I just recently bought a 1988 F250 4x4 XLT fwith 125thousand miles for 400 bucks from a guy who wanted to junk it. Nothing majorly wrong except for some cosmetics. I have always been a FORD guy as was my Father who owns a 79 Ford Bronco 460 and Mustang Cobra. I have three questions I would like to ask.
1) Where can I buy some nice aftermarket parts such as Bigger Throttle, Headers, Exhaust, and Intake? I would like to just get the engine breathing better.
2) How can I know what size engine I have? Im thinking its a 351W or 460.
3) What are the biggest tires I can go with the stock lift? I only find 275's.

Please give some great websites to use. This truck will be used for fishing, camping, hunting, and regular outdoor use.

Thanks guys! Glad to be part of the forum and FORD OWNERS!

 

I had an 85 f250 and it had cooper discoverer stt tires that worked out to a 33" on stock suspension (don't remember exact size)

 

You can look at the vin number's to find the engine size installed at birth...it is the eighth position, and will be a letter, G=460..H=351
Keep in mind that your truck may have much more miles on it, due to the 5 position odometer. I would not to bother with headers and changing the throttle.

 

If the engine looks like the one in the bronco then it's a 460.
The tb will be bolted to a 90 degree elbow off what looks like a 4barrel intake. Tb points straight forward.
351 is much smaller. Intake is huge. Tb points diagnally to the drivers side.

What are your plans for the truck. Headers and exhaust only gain you a little. More power is really only gained by a cam swap and head swap.

 

welcome to the site. headers and exhaust are a good start. if i remember rite i had 285/75/16s on my f250 i had

 

Should be an emissions sticker right under the hood. (unless it's been removed or faded so you can't read it) It will say the engine size right on the sticker, 5.8L (351) or 7.5L (460).

Bolt-ons (Headers, exhaust, intake, throttle body, etc) will cost you a lot of money for very little gain. Unless you plan on building the engine, (cam, heads, pistons, crank, etc) I would just leave it completely stock. (Unless of course you like throwing money away in which case you can send some my way )

 

You can get these pretty much anywhere. Summit Racing, Edelbrock, ect. If you have a 351w, Edelbrock sell a 5.8 EFI truck intake with no restriction (as compared to the factory intake). Keep in mind wanting performance annd keeping EFI is going to cost $$$$$$.

Also Keep in mind you have the SD EFI system. You probably going to have to buy a newer EEC with the j3 tuning port and a tuner, to run the bigger intake and heads ect. The SD EFI system will need some major tuning.

You can covert the MAF EFI system to help with that, but you may still need a tuner.

 

Why throw a bunch of money into her. Put a K&N filter, some new plugs and larger wires. Give her some new rubber and with the change left over a new air freshner and go play in the woods.

If its a 7.5l automatic your going to need your money for the E40D transmission rebuild from AAMCO about $2500 and eventually some new front hubs but other than that she should be good to go.

If your rockin a 351 spend your cash on a lift kit and some big meats! Use your change to "pretty her up"!

 

I have a set of 315/75r16 which is just under 35" and they fit find no rubbing on stock suspension

 

I would say 33's are no problem at all. I've got 32's and plenty of room on my 87 F250.

As for upgrades, some are good some are bad. I would definitely change the Y-Pipe if nothing else. Add a 3" high flow cat if you need one and then a 3" exhaust. On the intake side I would run a K&N filter then bump the ignition timing.

Because of the version of EFI computer used on the 88's you're limited. You can change the computer but then you're getting into more hassles... You can go back to a carb if you don't have to worry about emissions but technically it's against federal law.

Don't get me wrong, you can do a lot, but beyond a certain point the bang for the buck isn't there.

Also, I would suggest the "SixLitre" tuneup...
ignition upgrade and timing bump (no 56K) - FSB Forums

 

Thanks guys. Now that i hear yalls opinions i am gettin the right idea. Anyone know a great sote where i can get large tires with rims. The websites i keep running into size only up to 275.

 

I would just check your local tire stores for tires, might find a deal on used tires & find. Don't know how much I'd want to sink into a $400 truck.

 

Check your local stores, and also check online prices.

Check out Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels. They sell tires and rims, and tires up to 37's or 38's.

 

Im pretty sure its a 460 then. Whats the mpg on this truck?

 

Too late now... Youre stuck with it.
Most of mine get about 8 loaded. I can get 13 with one of them... If I baby it.