clutch kit for a 1996 f150 5.0 u will have to drill ur bellhouseing 5.0 has bigger bolts u will have to totally redo fuel system and hei distributer is best for going carbureted and rewire ur dash or go all custom u will need a bigger radiator I used one from a expedition 5.4 u will have to rerun vacume for 4x4 and weld ur own headers and mounting plates for the motor it will not bolt right in I would not put a 5.4 or a 4.6 in anything there junk also the tranny will hold up its the same tranny that was in the 1995 f150 with the 5.0

 

Pic of mine before welding headers and wireing it up I had to customize the headers I had to go around the 4x4 shaft didn't like the p motor headers if this up loads and u can see it let me know bc I can't see it for some reason

 

edit if you use a motor from a pickup truck you can use ur factory 4.2 brackets and accesories also headers are easier to find for none gt40p motors i recomend going electric on fans and all gauges work factory except temp gauge and on the mounts for the motor u can get brackets for a e350 van and the mounts for the e350 with 5.0 and bolt them to ur existing frame take care to level the motor and point it in the right dirceting haveing motor and tranny bolted together and tranny in its mounting point helps with that but mine is done and on the road with a 5.0 in it and its a beast compaired to the 4.2

 

I was going to jump in but this thread is 8 years old.

 

Would my a/c still be stock or would they have to be made and would my gauges still work also

 

A coyote swapped 97-03 has been done. https://youtube.com/user/Patman03sprcrw
he has swapped his crew cab, but idk if it would be similar to the 4.2 being he probably had the 4.6 or 5.4. I am currently tossing the idea around as well but we would be best off on getting a donor 5.0 truck. He made the ‘15 model truck cluster work and fit the 97-03 cluster. So there is hope, just need some money.