1985 shortbed f-150 with starting issues. It has the 4.9l inline 6, everything stock. When attempting to start, I have to go through 3 or 4 attempts at cranking it before it will start. It will fire right up if i spray some starting fluid into the intake. Any suggestions or comments??? email to bjmac_79@yahoo.com

 

Try posting over in the Pre-97 forum. You should get a much better response there...

 

Watch out about chalkin' up your plugs with Ether.
Starter fluid is for emergencies.
I'd recommend a full tune-up (plugs, cap, rotor, maybe wires[fire 'er up after dark with the hood up - Christmas lights are bad!])
not a mechanic, just been there...

 

1985 is that injected or is it still carbed. I know the 5.0's were injected but I can't recall on the 6. Could be a number of things but first I would do what Danhugs said. If it does help when you richen up the mixture then you know where the problem obviously lies. Fuel/air system, not ignition.

 

Could be time for a new fuel pump. Sounds like it's losing it's prime and need to push fuel up to the carb. If I'm not mistaken, fuel injection didn't make it to the trucks until '87.

 

I know for a fact that 1985 5.0 in trucks were fuel injected. My dad has one he bought it new. 460 did not have it until 1987 I beleive.

 

I had the exact same truck. You have a mechanical fuel pump. It costs about $15-20 bucks and takes 5 minutes to change it. I would recommend that you change it. It might help your current problem and it will keep you from pumping gasoline into the oil supply. A fuel filter failure will destroy your engine, I killed by main bearing by driving a couple of miles with a blown fuel pump. For 20 bucks it's good insurance!

 

Why doesn't Ford bring the 300 inline six back? What a great engine! I had one in a 96 150 2wd with a 5 speed and the torque was awesome. What a huge mistake in dropping the inline six and moving to a V6. I can say that because I have owned both...the V6 might be good for drag racing but when you put any kind of load on it can't get out of it's own way. The V6 just doesn't have near the grunt the inline did.

 

I wholeheartedly agree that the 300 was the best engine ever built ( well 'cept for maybe a powerstroke).
1985 should have been a carbuerated model with a one barrel carb. hard starting in my old truck would be due to timing out of whack, bad fuel pump, clogged filter, or rotor, cap and wires, plugs fouling, etc.
If the truck runs good after you get it started, I would definitly check the fuel filter, on my old truck I added an extra inline filter before the original filter and then only had to change them every 50k miles. problems such as fuel pump,timing, plugs and wires etc would definitely cause it to run like crap after you get it started.

Since it is winter time...
I would bet money that your problem is in the choke setting. My 85 had a mechanincal/electrical choke. It set when you pumped the pedal once or twice, and then released after the engine came up to temp or the acc. pedal was pressed again. Try setting the choke to be more sensitive and I bet you will be going in no time.