Hey ya'll, I just picked a 1996 Pacific Green F-150 regular cab, with an 8 foot bed. It's a 302 with an AODE, 4x4, and the XLT package. The truck has 61,000 original miles on it and was a one owner truck (owned by an older gentleman). Never plowed or towed with, it's pretty much a pristine cream-puff of a truck. I paid $4500 for it, which I think was a pretty fair price.

 

Welcome to FTE, i hope you enjoy many good years with your truck.

 

Medium Calypso Green (paint code PL or PT) is my favorite color. My '94 is half that color. I've painted 2 motorcycles that color....and always got compliments from the ladies about it!!

Sounds like a nice rig. Looking forward to seeing pictures!

 

Sounds pretty...

But as a tip...

1996 F-150's never got the AOD transmissions...Much less the AODE...

1991 was the last year for the AOD.....AODE's weren't offered for the trucks....


It's either a E4OD (Based from the c6's), or the 4R70W....Which was based from the AOD style trannies....Both are good units, when cared for...

 

welcome to the site. we need pics lol

 

People always try and disprove me when I say my '92 has an AOD... but the reason it does is because it was made in the fall of 1991.

 

I meant that 1991 was last year that the trucks were BUILT with AOD's.....

Yes, yours has an AOD....BUT, it has a 1991 build date, IIRC, or an EARLY 1992 build date...(1/92, etc)...

 

Ok, gotcha. Yeah it was a 91 build date... 9/91

 

My mistake on the transmission. I'll have to decipher the door sticker once I get her home and all washed up.

It may need a few things: ball joints, shocks, and a tonneau cover.

I was thinking of doing a 2" suspension lift, would that be better to do when I was going to do the shocks?

Also, what would be a nice sounding exhaust for the truck?

 

Count the bolts on the pan, if it has 22, then you have a E4OD (most probable one in there). The 4R70W IS an AOD, the only thing that changed was the name and some minor improvements.

 

You can do the shocks before or after the lift.. doesn't really matter..

As for exhaust, I kinda like the Thrush Turbo Mufflers. I don't have a custom exhaust on mine yet, but I am considering this:

f-150 true duals - YouTube

 

That exhaust sounds decent, I was thinking more of something like a side exit Gibbs system.

How would be the best way to go about doing ball joints? Would it be easier/cheaper to just buy a whole new lower control arm?

I'm also thinking of doing some Por-15 undercoating, if anyone's done that, I'd appreciate some tips. I'd like to prevent rust from getting on this truck, because I'd like to preserve it and keep it in good condition.

 

Sounds like you'd be better off having a shop do the ball joints, they are a PITA on the 4wd trucks.

Sounds like a nice truck tho. The E4OD has 20 bolts IIRC

You'll be fine with the shocks a 2" lift isnt enough to really warrant all new shocks again. However the Rancho RS5000's are said to fit with up to a 4" lift for our trucks.

If you're gonna do exhaust I'd do headers and all. Lontubes are the way to go!

 

Ball Joints are indeed a pain. But not a terrible difficult job. I'm in the middle of mine on my 93 4X4. But, I wouldn't consider it if the truck was a daily driver. It will take me a couple of weeks to get it all done, but that's because I have a heated garage that I can get to it as I have time.

An impact wrench and a cutting torch are pretty much a necessity though. Mine are rusted solid into place.

 

The ball joints aren't urgent, but I will have to do them at some point in the near future. I was quoted at about $650 for a shop to do them.

In the spring I've decided that I'm going to coat the whole undercarriage with Por-15 rust preventative treatment, since New England winters are pretty tough on older vehicles.

Does anyone know how much Por I'd end up needing?

I'll be picking up the truck tomorrow, so pictures will be up probably mid day, Wednesday, when I get a chance to wash her up.