1993 F250

FordCardinal · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 11:44 PM

I just purchased a 1993 f250 2 wheel drive. The body is immaculate and it seems to drive just fine. However, many of my Ford colleagues have scolded me for buying it because it has a "weak" drive train. The cite the weka tranny (5 speed o/d) and engine (302 efi h.o. ) as being major drawbacks. Can anyone substantiate their claims? It is going to be a daily driver 80% of the time and then a camping and fishing rig the rest of the time.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

frederic · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 09:18 AM

The 302 is an okay engine, like all engines it has its strengths and weaknesses, but if it's in good running condition and was maintained well, it should last a long time.

Behind the 302 will be a mazda transmission which a lot of people seem to be afraid of, but it too is a fine part assuming it's been well maintained, and you intend to do so going forward.

It's not the transmission to have if you do more burnouts than driving miles, or if you intend to regularly overload the truck past it's hauling/towing capacity.

It's a light duty engine, a light duty transmission, in a light duty truck. Nothing wrong with the combination at all.

FordCardinal · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the response. Someone just told me to put synthetic engine oil in the tranny instead of ATF do you have any experience with that?

Thanks

Lou Braun · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 09:30 PM

Your transmission probably requires Mercon fluid like mine does. Changing the transmission fluid and filter are more important than worrying about using synthetic fluid. A good quality Mercon fluid will work just fine in your transmission.

The F-250 with a 302 has a tough drive line and will last a long time under heavy duty use. Lots of folk beat the tar out of this combination and it keeps on running.

Lou Braun

frederic · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 09:36 PM

If it's an automatic, you should use what is in the book. They make specifications for a reason...

Ignore the "wive's tales"...

SoCalDesertRider · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2005, 06:14 PM

For the Mazda 5-speed manual trans, the Haynes manual says it uses Mercon auto trans fluid, 7.6 pints.

MustangGT221 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2005, 09:41 PM

Don't use synthetic...my buddy tried it and hated it.

Ford started making basically two versions of the F-250 at these times. They had your version, considered a light duty F-250. Then there was the 351/460/diesel engine options and ZF transmissions which are much stronger. Also, the heavy duty versions had full floating rear axles and some had Dana 50 front axles. The lighter duty has a semi-float rear end and most likely a Dana 44, both axles being TTB.

Your truck was ment to be a vehicle with the capacity inbetween an F-150 and an F-250. They still practice this here and there in todays models, trying to fill a niche market of consumers who would rather have that vehicle thinking the F-250 is too big and the F-150 is too small.