F-150 Advice

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Mar 2, 2016 | 07:36 PM

anco

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F-150 Advice

Hi All, beginning the search for a 150 4x4 short bed . (for my daughter, has been her dream truck ....)
Have had several 350's w/PSD but never had a 150 so I am curious if there are any years from 87-96 that are more desirable then others? Weak areas of these trucks/things to watch out for?
Was there any reason to stay away from the 4.9's with the first EFI ?

Any info/advice/opinions appreciated !
Thanks,
A.N.

Mar 2, 2016 | 07:53 PM

Conanski

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Joined: Jun 2006

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

'95 and '96 are arguably the best years as they are both MAF with the most updated transmissions. There is nothing wrong with the 4.9 EFI system but this is the least performance oriented motor in the lineup so it won't be a fast truck but it's well known for being a good truck motor and can get the best fuel milage of all motors. The other 2 Windsor platform motors have massive aftermarket support so there is hugh potential in them and they respond well to typical bolt-ons. If there is a powertrain weakness in the 1/2 ton it is the Mazda 5-spd manual trans, but it's only a weakness in terms of it's ability to suffer abuse.. if the driver is sensible it likely won't be an issue. The automatics are pretty much bullet proof by this point.

P.S. Pay attention to the axe ratios in the trucks you look at, Ford put some totally unsuitable ratios in some which renders top gears in the OD transmissions useless for everything but wide open freeway blasts and also results in poor performance and poor gas milage.