2001 4.2L F-150 Power Upgrades
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 14,978
Likes: 143
From: Northern Virginia
Two. Turbo's would probably be the better choice, virtually free power being gained by the propulsion of the exhaust gasses so it doesn't rob horsepower like a supercharger. Run a single turbo for each manifold. Two small turbos would probably be fine. Then just make sure they stay at low boost with waste gates and blow off valves. That's how you make sure a setup like that is reliable.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 149
From: Gulfport MS
Andrew I dont think anybody is trying to be a butt here. Just not much info on building a 4.2 here. Your not gonna get experienced opinions just opinions. If you really want to drop serious money on a 4.2 get some professional advice, probably gonna pay for it. Just my opinion. Good Luck
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 13,490
Likes: 553
From: North Charleston, SC
Well, its not a simple motor swap when you have a 4.2. The 4.2 and the V8's they use in these trucks are completely different types of motors. the 4.2 being an Essex, and the 4.6 and 5.4 being modular. 4.2 may be gutless, ( I have one at that), but its still a damn good motor. Just like they say though, you have many limits on what power you're going to be able to pump out of the V6's we have bolted under our hoods.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I have the same problem/questions. From what i researched and found from "experts" is that the motor in the mustang same year the 3.8l is the same. Difference being the 4.2l is externally balanced and the 3.8l is internally balanced. There are mods for the 3.8l that can be used on the 4.2l. There are NO turbo kits for the 4.2l. I have searched extensively. The supercharger is a major cost and undertaking and can only be installed on the 4.6 and 5.4. All i think you can do is performance chip, exhaust and cold air. The only other way to make our truck go faster is open the door and pish with your feet.
I nearly bought a Ford f150 harley davidson with the super charger yesterday but found it not to be all that quicker than mine. I have he performance chip, exhaust and air intake. If you find a magic bean for the 4.2 please share
I nearly bought a Ford f150 harley davidson with the super charger yesterday but found it not to be all that quicker than mine. I have he performance chip, exhaust and air intake. If you find a magic bean for the 4.2 please share
Hey Guys,
I have a 2001 F-150 XLT with a 4.2L V6 and a 5 speed (Mazda M5OD). The truck has 245,000 miles on it. I am currently running a junkyard motor in it, as the numbers matching motor developed a bit of a knocking/ticking noise. So I have the numbers matching motor apart right now, and I sent the heads to my good friend Bob Orr, owner and operator of Bob's Machine Shop out of Templeton, CA (805-674-0385). He is very reasonably priced and does fantastic work. I'm also sending the block out to have that completely gone through by a guy that builds race engines.
Anyway, I would like advice on some power adders. I'm looking to stick a camshaft in there and I'm not sure what lift/duration. It is a daily driver (as you can see by 245,000 miles) and it won't see any time off-road as it has a very expensive paint job on it and it's been lowered 2 inches. In addition to a cam, I want to put a Cold Air Intake on it and I would like recommendations of brand, how much power it would add, etc. I am also looking to do a tune on the truck myself, so I would like some advice on what to buy and price. I don't want to spend a ton, but the holidays are upon us and I can justify spending a little more on myself
.
Thanks for all the advice guys! Keep up the good work!
Andrew
I have a 2001 F-150 XLT with a 4.2L V6 and a 5 speed (Mazda M5OD). The truck has 245,000 miles on it. I am currently running a junkyard motor in it, as the numbers matching motor developed a bit of a knocking/ticking noise. So I have the numbers matching motor apart right now, and I sent the heads to my good friend Bob Orr, owner and operator of Bob's Machine Shop out of Templeton, CA (805-674-0385). He is very reasonably priced and does fantastic work. I'm also sending the block out to have that completely gone through by a guy that builds race engines.
Anyway, I would like advice on some power adders. I'm looking to stick a camshaft in there and I'm not sure what lift/duration. It is a daily driver (as you can see by 245,000 miles) and it won't see any time off-road as it has a very expensive paint job on it and it's been lowered 2 inches. In addition to a cam, I want to put a Cold Air Intake on it and I would like recommendations of brand, how much power it would add, etc. I am also looking to do a tune on the truck myself, so I would like some advice on what to buy and price. I don't want to spend a ton, but the holidays are upon us and I can justify spending a little more on myself
. Thanks for all the advice guys! Keep up the good work!
Andrew
5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 251
From: St. Petersburg, Fl
When I got my 4.2 truck I looked into this. The only thing I could find is. The thunderbird super coup was a super charged v6. The top end, heads, intake, and super charger will fit on the 4.2 block. I found no cams short of having them custom made. As for the CAI. The stock ford is a true cold air intake and out performs any aftermarket out there.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
http://www.supersixmotorsports.com/
Hey Guys,
I have a 2001 F-150 XLT with a 4.2L V6 and a 5 speed (Mazda M5OD). The truck has 245,000 miles on it. I am currently running a junkyard motor in it, as the numbers matching motor developed a bit of a knocking/ticking noise. So I have the numbers matching motor apart right now, and I sent the heads to my good friend Bob Orr, owner and operator of Bob's Machine Shop out of Templeton, CA (805-674-0385). He is very reasonably priced and does fantastic work. I'm also sending the block out to have that completely gone through by a guy that builds race engines.
Anyway, I would like advice on some power adders. I'm looking to stick a camshaft in there and I'm not sure what lift/duration. It is a daily driver (as you can see by 245,000 miles) and it won't see any time off-road as it has a very expensive paint job on it and it's been lowered 2 inches. In addition to a cam, I want to put a Cold Air Intake on it and I would like recommendations of brand, how much power it would add, etc. I am also looking to do a tune on the truck myself, so I would like some advice on what to buy and price. I don't want to spend a ton, but the holidays are upon us and I can justify spending a little more on myself.
Thanks for all the advice guys! Keep up the good work!
Andrew
I have a 2001 F-150 XLT with a 4.2L V6 and a 5 speed (Mazda M5OD). The truck has 245,000 miles on it. I am currently running a junkyard motor in it, as the numbers matching motor developed a bit of a knocking/ticking noise. So I have the numbers matching motor apart right now, and I sent the heads to my good friend Bob Orr, owner and operator of Bob's Machine Shop out of Templeton, CA (805-674-0385). He is very reasonably priced and does fantastic work. I'm also sending the block out to have that completely gone through by a guy that builds race engines.
Anyway, I would like advice on some power adders. I'm looking to stick a camshaft in there and I'm not sure what lift/duration. It is a daily driver (as you can see by 245,000 miles) and it won't see any time off-road as it has a very expensive paint job on it and it's been lowered 2 inches. In addition to a cam, I want to put a Cold Air Intake on it and I would like recommendations of brand, how much power it would add, etc. I am also looking to do a tune on the truck myself, so I would like some advice on what to buy and price. I don't want to spend a ton, but the holidays are upon us and I can justify spending a little more on myself
. Thanks for all the advice guys! Keep up the good work!
Andrew
Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 3
From: Florence Alabama
These 4.2s are gutless. But they're damn reliable. Mines got 170,000 on it. From what I've read the best mods you can do for power are to lower the stock gearing, free up the intake, headers, and cam it out. Anything from a 3.8 mustang *should* bolt right up to a 4.2 (such as a turbo if you went that way).