Hi. I'm looking for some advice.

I am at my wits end with squirrels. They built nests all over my engine bay - and one, on top of my fuel injectors, underneath the intake manifold, caught on fire and melted three injectors. Whoopee.


So, I'm running on three cylinders. Top speed 30mph.

So, 1. AutoZone has injectors for $120 a piece. Rockauto has Airtex brand injectors for $21.79 a piece. I don't have $700 - but is Airtex reliable enough?

2. Should I replace all injectors, or just the three?

3. I have a leak in one or both of the exhaust manifolds. I don't know which. I don't know if there is a crack, or what. Both front and rear exhaust manifolds are on Rockauto for $82 a piece.


I'm doing all the work myself. I have a lift. I just don't have the general knowledge. My mechanic quoted me $400+parts for the whole job, which isn't bad, but, again, I don't have $700.

Anyone else have to go through this?

 

Airtex doesn't have a very good rep with me, or anyone on this site I would think from what I hear, but never heard how their injectors are. Don't know anyone whos tryed them.


I guess if you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice! Take what you can afford for now.


They might last long enough until you get a chance to buy better ones.

I"d replace all 6, and keep the good 3 as spares.


Do you plan on keeping the truck for a long time? Is the overall condition of the truck worth putting money into like manifolds? Ask yourself those questions, and go by whatever you think is right. 82$ doesn't sounds to bad for manifolds.

 

That's what I was afraid of. I'll take a look around and see if there's anything better. I need to get it going asap, my fiance and I both rely on it as a daily driver.

I just got the truck a couple months ago. Body is in good shape and there's only 48k miles on it. Hasn't rolled over. Trying to work out the kinks...

 

Oh then if it's a daily driver and that low miles in good shape, I wouldn't cheap out at all.


That truck will last a long time with good maintenance.

 

Check eBay for the 14lb injectors you need. Same with exhaust manifolds.

 

in reality, the junkyard is a great source for injectors in general, but especially when money is tight. OE injectors are absolutely the most reliable, and most work properly for the life of the vehicle. you can go get 12 injectors for almost nothing, and pick the trucks that are in decent shape to pull from. reason I say 12, in the unlikely event there are some bad ones, you have plenty of good ones in your possession.

 

^^^^ +1, What he said.

 

ok ..... I have all the injectors and also the manifolds squared away. I paid about $150 for six Motorcraft injectors on Rockauto.com. Everything should have been fixed...

And now my computer is burnt out.

I tried the trusty Rockauto catalog for that only to find about 58 different ECM's and I'm not looking to drop $100 and a core charge for the wrong ECM.

I don't have the truck with me to check really specific things, but I can give this much:

1988 F150 XLT Lariat, long bed, made in Canada
2wd
4.9l I6 300 EFI
C6 auto trans

My mechanic has been doing all the work (for a very modest fee, thankfully) and it's been an ongoing thing for almost a month now. He told me that the injectors are in series to where 1-3-5 are linked, as well as 2-4-6. I don't know if this helps anything.

Buying at a junk yard is an option - I'm almost working at one now, ironically. I can give him a call.

 

a computer from a manual trans i6 will also work with your truck, opens up the junkyard options.


the computers from the other autos will work too, but youll have a check engine light. no one likes that...

 

I know from experience a 87 to 89 4.9L automatic(non E4OD) ECU will be compatible between years. Even a 91 to 93 ECU from a non E4OD tranny truck will run but may not like some of the sensors value ranges.

I am currently running a 92 engine bay wire harness with a 88 ECU in my 89 F250. Once I get the E4OD installed(after figuring out the speedo cable issue) I will plug in the correct 92 ECU.