The later F150s (and the Expedition I have as a family bus) are pretty tough to do much with. Our local Ford dealer's service writer, with whom I went to high school, tells me they just use a hoist to lift the body off the frame to do major stuff. Easier than working with the engine halfway back under the cowl.

Which is exactly where it is. The back couple of cylinders on each bank are way back there. I'm a little nervous about having this thing as it gets more miles on it, since even the spark plug changes look - er - interesting.

But the 4.6L V-8 that's in my 2000 Expedition pulls that monster down the road well enough. The thing weighs in at about 5600 lbs, and at 60MPH on non-California gas, I've gotten 20MPG. 4WD and six and a half feet tall.

The 5.4L engine is about the same physical size, and they aren't particularly heavy, but I think you're looking at removing the rad, grille, rad support, all that, to be able to move the engine forward far enough to lift it out of the truck. May be easier, literally, to get a set of camper jacks and remove the cab to do the work.

The comment about the parts stream for the 4.6 is no doubt accurate, but you may get lucky and find an engine in a wrecked Lightning or Harley-Davidson edition F150, which will give you a blown 5.4L. The horsepower on the Lightning was about 390, and the H-D version wasn't far behind.

The 300 I6 is a good engine, bit it is long and probably wont fit in the newer vehicles. That's why I am sticking with the '65 F100. I can put just about any engine in it - including the 410/428 that I have waiting for installation. But the mileage won't be good. I assume if I get 12-14MPG I should celebrate.

Good luck in any event. I may be a Ford bigot, but the new Chevy/GMC trucks look a lot easier to work on. At least up to 2003 (a friend's daughter has one), the engine is pretty much out in the open. Also, pushrod vs. OHC. Probably less fidgety, even if a little lower on power. Depends on what you want.