Need Help Buying a Truck
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Need Help Buying a Truck
I don't yet have a Ford truck, but the beauty I'm looking at is a 1998 F-150 LB, 4.2L V6, 4x4 truck with 120k miles. I have a few questions about it to make sure I make a good purchase.
What are the pros and cons of a manual transmission compared to an automatic transmission?
Is there a significant difference between a V6 and a V8?
The motor and transmission for a 1998 I was told was one of the best that Ford ever produced; Is this true? What was a better year for the F series if not 1998?
I'm hoping to find a long bed and an extended cab, but I've only found one or the other; Do I have to sacrifice one?
What are some potential issues I might find at 120k miles? What about 180k miles? Over 200k?
Any insight into buying a truck would be very much appreciated!
What are the pros and cons of a manual transmission compared to an automatic transmission?
Is there a significant difference between a V6 and a V8?
The motor and transmission for a 1998 I was told was one of the best that Ford ever produced; Is this true? What was a better year for the F series if not 1998?
I'm hoping to find a long bed and an extended cab, but I've only found one or the other; Do I have to sacrifice one?
What are some potential issues I might find at 120k miles? What about 180k miles? Over 200k?
Any insight into buying a truck would be very much appreciated!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
A manual transmission, for the most part, weighs less than an automatic transmission. It used to be a given that manual provided better fuel mileage than automatics. That's not quite so true any more. A manual transmission uses a throw out bearing and a clutch plate. These two items can be high replacement items depending on the driver and on how the truck is used. A manual transmission absolutely cannot apply power to the ground as smoothly and progressively as an automatic transmission. An automatic transmission is easier to over heat than a manual transmission.
If two engines have identical displacement, the V8 will be smoother than the V6. However, it will be more susceptible to piston rod cross talk. The V6 will weigh less than the V8.
The 1990's were pretty good years for most auto manufacturers. The buss system was starting to come into it's own. This reduced the amount of wiring in the vehicles by a significant amount. It also made the vehicles much more dependent on computers. Transmission shift points were controlled by computer rather than pressure solenoids, engine fuel mixtures were computer controlled also. Fuel injectors became the norm. Engine timing was no longer vacuum controlled. The technology has improved with the passage of time, so that it is more reliable. However, the amount of computer controlled devices has increased astronomically, introducing more room for error, and making those errors more difficult to identify and correct. So, in some regards the 90's vehicles are better in that they benefit from computer controls but are still relatively easy to work on. But for pure performance, the newer generation vehicles represent great improvements. I've owned many vehicles over the years, but my 2012 Ford truck is the best I've ever owned (I even like it better than my 2013 Impala).
I believe the long bed was available with the Super Cab, though you are more likely to find regular beds paired with the longer cabs. Keep looking, I'm sure there's one out there.
Mechanical issues you are likely to find actually center around two things. Rust and rubber. Bushings and seals lose their elasticity over time, and a truck this age is likely going to need a lot of suspension/steering component repairs. Rust, of course, speaks for itself. One area that bears close scrutiny is the rear leaf springs. If the vehicle has been overloaded, the leaf springs can be overstressed and a fatigue crack can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
Of note is that 1998 was the 50th anniversary of the F-150 and there should be a sticker in the lower corner of the windshield denoting that. It doesn't add anything to the value, but is interesting none the less.
Purchasing a truck really should be guided by what you intend to use it for. If you are expecting to pull a 38 foot travel trailer across country with a 1998 Ford F-150 V6, that would be a poor choice. But if you are a weekend handyman that occasionally hauls 2x4's, sheets of plywood and drywall, or appliances from Lowe's or Home Depot, that needs a daily driver to work, it would be an excellent choice.
Good luck!
If two engines have identical displacement, the V8 will be smoother than the V6. However, it will be more susceptible to piston rod cross talk. The V6 will weigh less than the V8.
The 1990's were pretty good years for most auto manufacturers. The buss system was starting to come into it's own. This reduced the amount of wiring in the vehicles by a significant amount. It also made the vehicles much more dependent on computers. Transmission shift points were controlled by computer rather than pressure solenoids, engine fuel mixtures were computer controlled also. Fuel injectors became the norm. Engine timing was no longer vacuum controlled. The technology has improved with the passage of time, so that it is more reliable. However, the amount of computer controlled devices has increased astronomically, introducing more room for error, and making those errors more difficult to identify and correct. So, in some regards the 90's vehicles are better in that they benefit from computer controls but are still relatively easy to work on. But for pure performance, the newer generation vehicles represent great improvements. I've owned many vehicles over the years, but my 2012 Ford truck is the best I've ever owned (I even like it better than my 2013 Impala).
I believe the long bed was available with the Super Cab, though you are more likely to find regular beds paired with the longer cabs. Keep looking, I'm sure there's one out there.
Mechanical issues you are likely to find actually center around two things. Rust and rubber. Bushings and seals lose their elasticity over time, and a truck this age is likely going to need a lot of suspension/steering component repairs. Rust, of course, speaks for itself. One area that bears close scrutiny is the rear leaf springs. If the vehicle has been overloaded, the leaf springs can be overstressed and a fatigue crack can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
Of note is that 1998 was the 50th anniversary of the F-150 and there should be a sticker in the lower corner of the windshield denoting that. It doesn't add anything to the value, but is interesting none the less.
Purchasing a truck really should be guided by what you intend to use it for. If you are expecting to pull a 38 foot travel trailer across country with a 1998 Ford F-150 V6, that would be a poor choice. But if you are a weekend handyman that occasionally hauls 2x4's, sheets of plywood and drywall, or appliances from Lowe's or Home Depot, that needs a daily driver to work, it would be an excellent choice.
Good luck!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 247
Likes: 3
From: Illinois
I don't yet have a Ford truck, but the beauty I'm looking at is a 1998 F-150 LB, 4.2L V6, 4x4 truck with 120k miles. I have a few questions about it to make sure I make a good purchase.
What are the pros and cons of a manual transmission compared to an automatic transmission?
Is there a significant difference between a V6 and a V8?
The motor and transmission for a 1998 I was told was one of the best that Ford ever produced; Is this true? What was a better year for the F series if not 1998?
I'm hoping to find a long bed and an extended cab, but I've only found one or the other; Do I have to sacrifice one?
What are some potential issues I might find at 120k miles? What about 180k miles? Over 200k?
Any insight into buying a truck would be very much appreciated!
What are the pros and cons of a manual transmission compared to an automatic transmission?
Is there a significant difference between a V6 and a V8?
The motor and transmission for a 1998 I was told was one of the best that Ford ever produced; Is this true? What was a better year for the F series if not 1998?
I'm hoping to find a long bed and an extended cab, but I've only found one or the other; Do I have to sacrifice one?
What are some potential issues I might find at 120k miles? What about 180k miles? Over 200k?
Any insight into buying a truck would be very much appreciated!
4.2 v6 4x4 was only available in regular cab, short bed is awesome
long bed ex cab is pretty rare but I have seen them
my ideal f150 is 4.6 v8 4x4, ext cab or crew cab, 2000 model year or newer.
that said I had a 2002 v6 excab 2wd and it was one of the best trucks I have ever owned. good fuel economy, towed my boat just fine
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