So being 19 and looking for a truck, yet to find the right one but I'm on a strict strict budget and the PERFECT truck will need to fall in to my lap for me to buy it. So for the time being I am going to do a little work on the truck I have been using, the old family hauler truck.

It is a 97 F150, extended cab, 6 foot bed, 4x4, 4.6?, 5 speed manual. It is sitting at 150k and showing the miles in a big big way. Since I don't have a ton of money I'm planning on sprucing the old truck up a bit and getting a little more use out of it before I get my truck and have more money.... being in college doesn't leave a ton of extra money in my wallet.

So the 4.6?... well the engine cover says 4.6, but the cylinder head is stamped 5.4.... WTF? Is there a vin decoder to figure out what engine this thing really has, I have no clue and neither does my parents.

Also I can't find a tow rating for this truck, only for the auto... and again not sure on the engine...

I'll try and get some pics up in the next few days!

Punch the VIN into Google and it will give you a carax link, click the carfax link and it will tell you the engine. It won't give you a full carfax, obviously, but you can see what engine it has.

get the vin and type it in here. one of the techs can decode for ya.

FYI the 4.6 and the 5.4 are basically the same motor. deck heights are different but you can rebuild the 5.4 with a 4.6 rebuild kit. I know, I had to do it on mine. You can't find a 5.4 rebuild kit for these, or at least you couldn't when I rebuilt mine.

I'm sorry but it makes me laugh anytime somebody referrs to what they're driving as old. Most of the time when I ask what year it is, and get(in this case) "oh its a 97", I can't help it. I drive an old truck...everyday. Its a 67 F-100, no powersteering, no power brakes, and a 3 speed. She also has more than 320k miles on her, sure the motor doesn't but the truck does.


Allright, It looks like you already have the advice on your motor, just need to post the vin so we can tell.
As far as it having 150k miles, keep the oil changed and take care of her. there is no reason that truck shouldn't make 250k before she needs a rebuild on the motor.

Thats a good truck ya got, so like I said take care of her and she'll take care of you. Its not THAT old!!

Well I haven't updated this thread, becasue I haven't goten anything done!!

Life can get in the way of important things sometimes

It is a 4.6 and it is probably going to be replaced soon... my parents ran it low on oil for the god knows how many time... and now it is making death noises on the upper end and getting driven daily.

I'll try and get a vid up.

No good...

kustomizingkid said:

No good...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc0mKXF1xKA&feature=channel_page

Click to expand...

It sounds bad for sure!!!

FYI when imbeding youtube vids you need only the part between the = signs, the click the red tube icon on the tool bar then copy and paste the part below in the middle!!!!


yc0mKXF1xKA&feature

maybe it has sludge

I will guarantee it has sludge... I changed the oil last year for the first time, and when I did it was 2 quarts low and was about 20k into that OCI... lol... My parents DO NOT maintain their vehicles at all....

I have Valvoline Max Life in the engine right now on a 1k OCI, I'll post up some new vids to show how the sound changes with the new oil.

So I am pulling this back up because I fixed the nasty sound... guess what I replaced, I will bet money no one gets this one!

It is now dead nuts quiet....

sounds like maybe something with the fan or shroud.

Not bad... close...

hmmmm... IDK the sound looked and sounded like it was attached or connected to the fan by the fan speed vs. engine speed.

Old Ford Blue said:

I'm sorry but it makes me laugh anytime somebody referrs to what they're driving as old. Most of the time when I ask what year it is, and get(in this case) "oh its a 97", I can't help it.

Click to expand...

I agree. I've heard people say a 2000 is old I drive my 1973 daily.

73F100Shortbed said:

I agree. I've heard people say a 2000 is old I drive my 1973 daily.

Click to expand...

Yeah, but depending on a lot of things, "old" isn't always strictly chronological.

My '97 Ranger actually rolled off the dealer's lot a few months AFTER my '98 Escort did (per the original paperwork I have), but the pickup is much "older" than the car- high miles, seat is sprung, more quirks than you can explain in half an hour...12 years isn't that long, but the pickups been around enough to be getting old. (Same as a 40 year old person can seem "older" than a 60 year old, depending on their health and activity level.)


Anyway...if the fan/shroud was close, my bet on what you fixed is one of the accessories driven by the serpentine belt. (That said, I can't watch videos on this internet connection, so I haven't seen/heard it.)

This truck is old as in it was beat to piss, never maintained and has been abused by MN winter...