I have an opportunity to purchase the following truck, which I don't (yet) have all the details on, but will be going to see later this week.

I just want to know if there are things I should look for when I inspect it and what things could be a problem (ie: what's good and bad about this year and set of options).

Is there a good site to get all the factory specs and maybe decode the VIN number?

Thanx.

It's a 1988 F150 regular cab long box 4.9L (300 cid) I6 4X4 with 5 speed (manual 4x4 transfer case, manual locking hubs, no power windows or locks). The body is supposed to be in good shape and the vehicle will be certified by the time I get to see and drive it. I'm located in North Bay, ON Canada (3 hrs North of Toronto). The asking price is $2000 (about $1300 us$). It also has a high-rise cap and heavy duty receiver hitch.

Any info/opinions appreciated.

 

Seeing how it's got a 4.9L you already have your moneys worth
That engine will live for ever.

 

Which transmission should this 5-speed be?

I have read that there is some Mazda tranny that's not so good but that maybe it's not in the 4x4s...

Is this true?

Thanx.

 

Ya it's got the Mazda 5spd(M5OD)
My 5spd has 111k on it and still works like new.
Ya people have had horror stories about it but there's stories about everything/anything made.
These tranny's are still used in the newer models of F150's so they can't be that bad.

 

Sounds like a good price on the truck, SPROCKET_X is right, that 4.9L will run forever.

My M5OD has 200k+ on it. I have a reverse/overdrive slider problem with, I think the fork or slider is worn and doesnt catch quite right. Not a big deal so long as I dont yank it out of OD in a fit of road rage. Im sure that has nothing to do with me driving it like a race car
I've heard rumors that these things are weak, but with 200k I haven't been able to break mine yet. Ill let you know when I do.

 

i broke my 5 speed, but theres a good reason why it broke, it was completely DRY when i bought it! the previous owner had been driving it for who knows how long with no fluid whatsoever and since i bought it at an auction, i really didint have much time to check it over in detail. the damage wasn't too extensive though, so i took it to a tranny shop that a friend of mine owns and they rebuilt it for me and i have had zero problems since (this was 4 years ago)

 

I had a 1988 F150 4x4 Custom with the 4.9L inline six and 4 speed tranny (more like 3 speed plus the granny gear). I should have never sold that truck! Yeah, it was old, had 110k miles on it, poor on gas, had the deluxe self stripping ford paint, but it was tough! We used it as the mountain truck and that thing would go anywhere in 4 Lo with that first gear! I sold it for $2k two years ago and it is still going strong. I had it for 25k miles and had to replace the transfer case, ball joints, ujoints, and exhaust. That beats having to rebuild the motor on my 1997 F150 and was a hell of a lot cheaper!!

It depends on what you are looking for in a vehicle, but I would say go for it if it seems like a solid truck!

 

I'd grab it! I paid $2300 for my 90 XLT Lariat 4X4 with the I-6 EFI. It's got A.T., auto locking hubs, power locks and windows, an Eagle cap and running boards. It's got the bleeding paint problem, some rust around the wheel wells, and some minor electrical probs.(one door lock doesn't work, pass.side window control doesn't work) but it's my work truck. I also haul my camper with it. Bought it from a farmer who installed a farm hitch on it, but he didn't beat it. Good luck with it!

 

A farm hitch, you mean 5th wheel?

 

LLoverCrazyJay-

No, one of those hitches that's got a lever underneath which allows it to slide back and forth, and a flat bar with a hole in it for attaching farm wagons with a bolt.
I've worked out a deal with a friend who will swap me a Reese Class three hitch and back bumper off of his '85 dually F-250 for this hitch. I bolted a 2" ball on the bar and use it to haul my pop-up camper. There's a height difference which is why I'm making the swap.

 

You mean a cushion bumper Those hitches are really handy for hooking up wagons and trailers, on one of our trucks we have that setup.

 

The fuel injected I6 in this truck I'm looking to buy... Is it port or throttle-body injection? Mass Air or Speed Density system?

I still haven't taken it for a spin, the seller is doing the work it needs for certification first...

Thanx.

 

It is port injected and is speed density.