Hi all,
I am very new to trucks and need your help on what to look for. I am going to be buying an old truck for a cabin up in the mountains which (I found out by getting stuck for the first time ever) gets lots of snow. I just want a good runner and it looks like it will be a Ford F250 4x4 with a 460 in it. There are lots of them to choose from. The first one is a 1987 which has had many parts replaced (examples: water pump and timing chain case gasket,alternator,exhaust manifold bolts and gasket,brakes front rotors and pads rear drums turned and shoes,fuel pump,new batt. good snows on back less than 50% on the front)etc. she is an auto with 118K on her, My second choice is the same except it is a 1991 with 133K (still has manual lockers which I tought were switched but whatever) the guy says its all stock, everything works and has some great tires all around. There are many in this year range....

1. are there some years that are better than others?

2. What should I be looking for in general...I am a car guy and know about them...not 4x4's!

3.any advice from you guys would be great...I sought our a Ford forum for just this!

Signed...soon to be a ford enthusiast!!

Thanks!

 

Welcome
You have prices and pics?

 

None of them are pretty. All are around 1500 bucks. The '87 and the '91 are auto and another '91 is stick. Again all are rough with between 118 - 134K miles. Just need a"hunting" type only rig for this snow and probably haulin' some firewood in the summer. Any quirks I sould know about?

 

i would say go with the auto cause goin slow with a stick could drive u crazy somtimes, but at that point from what all i can tell its all your personal preference, not much we can say here besides personal preferences but when you got a question, be glad to help ya

 

are there any major differences in the years? Anything that would push for one year over another?

 

Depends on the transmission. I would vote for the stick. The autos are more expensive to fix, plus I prefer a stick. You want manual lockouts, the auto ones are more prone to failure. Sounds like you got it pretty narrowed down. I believe also the the 87 may still be carbed (not sure) vs the 91 would be EFI. Everything else really is jsut your personal preference.

 

i think 88 was the first year EFI?? but yeah i think manual is better but if your goin offroad those stop and goes get to me atleast, but yeah manuals are the way to go for you i think, anmd the only differences between models wil mst likeley be efi vs carbed and remember that its 351W- WINDSOR because parts from other 351 motors wont work, well sometimes it will

 

The 351W is the oddball, the 351C and 351M share alot tho.

 

In 87 the 5.0 was EFI, the 5.8 and 7.5 were carb. I think the 300-6 was EFI also but not 100% certain.

If you want an auto I would say look for a 3spd, non-OD C6 trans. They're bullet proof and one of the cheaper auto's to get rebuilt. Highway mileage will suffer. The stick is pretty tough and only the clutch could be an issue. Usually... If it shifts funny or makes bad noises run away. Manual tranny rebuilds are pricey.

I like EFI and I think it deals better with sitting and this crap we call gas today but carbs are simple, have less to go wrong and are easy to fix. So it's a toss up.

88-91 are all the same. 87 has a carb and is somewhat related to the earlier trucks. Also the 87, if carb'd, will have v-belts in stead of serpentine. Some people love the V belts as there's a belt for each item and if say the smog pump or A/C go and lock up, you can cut the belt and keep going.

 

bought the '91. She has the 460, EFI. 4x4 works great, tires are mud and snow but not aggressive enough for my use. It is an auto but was better than the rest. Higher milage (124K). Best yet both tanks were full of gas! Thanks for your input guys ; I will more thsn likely have lots of questions.

First one: Tranny fluid is pretty brown (shifts great cold and hot but it would be better if it was red fluid IMO)...does this year model come with a drain plug? I forgot to look and am now back at the house not the cabin.

 

Don't worry, that 460 wont take long to solve that problem

No drain plug on the trans pan, but there should be one on the torque converter.

 

Congrats on the purchase! Can't help you on the tranny question, except to say that if the fluid is that dirty, you may as well drop the pan and replace the filter anyway.

One quick piece of random advice since you mentioned the dual tanks....... Make sure to use both tanks regularly. My experience is that it's a reliable system so long as you don't use one tank as the 'regular' tank and the other 'just for emergencies'. For me, when one is empty, I switch to the other and fill up the one that just emptied when I get a chance. Or you could just fill both up at the same time, but that's one helluva hit on the wallet.

Mike

 

you want a fuel injected with lockers.. fuel injection because carb rigs don't like starting in the cold weather as much as fuel injected do.. you also want lockers because auto lockers just suck for a 4x4.. if all you are doing is hauling firewood do you really need a 460? just because its a bigger motor doesn't mean it gets through snow better or worse.. and i would go for a stick shift over an auto any day because they are so much cheaper and easier to work on.. but thats just my personal advice..

 

I say stick shift, 7.5L, 88 or newer for EFI. Front hubs are cheap and easy to swap to manuel so do not let that be a factor now. Tall skinny tires with some chains would be fun.

 

id love to find or build a 96-97 f350 srw xlt package 460 zf 5 speed reg cab long box 4x4. thats my dream truck haha. calypso green with grey interior