1997 F150 engine pics?

[Kit Basher]

Anybody have any detail pics for the engine in the Lindberg F150 Off Road 4x4 kit? I think the model represents a 2000- something truck, and I think the engine is the 4.6 liter. Not sure about either of those. I'm building that kit and would like to do basic wiring and plumbing, and paint it the right color, but I'm having a hard time finding close up pics. Thanks in advance.

Edited November 28, 2012 by Kit Basher

[Fabrux]

All tenth generation F-150s in scale with the exception of the Revell Harley Davidson edition are all 1997 model year depictions. They all also have the 4.6L engine (the only one available with the 5-speed as in the Lindberg kit). Engines were bare metal, with the block and heads being cast iron, front cover aluminum, oil pan and valve covers satin black. The intake manifold is cast aluminum, NOT chrome. Top cover and air intake are black plastic, power steering reservoir is white translucent plastic. I have a 2001 F-150 however it has a 5.4L and the differences between the 4.6 and 5.4 might get confusing if you're not familiar with them. My truck is also 11 years old so the engine bay doesn't look the prettiest these days...

I also have a few engine bay shots of my old 1997 Expedition that may be of some use to you. However, it had rear heat and had extra coolant lines that might also be confusing.

Edited November 27, 2012 by kataranga

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Chris, that's a lot of help already! As near as i can tell the plug wires run from a box in front of each valve cover to spaces between the intake risers. Is this correct, and are there plug boots, or just wires going into the heads? Thanks again.

[Fabrux]

This all depends on what engine and what year you are trying to depict. The Modular motors all had distributorless ignition. The 4.6L in trucks from 1997-1999 had one coil pack per head with the plugs going in the top of the heads beside the injectors. This is a 4.6L in my 97 Expedition when I was replacing the intake manifold gaskets.

All 5.4L and the 4.6L after 2000 run coil-on-plug ignition systems; 8 plugs, 8 coils. The 5.4L also has a slightly different front drive than the 4.6L, but in scale it probably wouldn't be that noticeable in the vehicle. The 5.4L's throttle body cover is also a bit different. Finally, around 2001 or so the intake manifold switched from cast aluminum (as above) to black plastic (as in my F-150). Surprisingly, I don't have any pictures of my F-150's engine bay...hmm.

If you head over to F150online.com and poke around either the V8 forum or the Tenth Generation forum (97-03) you should be able to find some good pictures.

Edited November 28, 2012 by kataranga

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Chris. I've changed the title of this thread to reflect your information. Thanks also for the F150 site. I'm still looking for more stuff but this will definitely get me going.

[torinobradley]

I sold my '97 with a 4.6 otherwise I'd snap some pics for you. The 2 coil packs are in front of each head and one or two wires from each cross over to the other side along the front of the motor. I remember that back plug on the drivers side was a nightmare to get out. The boots are sunk into the intake so they are not really visible, even though they are about 8" long.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, Andrew. I've got four plug wires into each of those coil packs in front of the heads. I suspected what you said about the boots not showing, so I'm just going to run the wires right into the heads. I was wondering how the heck you changed plugs on this thing, I can see why that back plug would be a nightmare. Seems like you'd have to crawl in there upside down and use a rubber wrench!

[Fabrux]

Let me tell you, spark plugs are not fun. I fought with my Expedition so much I gave up and took it to a shop. The back ones on the passenger side were the worst ones for me due to all the extra coolant lines running to the rear heater core.

[Patrick2005]

My Crown Vic has the F150 4.6 so if you need pics I'm happy to help.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Patrick, anything you can do that is not too much trouble would be great. I'm particularly wondering where the heater hoses attach. Here is what I have so far, if anyone sees any glaring errors, please let me know. It's hard to see the black wires against the black valve covers, but they go from the square boxes in front of each valve cover and enter the heads between the intake risers. Thanks to all.

Edited December 2, 2012 by Kit Basher

[torinobradley]

That silver thing going over the top of the throttle body appears to have the crossover wires on it. If that't the case, they would be black (or gray) to match your existing wires. There are some plug wires that cross over the front of the motor before going to the plug on the opposite bank. Other than that, it looks good from my recollections. Busted knuckles and all...

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, Andrew. I'm guessing that two wires are represented on that crossover thing. I will try to paint those black and call it good. Still no clue about heater hoses tho....

[Fabrux]

I can help you with that. The heater hose comes out the back of the block.

This is the line from the water pump to the back.

And here's the back of the engine:

The return for the heater hose I think goes above the oil filter. There's a bracket that attaches to the block that houses the oil filter and a coolant line (I forget which).

As a side note, the kit is slightly inaccurate with the oil filter. The placement on the block is correct for car-based 4.6L engines but for the trucks in 97 the oil filter was actually located on the frame in front of the driver's side wheel. I don't have any pictures of the setup but it was a lot easier to deal with than crawling in and finding the filter above the front axle pumpkin (which I have to do with my '01 5.4L).

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Chris. That should get me where I want to go. I think I'll go ahead and finish this thing up. It may not be completely right, but thanks to you guys it will be a whole lot better than if I just winged it. Thanks again to all.

[SlotDaddy1963]

I know it's an old thread but I need some help... Does Ford paint the undersides of the cab and bed?

I'm working on the Revell 1997 F150 standard cab pickup