2001-2003 F-150 SuperCrew Pointers?

although not imminently, i will at some point be buying a 2001-2003 F-150 SuperCrew, as the title suggests. what i need are some pointers, what to look out for, things i should check. i know to give the truck a good checking over. (i'm an auto tech in the training) but is there anything i should especially look for? anything especailly dodgy on these truck? and more importantly, anything likely to cost me a lot to fix?

i'm thinking of either a 4.2-litre V6 or a 4.6-litre V8 one, i'm not going above that displacement, because fuel effieciency isn't the F-series' strongpoint. (as i've heard.) i'm thinking ~100,000 on the clock, because they're in my price range of ~$12,000-13,000 (going by those figures as i've been looking at quite a few on various sites) and i'm not worried about carrying out basic maintenance, and even giving the engine a good once-over.

Thanks in advance,
Chris.

well the supercrew over the regular cab uses up more gas but if you go with the supercrew and only want either the 4.2L or 4.6L then I'd go with the 4.6L but if you intend to use the truck to it's ability the 5.4L is highly recommended. The 4.2L matted with a 5-speed is decent if you just need a slightly bigger/more capable ranger. Really the choice is up to you and whether you want a truck or a fuel efficient car that looks like a truck.

well the supercrew over the regular cab uses up more gas but if you go with the supercrew and only want either the 4.2L or 4.6L then I'd go with the 4.6L but if you intend to use the truck to it's ability the 5.4L is highly recommended. The 4.2L matted with a 5-speed is decent if you just need a slightly bigger/more capable ranger. Really the choice is up to you and whether you want a truck or a fuel efficient car that looks like a truck.

another option i was thinking of was this, buy the truck in either V6 or V8 spec, and if it's V8 spaw in a V6 for while i'm in college, for better fuel efficiency. and once i'm earning and can spend more of fuel drop a V8 in it. (mabye even a 5.4) i'm not really worried about performance, i want a truck that can get me around, take 5 people in comfort and can carry a (most likely small) load. at some point i will want to take it off-road, so i may have to go round scrap/salvage yards hunting for a 4x4 drivetrain, if i can't find a 4x4 in my price range.

Thanks for the help,
Chris

another option i was thinking of was this, buy the truck in either V6 or V8 spec, and if it's V8 spaw in a V6 for while i'm in college, for better fuel efficiency. and once i'm earning and can spend more of fuel drop a V8 in it. (mabye even a 5.4) i'm not really worried about performance, i want a truck that can get me around, take 5 people in comfort and can carry a (most likely small) load. at some point i will want to take it off-road, so i may have to go round scrap/salvage yards hunting for a 4x4 drivetrain, if i can't find a 4x4 in my price range.

Thanks for the help,
Chris

Trying to piece together a modern vehicle, even a truck, is a pain in the ass with all the electrical hook-up's and computers and for 4x4 drivetrain and cutout differences. If your up to it then by all means enjoy but if your really not in to it but know if can be done if you HAVE to then you should know it's not as easy as it was/is on the old trucks of years ago where you would just bolt the stuff in and have it work...Now you have to bolt AND plug it in making sure that it can be plugged in and that it will work, also adding 4x4 to a 4x2 regardless of vehicle is (in my opinion) alot of work.

Whatever one you get though enjoy it, trucks are nice.

it is something i enjoy, and i'm up for all that stuff too. the reason i'm planning to do that is because it's hard to find a truck in the spec i want, so i'm buying a truck that's close and when i have more money i'm going to turn it into the truck i want.

if i find one in the spec i want, and within my budget. i'll buy it sraight-up and save myself from lots of work.

i do have future plans to take another F-150 (10th gen, 2-door flareside) and make it into a drag racer, with a Ford Racing 520ci engine.

Keep in mind a v6 or a small v8 has to work its butt off to pull this big truck..Ive got a 5.4 my buddys got a 4.6 ive got the power and we get about the same mileage actually once we figured i beat him on a tank...DAVE

hmm... that sounds like good justification to buy a truck with a nice big engine.

i'm thinking of doing certain stuff to it down the line, tweaks for fuel efficiency etc...

possibly even put a 5.9 in the SuperCrew and 520ci in a 2-door.

a 100,000 mile for 13k?
I just scored my '03 supercrew lariat FX4 with 38K miles, 6" lift, 37's for $19000

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/jceverett/f-150/DSC00924.jpg

very nice. only problem being i don't have $19,000. at most i can spend $14,000.

i'm looking for an XLT spec, not Lariat. (moving to florida, too hot for leather seats, and i prefer cloth)

i'd like a 4x4 version, but haven't found any yet in the area around where i'll be living. i guess it doesn't matter, i have 9 months before i arrive.