Manuellabour247

The 4.6 is one of the most reliable engines Ford has made recently. If it's been taken care of at all it should run for a long time. Parts are fairly cheap for them as they are a multi-vehicle engine (mass produced across several series). So long as you do a good walk around and look at all the stuff you can see, I don't think it would be a bad deal. Make sure you get underneath and look at the exhaust, mounting brackets, suspension, transmission, and underside of the engine. Look for any leaks that he may have tried to wash off. Drive it a couple blocks in town and a little on the highway if possible. Make sure it's what you want and can handle before going ahead with the trade.

mksmth

dads 97 4.6 that used to be mine has 195k. leaks a little oil and compression is down but it starts up everyday.

NASSTY

My biggest concern would be the exhaust manifold leak. Depending on what state you are in it could keep the truck from passing state inspection. How bad does it leak? Usually when they get to that point it's nearly impossible to get the rusty exhaust manifold bolts out without snapping them off in the head. So it sucks if you have to deal with that and it sucks if you're paying someone else to deal with it.

cerhai

I sold my 97 4.6 with 170 k miles on it was trouble free, get a obd2 reader for the check engine light I think the gauge not working has nothing to do with it, other then that some tlc you should have a nice truck, I loved mine and still miss it sometime.

Adam013085

You will probably replace everything else on the truck before the engine....

1996eddiebauer

Ok I didn't trade, the truck was pretty beat up interior and body wise, so I passed.

Manuellabour247

It looked a little beat up from the pictures. Glad you didn't get over excited and make a decision you would regret.

1996eddiebauer

Ya but it did run a drive pretty good and 4x4 worked good, just was alittle rough

1996eddiebauer

Well just got another offer on ole red, it's a 1997 f150 ext cab short bed auto 4.6 160k miles, has exhaust leak at the mani fold, and needs a tcase shift motor, sounds like a better deal then the 2000... Or atleast in better shape

Manuellabour247

Any pictures?