Latest Aquisition: 1997 F150 XLT Supercab 4x4

[Yeehaw404]

After a very long and discouraging search*, my son and I ran across this truck in some old man's yard, on the road in between craigslist trucks.

It's a 97 F150 XLT Supercab 4x4 with a 5.4 2V, automatic transmission, 3.55 gears with an LS in the back, AC, PDL, PW, power driver seat, powered mirrors, 17" factory wheels, 185k miles. No smoke, a little oil weeping here and there, runs strong. Old guy wanted $3500, ended up giving him $3300.
Changed the engine oil, was blacker than Satan's soul (good sign in my book, new oil is suspicious) and zero glitter. Running her into Cleveland tomorrow to Discount for new tires - thinking 285/70 R17's would keep things close and not have to mess with gearing at all. Changing all fluids to respective synthetics, installing a CAI, new performance exhaust, doing a tuneup - which brings questions concerning sparkplugs.
I've been reading that the 5.4 is particular about oil and spark plugs - I've been using Mobil 1 synthetics and NGK Iridium spark plugs in all my vehicles, from Dodge, Ford, Jeep, GM without any issues over the years - yet I read that Motorcraft nickel-plated spark plugs are the only ones that perform correctly and over time. Is this fanboi logic or are there actual, measurable, issues with other performance plugs? Engine oil was another topic, seems that synthetic is the devil according to some on the F150 boards.
I get torquing the spark plugs on install due to 4 threads and re-torquing at 1500 miles to prevent blowouts - no problem there, but damn glad I checked before diving in. That would be embarrassing.
I'd appreciate any tips concerning this truck - every year has it's gotchas and weird parallel universe fixes and I'd like to know before I start breaking things - thanks!



* The pickings out there are pretty thin - with gas prices down, they can't give away a Prius and trucks/SUV's are commanding high prices. Junk is getting top dollar. We've looked at over 20 Dodges and Fords in the last few weeks and found this one by accident while driving to another Craigslist appointment about a 99 2WD Ford Supercab for $3500. Furthest, lyingest, and most heartbreaking one was a 99 Dodge extended cab 4x4 with 104k miles on her 3 hours away in Georgia. Allegedly been sitting in a garage for the last nine years, yet had one rear slider window broken out and replaced with cardboard, large child-sized hole in dash, no radio, broken side mirror, 4 wheel drive didn't work (was missing the auto hub lock actuator - largish hole in axle 'didn't notice that') - engine oil pressure zeroed out a mile from his house, largish racket, would have good pressure then nothing, pretty sure a bearing(s) was gone after than mess. Dodged a bullet there. Played Fast & Furious coming back up the mountain with another truck on the way home. Good times after a disappointing bullshit craigslist truck.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Never measured anything but I have 140k on my 2V 5.4 with two sets of Motorcraft, no complaints.

 

[Yeehaw404]

Before and after shots of wife's new ride - $899.99 out the door at Discount - went from Michelin POS 245/65R17 to Cooper Discoverer ATP 285/70R17s - stock height.

 

[Yeehaw404]

Did a two day blood sacrifice to Henry Ford replacing eight Motorcraft spark plugs from different production runs with one rogue Autolite in #4 cylinder way in the back under the heater hoses/under the firewall on the passenger side. All had gaps of .060+. #3 was welded to to head*, gave PB Blaster some time to work and got it out on Day 2 - had to use my shop vac to clean out the spark plug tubes, hoses going into smaller hoses until I had a 1/2" hose with the end notched a little more than halfway to create a tool to dig around the plugs to dislodge anything there while vacuuming the crud up. Replaced and torqued to 25 ft' with certified Motorcraft 459 fine wire platinum plugs gapped at .054, no anti-seize - replaced 3 boots but no COPS**, replaced fuel filter - what came out of the inlet side doesn't bear thinking about, I'll change it again after another tank of gas to see if I need to drop the tank or what.
Cranked it up and the misfire on #1 was gone, runs like a raped ape. Lean bank codes gone after replacing PCV rubber components***. Next up? Brakes.






*#3 COP had bolt broken off already with fresh metal flakes all around area - they/somebody used a piece of foam wedged under the fuel rail to hold the COP in place. Until I have a better/worse reason to pull the manifold, I'm not going to worry about it, just print a better brace/bracket to do the job until then. #7 had a 8mm self-tapper instead of the normal 7mm so there have been at least attempts to maintain this truck.
** Amazon has Motorcraft COPS at $37.99/ea Prime, yet Autozone & Advance hit you for $69.99/ea... Picked up a couple for my just_in_case parts stock.
*** Since truck is for wife, husband gets a pass on new tools to maintain said wife's truck: Scored this: New scanner to replace my old simple Actron scanner and some new shiney hand tools... but the scanner was a score. I didn't pay what Actron asks, Amazon will save you about $150 there too.

 

[hoosier1104]

Sounds like a good find. Hope she enjoys it.