david350

I've been searching for my first truck for quite awhile. My dad had a 97 with a 4.6, know the truck itself had a few little problems. How is the 4.2 from this year? Also any other problems possible, I know the trans. on them weren't too great. Any input, thanks!!!

Cars for Sale: 1997 Ford F150 2WD Regular Cab Flareside in Pinellas Park, FL 33781: Truck Details - 265582197 - AutoTrader.com

D-bak

The 4.2 from 96 to January 98 are just about one hundred percent likely to hydrolock. There are some that haven't but most all of them do eventually. The lower intake manifold gasket and timing cover gaskets are made of a test material that Ford was experimenting with, and they totally sucked. The gasket breaks and allows water into the #1 and #4 cylinders and destroys the whole engine, usually resulting in a broken piston, connecting rod, and things like that.

I just recently bought a 97 with a locked motor for 700 bucks and dropped a reman engine in it for a total cost of about 3000 bucks. Not bad....


I am not saying "don't buy it" I am just letting you know that you most likely have a ticking time bomb under the hood of that truck.

billsweet

i just got a great looking and running 97 F150 myself - it has 146K miles and the 4 x 4 works great as well. how do i check to see if this issue has been fixed or not. thanks.

2000xl_toronto

only thing you can do is check the service records or ask the previous owner if the work was ever done I reckon