1994 F-150, to buy, or not to buy?

FastTrack38 · #1 10-09-2006, 06:12 PM

I found this great 1994 F-150 that is in excellent shape. I called about it to find more information and I found it only had the V6 and manual transmission.

I was hoping for a V8 5.0 with an auto.

The more I was thinking, the more I don't really mind the V6, as I won't really be towing anything.

So here are a few questions:

How is the V6 compared to the V8 5.0 in power? I heard it's very close and the V6 is more reliable?

I was first going with auto, and still not sure if the manual is right. What are you'll opinions on auto vs. manual? Pros and Cons?

The price is RIGHT for this truck, but just looking for a few opinions.

Thanks!

HumboldtF150 · #2 10-09-2006, 06:22 PM

If you are planning on doind any kind of towing, you are BETTER off with the inline 6.

I just sold my '94 F-150. It had the 5.0 with the 5-speed. It was a total dog unless it was completely unloaded. No ***** whatsoever with any kind of load.

FastTrack38 · #3 10-09-2006, 06:27 PM

How did you like the manual transmission? There are quite a bit of hills around here and it will mostly be city driving.

Thanks for the reply

HumboldtF150 · #4 10-09-2006, 06:31 PM

Ive always preferred a manual tranny.

Although, the truck that replaced the F-150 is a Powerstroke Diesel F-250 with an auto-trans. First auto Ive EVER owned.

So far, Im really loving the two pedal thing

GO, and STOP!

So much easier on the driver in town, especially when you have something in tow.

HumboldtF150 · #5 10-09-2006, 06:34 PM

er... got a bit off topic. And forgot to answer your question.

There are two different 5-speed trannies that came with the 150's. A mazda built (M50D) trans, and a BW (ZF) trans.

I had the M50D. Good tranny, but has some faults. Mainly leaky shift rod seals. If this one had the M50D, be sure to check the fluid level. The leak can get bad enough to run the tranny pretty low.

Let me know if you want more info.

Ive got a "spotters guide" photo showing the two trannies somewhere....

mrainey889 · #6 10-09-2006, 09:42 PM

Good point about the 5.0 (302cu) v8 vs the 4.9 (300cu) inline 6. Stock, the straight six makes great torque at low rpm's, perfect for towing.

Something to think about though...

There are tons, and I mean literally hundreds, of performance parts (some quite cheap) for the ford 302 v8. The stock form may not have been impressive, but new heads, a cam, and decent exhaust manifolds can make bunches of power out of that 'lil v8.

Unfortunately, mods for the straight six are harder (and more expensive) to come by, although it too can be kicked up a bit.

Just a thought,

Mike

94f1504.9 · #7 10-10-2006, 12:04 PM

I got myself a '94 with the inline 6 and a 5 speed as well, it is an awesome truck, and even with my little 6 i can still walk my buddy's gmc. and the 6 is very reliable

RaWarrior · #8 10-10-2006, 05:21 PM

Check the tranny code(sticker on the inside of the driver's door) then compare it to adrian's sticky in the Transmission section. It will tell you which trans it is, and some basic features.

My truck has the mazda one and with over 90k miles it still shifts perfectly fine. No grinding, every transition is smooth. The only minor quirk is that trying to put it in first at speed(with clutch in, like slowing down coasting for a stoplight) is a little tough, you gotta give it a good shove. Stopped, it slips right in.

The v6 should be just fine, and yes, it is a little more reliable than the v8. The I-6 is almost legendary among truckers as one of the best engines ever to be put in a truck. Stubbornly reliable, tons of torque and fairly easy maintenance. Tows great also. Empty, it drives very well for a full-size truck(mine's a longbed). With a tow, it drives the same way. Towing a half-ton load I didn't even notice that it was more sluggish or anything, that's where the torque really comes through. It would still do 70 in O/D just fine. One of my buddies has a v8 and with 3 sleds in tow, even the smallest incline causes it to downshift almost immediatly and lose 20mph off highway speed. Going up a decent grade, with the throttle pinned it was topping out at about 50, in 3rd gear. With my truck empty, I don't even have to take it out of O/D to get up that hill, his downshifts even when empty. A little extra gas and it maintains speed fine.

Manual's are sometimes scary to someone who's driven an auto for years but you get used to it real quick. When I got my truck I was shifting like a pro within a couple days and within a week or so was doing it sub-consciously, I wasn't even thinking about it. In traffic or city driving it can get a little tiring, since you either have to hold the clutch or put it in neutral, then put it back in first to get going again. However, I find it helps in that it only shifts when you want it to, not when the speed sensor deems that it's time. That lets me control the speed better, and engine braking is nice too. Unless you're driving down a cliff, just letting off the gas will slow you down just fine. I drove for almost 100 miles on the freeway and didn't need to touch the brakes once.