I have a lot of experience with the Modular F150's and expeditions. I'm thinking about buying an OBS 95 F150 in really nice shape.

This one has the 302 with Auto.

I'm mostly wanting to know if any of you went from the newer modular based F150's to the OBS? Do you prefer the OBS over the Modular bases trucks?

Also, my MPG with my 5.4 was about 14 ish. Is that about what I will get with the 302? I know it's got a bit less power than the 5.4. I'm ok with that I'm not going to be towing heavy or anything like that.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

 

I've had an Expedition with a 5.4 3v and an '05 Mustang with a 4.6 3v and while the windsors are not as smooth running as the modulars, they are much easier to work on. The old body style trucks are great, I've had 5 or 6 of them including Broncos. They are pretty bulletproof.

That 5.0/auto should get 13 or so in town and 18 HWY. The power difference is negligible because the old trucks are lighter. A nice exhaust really wakes up the 5.0 trucks.

 

Only -major- problem I have had in 280k miles on my 92 f150 was the E4OD Tranny. Other then that pretty simple to maintain..

 

The 302, IMO, is one of the most horrible engines in a truck. The lack of low end tq can be overcome by swapping gears, but my suggestion would be to look for a 351 truck.

If lack of low end tq isn't a concern for you, then go for it! The 302 is pretty bulletproof, and easy/cheap to work on.

 

I've had the 5.4 in both 2V and 3V configurations and 302 and 351 motors. The only gripes I have with the OBS vs. newer trucks is that the newer SLA front end ride a lot better, rear SuperCab doors on the newer trucks are so handy, and the power to fuel economy ratios favor the newer motors. But the OBS is easier to work on, parts are cheap and plentiful, and the TIB/TTB front ends are extremely rugged even if they can be a PITA to align.
My '93 Bronco (302, tow package) pulled our 25', 6000 lb. boat with no issues through rolling terrain in NH, so I have no idea where this "302 isn't a good truck engine" stuff comes from. Our 351-powered Bronco didn't feel substantially more powerful pulling our 3500 lb. TT around at higher elevations (taking into account the power loss at 4500-6500 ft.). But the 351 didn't burn much more fuel (about 1 MPG less) when not towing, so I really don't think it's a big difference either way.My 351 Bronco averaged about 15 (high 15s/low 16s in summer, high 13s to low 14's in winter), the 302 just under 16. My'00 F150 7700 2V (4.10) got 15 unloaded, our '07 3V (3.73) averaged just under 18 but was a SuperCrew 6.5 and by far the heaviest of the lot. FYI: both Broncos had 3.55 gears.

 

I had an '08 F-250 Crew Cab with the 5.4L and 6spd manual. Personally I hated the engine in a truck. It couldn't maintain freeway speed with a load on a small hill without downshifting to keep it over 3000 rpm. On the plus side, it made good power over 3,000 and it got good mileage (about 15 average). But especially with the dump truck transmission it was absolutely horrible to drive in a truck. Put an auto behind it and no tach (so you didn't have to realize how much it was screaming), it might have been OK. Also when you downshifted the trans you got absolutely no compression braking. It wasn't the engine's fault, the ECM actually opened the throttle to prevent it (probably an emissions thing).

I've never had a 302, but I've had a couple of 351s. Not quite as good mileage as I got with the 5.4 (about 13-14), and probably not as much peak power. But a lot more power where I used them, making them pleasant, even fun, to drive. I will never go back to the newer trucks.

 

Didn't say if its 2wd or 4. That'll make a small difference in mileage, other should get about same as 5.4. The obs are definitely better looking trucks!

 

Thanks for all the feedback. The truck is a 2wd. I know that the front suspension is a little more primitive than the newer trucks. I've owned so many that it felt weird not having a twin I beam.

When I bought my 99 superduty it was a real pleasure to see that twin I beam under the front end. . Same as the 78 F100 I use to drive....well.... Sort of the same.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

 

I've got a '88 4X4 with a 302, 5 speed manual tranny and 3.55 gears riding on 33" mud tires. It was my daily driver for two years and I regularly got 16-17 MPG out of it. I never had any problem with power when towing either a 1000 pound trailer with two ATV's or a 16 foot camper.