I have a '88 F-150. It is a manual with a tach. But, their is no redline on the tach. I've had the engine up to 5500 RPM'S before but I thought I had better find out what redline really is before I do that to much. It is a 302, does anybody know, thanks.

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'88 F-150, 5.0 Liter, 5 speed, duel exhaust, FAST!

 

When your working the engine (pulling hill) i wouldn't be afraid to take it to 6,000rpm, i mean don't hold it there but take it there and shift, depending on the mileage if it has over 100,000miles and depending how it was run before you got it. now holding back (comming down a hill) i wouldn,t go over 5,500rpm. if you feel safe a 5,500rpm then only take it that high, older engines with high miles develope a patern and if you take it past what its used to you will develope problems. just realized this is over 12 years old this question oh well.

 

I wouldn't take it past 5,000 myself. Old truck engine and all. My Mach I rarely sees 5,500 and it is built and all.. My buddy had an 86 Bronco with a 302 with the old truck tranny the 4speed with the compound low 1st.. He was pulling a tent trailer up a pretty steep hill and the front main bearing cap busted off. Never seen anything like that not in a race engine. I figure it had a flaw from the factory and all it just took it 15 years to break. I had to tow it home and he scrapped it..

 

Way to revive a 12 year old thread...........

 

Holy crap! didnt even notice that!