Thinking about getting an 89 extended cab 4x4 V8
 

So I'm thinking about getting an 89 F150 extended cab 4x4 with the 302. Check out the ad:

http://www.isaintjohn.com/classified...ad.php?t=18836

What do you think? How bad are they on fuel? Does it sound like a good deal to you? Would this have the 3 or 4 speed auto? Is the 4wd system part-time or full-time?

Looks clean to me. this would be a 3spd with OD, gonna be looking at around 11city, 13highway. And thats on a good day. The four wheel drive is part time, you engage it in the cab. It has auto hubs, they tend to fail. A grand seems fair to me.

give 'em $950-1,000

I'd jump right on it but I'm just worried about the fuel mileage, a gallon of gas costs $4.10 in Canadian money...

It has the E4OD tranny, a 4spd with the 4th being an overdrive. (Electronic 4 speed Over Drive)

302 is a decent motor but fairly useless IMO. The 300 is nearly identical in power and better on gas(seeing up to 15-16mpg). With the 302 expect to see 14 or 15 straight highway, less around town.

I have the 351, the 302's big brother and that gets about 13 straight highway, but surprisingly about the same around town provided I go easy on the gas.

Chances are the floor t-case shifter is seized, meaning you may get 4hi to work through lots of wd40, but you'll never use N or 4low without replacing the shift arm. They tend to rust and not work.

Auto hubs work for occasional off-road use (driving through fields, dirt roads, or snowy conditions) but will not stand up to any serious off-road activity. People that complain about them failing say they popped when going up a 10% grade in mud hauling a 5 ton boat or something.....

$1000 seems a fair price provided it is in overall decent shape. i.e the cab isn't trashed or body excessively rusted.

I wonder how much difference in fuel economy there would be between this truck and my old 94 GMC Safari van. The van was the extended wheelbase model with 2wd, 4 speed 4L60E and the base 4.3 V6. It was EPA rated 15 city/20 highway but it wasn't running all that good, I figure it got about 13-14 city, maybe 19 highway. The truck is rated 12 city/16 highway.

im pretty sure it has a AOD tranny, not a e4od.

Ya, guess it could have the AOD. That will give slightly better mileage on the highway due to it's deep overdrive, but as such it downshifts to drive at the slightest hill or for any passing power.

Getting 16 on the highway would be a very good day for you. My 300 would get 15 on a mostly flat 90 mile highway drive provided I kept things at 65 and not 78 like usual. Then I was down to 13 or so.