For starters, this probably should have been posted in a new thread of your own, but since the OP junked his truck, I guess we'll pick up from here.

If you're losing pressure at idle, it's probably not the pickup screen, but that's not always the case. The first thing you need to rule out is true oil pressure. You need to hook up a mechnical gauge and get a real reading before you drive it home.

There's always a good chance the sender and its lead have lost a quality connection, causing the gauge to go all wonky.

 

and that is what was suggested in one of the first posts.

his friend got the truck, it was not junked.

 

Good luck I wish I would have paid more attention to the guage, by the time I did it was too late. Another thing to consider is the cam bearings, mine had the 460 motor and it is my understanding that they can also cause the loss of pressure, 280+ k sounds like that motor has served you well.

 

How often did you change the oil? Dropping the pan is tedius job..

 

I still do not see why it would be necessary to start a new thread when my issue seems the similar to the other guy's plus when I did a google search for "Low Oil pressure in Ford trucks" HIS thread came up as one of google's hits. Also, since my problem was essentially similar to his minus overheating, I am sure people would prefer not having to hunt and peck through redundant messages. I know I prefer finding answers all in one place like this thread instead of having to hunt all over and still not find an answer.

I agree with you about finding out the true Oil Pressure. However, the drop in pressure was brought on at driving speed and continued at idle as well. Now if I drove the truck a short distance then sat it awhile before restarting it, the pressure idiot guage would go back to normal for awhile once restarted. So, I limped the truck home and eventually everything returned to normal. Over the weekend I will put a True OP guage on it and do an oil change and see what is really happening. So far, I think my old gal still does not want to blow up on me just yet!!!
Thanks again for all who were kind enough to respond.

 

4x4truckdriver... I change my oil every 3k and occasionally I get pushed to 4k. I am definitely due though. Also with regards to the tedium of dropping the pan, I know it is a bit of a job, but it seems like a walk in the park compared to changing Valve cover gaskets on this truck. Voice of experience talking here!!! Don't get me started on 1988 vintage emissions hinderances. As stated in my last post, I plan to put a guage on things and change oil before considering dropping the pan etc.

Thanks again.