my answer to the rust is POR-15. that stuff is amazing!

 

My answe to rust prevention as best as I can. Got a Texas truck and moved back to ohio In October northeast ohio lol. Hope I got all prob areas coverd lol.

as for longevity of my truck. I got it in 08 it's and 02 4.2L NO RUST (lol) only thing with mine is the upper penulem gasket needs replaced and the sway bar links. Other than that truck runs great and plenty of power (for a v6).

 

My truck has been crashed front end 2ce and the rear 1nce and and the only problem I have now is the usual suspension squeek. To my opinion this is the most durable truck I have ever been in and owned
I've driving through floods easily with no engine problems unlike my tahoe -.- needed new cam

 

Personally, 1998. It's the model year after the start of the Gen 10's. 4.6 with still plug wires. It may be a little under powered, but the bugs were worked out after the first year. In 99 they came out with PI heads and started having COP problems. JMO. Although, I wish it had the 4 opening doors, and not the 3. That was the thing I liked best about the 99's and newer.

 

My 2000 5.4 constantly sucks money from me. It has a lot of maintenance costs and things out of my control that break down... I've had more reliable vehicles but this truck does get the job done and I enjoy driving it

 

I have a 1999 f150 5.4 and I've had to replace ball joints, rear end, wheel hub, brake lines but it was all mostly my fault if u want ur truck to last a long time then drive it like it's a Lamborghini

 

I agree and the hubs and ball joints are normal things to replace and the rear ends are normally pretty good if u don't abuse them

 

i havent had any major problems with my 03. i've had to replace a rear axle seal, front pass wheel bearing, and blower motor plus the normal maintenance. other than that i've replaced the starter, horn, and radiator but those were my fault haha definitely a reliable truck, its at 116,300 miles

 

I love my truck replaced rear end 3 times transmission starter alternator plugs wires some front end parts. Runs awesome all my fault tho

 

FYI to anyone wanting to listen, when you buy those aftermarket coil packs, because of the higher spark rating and the way in which they are wound, you give up coil pack life for extra spark. This is NOT needed in an auto truck that doesn't push 6500 rpm. ..and you don't need motorcraft.



Do you mean, your engine keeps giving you troubles or other the things? I'd imagine after the head gasket goes and normal maintenance the norm would be just part replacements.


OP,
Another thing to consider is how differently everyone drives and the tasks people ask of their trucks. For a family truck like mine, I'll probably have less issues than say someone who trails their truck. Everyone's responses will be different based on their use, so you can't really take our responses as gospel.

Hub, bearings, head gaskets & transmissions are all common replacements for high mileage trucks.