I have a 1987 f150 and I have been told that the selector valve in them can cause a lot of problems. I have also been told that the mid 90s f150 has a far better selector valve. I am wanting to know if that's true or if they are about the same? If the 90s model is better where can I get one?

 

Not that simple.
You would have to replace both fuel tanks and the FDM inside and also all the fuel lines from the tanks to the engine.
And of course wire the FDM's to the selector switch on the dash.

The mid 90's system, 1990-1996:


Your fuel system:

/

 

I see so do you think it would be worth it to change all that or just go back with original?

 

I've tossed around this idea too since two out of the three pumps are not working on my truck and the switching valve is stuck. Are the tanks really different between the two fuel systems? The in-tank pumps are already wired to the dash switch, if '90 model FDMs were used, would that part be plug and play? I know the lines would also have to be changed. It seems pretty straightforward to me, what am I missing, Bill?

 

This is what you have now.

6C3Z-9189-A (replaced F4TZ-9189-A, E9TZ-9189-A & E7TZ-9189-A) .. Fuel Tank Selector Valve-6 ports / Available from Ford.

Applications: 1987/89 F150/350 & Ranger / 1990/2001 F250/350 F(Super Duty) diesel.

 

The selector and high pressure pump for the early years are pricey, but the harness adds, fuel tank connectors, etc for the later years may be just as costly to source new --- I'd personally go with the later year approach ........(like the Ford engineers)

 

I am not sure on this but Ford most of the time has tabs that stick down to align the fuel pump to the tank. I will go out later to day to the barn and try an stick a FDM into your type of tank.
I was also thinking the hole was a different size.


The 1990- I think 1991 had the same type of plug on top of the hanger as the 198x but 1992 on had a pigtail.

 

OK I went out and checked an 89 tank with a 95 hanger and it fit. The hole is the same size.
I looked at three hangers and to align up the tabs in the fuel tank all three of the fuel connectors were all aimed in different directions.

So you would have to get the hanger for the right size fuel tank and then you may have to move the fuel lines around to make connections.

So you can use the old fuel tanks.

 

The switching valve is probably not stuck. It is just not being switched because the tank pump(s) is/are malfunctioning and not pumping enough fuel to move the valves. Been there, done that. I rather like the older system but maybe that's just me. It does have more pieces to go wrong. But then again, each piece is a piece by itself, not combined into another part. Oh well they both work well when working, just like everything else!