1997 Ford F350 460 cu. in.
Summary:
This is not a serious commercial vehicle; it's very costly to operate and maintain
Faults:
Spark plugs rusted into threads, and heads had to be removed to repair at 60,000km.
Starter motors tend to corrode very quickly, to the point where they need to be replaced, as well as the wiring.
Alternator bearings seized.
Transmission cooler lines rusted away.
Transfer case lever broke off.
Air pump seized.
Catalytic converter failed.
Multiple oil leaks.
Frost plugs rusted away.
Block heater blew out.
Numerous tubes and brackets under the hood corroded away.
Door locks stopped working, hood latch failed.
Dealer had trouble supplying correct parts; it usually took 3 tries and at least one week wait.
Shock absorbers replaced 3 times.
General Comments:
The truck was used for snow plowing for a few years. It was always well maintained and never abused. It performed quite well for this function. The cab was quiet, and the heater worked well. There were never any problems with internal engine parts, nor any of the driveline. The ride was surprisingly quiet and easy to drive. The payload of the vehicle allowed it to be well loaded, and it would still ride well and brake without any problems.
After 15 years there was very little rust.
The truck had numerous repairs, and is not something that should be considered for serious commercial use, due to constant problems, some minor, some major, but the dealer service was awful. The truck would spend one or two weeks at a time in the shop waiting for parts.
Engine performance and gas mileage were quite poor. I would expect a lot more grunt from such a large engine.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 8th January, 2013
16th Jun 2015, 22:33
I own a 1997 460 7.5 that has 297,000 miles on it. It's a 5 speed and I haul equipment everyday with it. I also have 1997 Powerstroke with 210,000 miles. I love them both.
18th Jun 2015, 13:47
If this was a long term snow plow vehicle, the road salt exposure could have adversely affected the rusted components and starter. A trip to car washes could have helped cleaning the undercarriage. How is the body on the review vehicle? I bought a pressure washer and haven't had these issues.
16th Sep 2015, 21:45
We did in fact wash the vehicle regularly, top and bottom. The body did not rust out. Sold it in 2012. The only rust on body was due to stone chips, scrapes, all minor. The underside was also regularly oil sprayed. A splash shield to protect the starter, as well as actually painting the engine at the factory, would have been a big help.
16th Sep 2015, 21:47
It was in fact a 460 engine. I have owned a few in the past; this one was a huge let down.
13th Feb 2013, 11:30
If I remember correctly, there was no 460 cid V8 available for 1997, as the whole line was restyled that year in a more modern fashion. I believe that the 1997-2004 models were some of the worst. You probably have that underpowered, higher revving 5.4L V8 that was introduced that year to replace the proven and reliable 460, to help increase fuel economy.