I'm new to the board, so I hope this post is in the appropriate forum!

As soon as I sell my lil' '88 Ranger (too small for the growing family! ), I intend to buy an older F-150 ext-cab. I'll be looking for a V-8, auto - beyond that, I'm not too set on other options, etc.

I'm leaning toward something in the year-range of '88 - '92 for price reasons. Is there anything in that year range that I should know about? Anything I should avoid? Any improvements from one model year to another during those years that would make one better than the others? I have a slightly modded '92 GT, so I am fairly familiar with the 5.0, but am new to F-150s....well, I hope to be new to them very soon.
Anyone want to offer suggestions as to any model-year that would be best to look for from that range? Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Wade

 

nothing i can really think of to avoid . other then any truck from that era if it hasnt been well taken care of is gonna need hoses . belt . water pump . t stat , possibly power steering pump . etc.. etc.. my truck was well taken care of but yet it is at the age it needs work . these are great trucks no matter what motor /trans combo ya get you'll be happy . oh electric door locks . power windows . at this age they start craping out ......lol
there is also a cross fuel flow and ignition recall .

 

The usual stuff that costs money, like tires, puking tranny, rear main, my radiator leaks at side tanks. Not enough to replace ...yet. Listen for knock at cold start-up. If it lasts more than 45 seconds, ask them about it. As always there are plenty of reasons not to buy, and plenty of reasons to buy. If you like it buy it. Good luck, come back soon.

ps. I now have 110k, still going good.

 

FWIW: I believe 1992 was the first year the F-150 used the roller 302 engine.

If you find one you like, copy down the VIN, as well as all of the codes below the bar code on the Vehicle Certification (VC) label (found in the drivers side door jamb), and email them to me.

pkrwuds@pacbell.net

I'll decipher them for you, so that you'll know more about the truck before you buy it.

Take care,
-Chris

 

Thanks for the info guys!!

Yeah, the usual stuff is to be expected. With my Stang @ 100k mi, I'm on the lookout for that stuff with it - but so far.......

Macgyver, that ignition recall is the same as for the Mustangs, isn't it? Seems like I remember some Ford trucks being included in that too..... What's that cross fuel flow recall? Do you know exactly what that fixes? (just curious)

'92 was the first year for the roller block? Hmmph. Thanks. What was the first year that the F-150s went to mass air? (I know through '88, Stangs were speed-density; '89+ were mass-air)

I really figured that those years of the F-150 were pretty solid, but you never know when Ford will change a good thing in the middle and have one year, or two where a certain model is best avoided for one reason or another.....

Again, thanks for the info, and I'll be hanging out here gleaning more info.

Wade

 

Wade-

Allow me to correct myself. The F-150 has had the roller 5.0 since 1988, but it didn't use a roller cam and lifters until 1992. In otherwords, from 1988 through 1991, it's a roller block with a flat cam and lifters installed. From 1992 on, they installed roller cams and lifters.

As far as MAF goes, this is currently under debate. To the best that I can figure, MAF was first used in trucks on automatic equipped 5.0's starting in 1994. In 1995, they also added California 4.9's & 5.8's w/ an auto tranny. By 1996, all 4.9's & 5.0's had MAF, as did 5.8's under 8500 GVW, and California 7.5's.

Hope this helps.

Take care,
-Chris

 

- Make sure both gas tanks work (flip the switch)

- Look for rust on the tanks, they are expensive to replace and there aren't aftermarket sources

- The factory cast iron exhaust manifolds crack. Have a set ready from the scrap yard or better yet get some shortys right away.

- IF its a 5spd, check the tranny: From underneath the truck, look up and reach up to the top plate on the tranny that the shifter turret protrudes from. There are 3 rubber plugged holes facing forward, 3 facing back. Those rubber plugs dry rot, the oil mists out when the gears are whipping it (at speed) and the tranny (which holds 3.5 qts) runs dry and burns up. Look for evidence of oil mist. If its run dry or running dry your in for a $1000 tranny. The junk yards are full of burned up trannys and the rebuilders are full of rebuilt burned up trannys, which doesn't make for a good rebuild

Those are the main issues. On the pre 92 the shift interlock on the colum can go bad (the switch you have to hold to remove the key).. not too bad a repair.

Thats it that I can think of..

 

the cross fuel flow recall i believe was just new fuel pressure regs ?? another issue is the keyway axis in the column breaks . i got an old brass one out of an 85 and filed it to fit mine . muchbetter then the pot metal pos they used in 90' . yes i replace exhaust manifolds to. and the water lines running to the throttle body tend to rust out and break off . ya side tanks on rad leaking to . fuel sender in front tank crapped out . paint peeling causing small rust spots all over .

 

Thanks again fellas - Just the kind of stuff I was looking for!!

/me prints thread

PKRWUD, actually, after making my last post, I was scanning the board, and came across the post that you made regarding the roller block/roller cam issue. Thanks!

Wade

 

I would like to hear more about the tranny fluid coming out of the top of the 5-speed. Mine always has a drip of fluid at the bottom and I determined it was flying out the top. Do I need to replace those rubber plugs? Can they be replaced through the interrior, with the shifter boot removed? I always check my tranny fluid. It was been about a year since I changed it, and is still not low.

 

I do not know if you can replace the plugs while it is in the truck or even if you can get to the plugs from inside our outside the truck. Maybe if you remove the tranny crossmember and jack UP the engine by putting a 2x4 under the oil pan you could make the tail drop down far enough away from the floorboard to easily access it.. haven't tried this though.. Standard Transmission and Gear in Fort Worth rebuilt mine properly: (817) 625-7109 Call them and ask for Corey. He was very helpful. They rebuild a LOT of Mazda 5spd trannys. He could tell you if/how to replace the plugs (the seal them w/ black RTV) while it's in the truck. If you have a leak it is a nuisance as long as you keep filling it. If you neglect it your hosed..