Hey all,
New on here, looks like a good source of info. Picked up an 87 F-150 Ext Cab 302 2wd on the cheap for a junk hauler to clear out a couple of properties and I'm thinking of buying a 90 F150 4x4 as a parts truck (getting it dirt cheap as the 350 in it is on it's last legs). My plan is to pull the tires, windshield, mirrors etc and keep them as spares and then when I'm done pillaging I will have it hauled away for scrap and our scrapper pays me $100 minimum.

My question is, the power steering in my 87 is whiney. Is this normal? And if i were to pull the power steering assembly from the donor truck is it compatible with my 2wd?

Appreciate any help! Thanks in advance
Adam

 

Yes the pumps can get whiny, its common, check into a saginaw pump swap though.

 

The pitman arm is different, but the steering box and pump is the same. You can find the Saginaw box on the vans.

As a side note, the 4x4 axles will swap over if you ever wanted to convert your 87 to 4x4. You'll need the trans and driveshafts from an extended cab too, but it's not that hard if you're handy.

 

Thanks for the info guys,
I will look into the saginaw swap you're talking about, I know nothing about it.
As for the 4x4 swap, I considered it but I just don't see myself needing 4x4. We don't get snow where I live (Victoria, BC) and I've got a dual sport bike for getting muddy if I need to

Donor truck is being delivered tonight, going to spend the next week or two pillaging the hell out of it and then off it goes to the scrapyard. Ultimately I bought it because the tires are at 90% and it's cheaper for me to buy this, swap the tires and build a parts stock at the same time than it is to just buy the tires.

Which brings me to the next question: donor is a 4x4, mine is 2x. Can I just swap the rims with the tires on 'em or is there a difference between the 4x4 rims and mine (both are stock).

Cheers and thanks again

 

Rims are the same.

 

Perfect, thanks for this.

One more: Again, I'm kicking ideas around for this project, keeping in mind that I don't want it off the road for more than 4 or 5 days as it needs to be used. I can take my motorcycle or our mini (shush it….) if need be during downtime.

I'm not after big power. My donor truck, being delivered tonight, has a 351 with a "small vacuum leak somewhere" (quote from truck listing) and is "leaking antifreeze slowly out of hose to heater core but heater works great". So, not being a mechanic but having a couple very good ones (shop owner and HD mechanic) in the family, could be fixed and my current f150 will become the donor then scrapped. OR, i could put my solid 302 in the newer one and ditch the 351. Thoughts?

To recap: current truck 1987 2wd f150 xlt ext. cab 302 auto 4spd
donor truck 1990 4wd f150 xlt ext. cab 351 auto 4spd

cheers,
Adam