Currently have an '82 2WD with 5.0 302 V8. Need something that's more dependable, gets better gas mileage, and has 4x4. I'm looking for a short bed extended cab or regular cab. Preferably low miles, i've been down the road of rebuilding a truck, don't have the money or time to do it. I looked up the power and can already see the I6 built from 92-96 has more power than my 302. Just looking for a clean truck that'll last me. And I've heard the I6 is bulletproof. Thanks.

 

The I6 may be bulletproof, but the gas mileage really isn't any better than a 302.

 

goes the thirsty torque monster!

 

I went and looked at an I6 this past weekend. a 1996 regular cab short bed 4x4. Looked awesome on craigslist, showed up and it'd been sitting for what looked like over a year and it was really beat up. Would be a sick truck if it was clean. I found a 1995 regular cab 5.0 auto yesterday 4x4. It looks like the guy took really really good care of it but it has 144,000 on the entire truck, trans, and engine. So i'm kinda iffy on buyin it. Probably not going too. I just know that the v8s require a lot more maintenance than the I6. Any advice?

 

I'd like to hear the explanation on that.

All things being equal, mileage, condition etc. If I had my choice of the 3 engines available in this vintage F-150, I would take the 351. Next choice would be the 300, last the 302. The 351 has a lot more power and at worst would only get a couple MPG less than the 300 or 302. Everything has it's price, I certainly wouldn't pass on a 302 if the price was right.

 

i looked up the mpg ratings on all of them. the 302 and 300 are pretty similar. and i just read up on some guys on all had v8s and bought straight 6s and love them. and on my truck now, people always ask me if i have the straight 6, they don't ask if i have the v8. and the guy is asking 5,000 for the truck. he said he's going to fix something before he sells it (rear drive axle i think) but other than that it looks good. It's just the 144k that worries me. I dropped a new engine in my truck, not ready to do that again. Here's the link if you want to take a look. He doesn't have much info listed but i've been talking to him.
http://waco.craigslist.org/ctd/2934922740.html

 

$5k is about as premium price as you ask for a truck like that without getting punched in the face. The bluebook probably is $3k for private party.

 

I figured. I probably wouldn't consider it if it was over 5k. My mom's mad at me for looking at these trucks cause she doesn't want me to buy another project, and I don't want too. But 96 is really the last body style i like. My dad had a 94 4x4 extended cab and he said it was the first really solid truck he had. I've been reading up and I guess they made the 302s dependable by then because they get great reviews. 12-17 mpgs is expected but I'll do a few things to tweak that. I just want a tight, clean truck and this really does look like one but i'm just being careful. Spent 12,000 on my f150 up to date and still, my trans is gonna go out in 5 months and my i-beam bushings and radius arm bushings are out so my camber angle is way off. i'm getting terrible gas mileage even with a high flow intake, catback exhaust, and no cats. I'm not going down that road again.

 

Hey Zach, what are you going to be doing with your truck? Just riding, towing, looking for performance? If you really like the truck you're looking at, offer him 3k cash, see where that takes you. He did say best offer. Peace, Dave.

 

light towing. small boats down on the gulf coast. need 4x4 for the beach, duck lease, and offroading next year at A&M. Don't need performance necessarily. Just a clean, dependable vehicle, that doesn't murder me at the pump like my truck does now. i know that these f150s don't get great gas mileage, but they do better than mine now and will be less maintenance. i need something that will last me through college. The boat i need to tow is 15 feet long and doesn't weight much. i can tow it now with my 82. Does that help?

 

buy a bicycle.

 

All three are gonna get the same "bad" mileage. No way around the weight and aerodynamic properties of a rolling brick.

Adrianspeeder

 

I dont no if you got a truck but you have some things out that should get cleared up. All of these trucks will be pretty bad on gas. 5.0 will be best on gas. 4.9 will be best on durability. 5.8 will be best on power. THey are all pretty reliable, they all pretty much suck on gas, you wont get 17 mpg, probaby ever with any of the three. Talking from my my and friends experience.
You mentioned something about working on v6s being cheaper .....

I went on the same crazy search at first I only wanted a 351/5.8 then decided I should get the 6. Settled for a 5.0 because price was right and as far as durability my friend has sunk his in the mud bad, one time for 16 hours and he was on the throttle for alot of that time. Engine still kicks *** he beats the **** out of it. I know another kid who reakky gave his 5.0 hell, it was on 38s and he drove it threw lakes and wheeled it hard, engine took alot before finally blowing up

moral of the story, any engine you end up with will do the job. Theyrre all pretty strong engines and none of them get awesome gas milage. Also you shouldn't have to pay any where near 5 grand....... they are great trucks tho

 

If the one with the 302 is in the good shape you say it is I would get it before someone else buys it.

 

x2......... 302 aint a bad engine at all, I've seen them do great things