F-150 Weaknesses
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F-150 Weaknesses
Salut,
I am looking to buy a F-150 1986 4wd.
Engine is a 302.
It will be my first truck, so I need some advice on:
What are the weak spots, what should I check carefully?
Thanks
Caspar
I am looking to buy a F-150 1986 4wd.
Engine is a 302.
It will be my first truck, so I need some advice on:
What are the weak spots, what should I check carefully?
Thanks
Caspar
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Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
Welcome to FTE !
Weaknesses are largely subject to the environment that the truck resides in, and how it was treated by the previous owner(s). It would help a lot to know what area You are from as well as where the truck spent it's life, and how they used it. Have You taken any pics of it? If so, it would help to post them here. There is a ton of support here if enough details and history are forthcoming.
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Thanks to the quick answers.
I dont know much about the truck since I've not visited it yet.
I was hoping to get some advices prior to that.
Like where to look for rust, or typical engine/transmision problems.
The one I am about to check out has 170k km on it.
I dont know much about the truck since I've not visited it yet.
I was hoping to get some advices prior to that.
Like where to look for rust, or typical engine/transmision problems.
The one I am about to check out has 170k km on it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
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From: Sheffield, AL
Caspar, welcome to the forum! You must be out of the US if dealing in kilometers. I believe 170k km equals approximately 106k miles, which is not very high, if well cared for. My daily driver [1985 F150] has almost 196k miles and is going strong.
As with all used vehicles, luck under the truck for rust, and overly wet or greasy areas. Drive and feel and listen. Check the brakes and steering. Check the oil level and color. Smell it for gasoline. Check the radiator coolant and the air filter. Look at the battery terminals and cables to see how they look. If the brake and clutch pedal covers are slick or missing, it is quite possible that the odometer has turned over.
Check the lights and turn signal function. What about the horn? Do the gauges work? Does it shift smoothly? If automatic, is the transmission fluid pink? How are the tires? Is the spare tire still mounted?
Just a few quick things to look at...
As with all used vehicles, luck under the truck for rust, and overly wet or greasy areas. Drive and feel and listen. Check the brakes and steering. Check the oil level and color. Smell it for gasoline. Check the radiator coolant and the air filter. Look at the battery terminals and cables to see how they look. If the brake and clutch pedal covers are slick or missing, it is quite possible that the odometer has turned over.
Check the lights and turn signal function. What about the horn? Do the gauges work? Does it shift smoothly? If automatic, is the transmission fluid pink? How are the tires? Is the spare tire still mounted?
Just a few quick things to look at...
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@1986F150six
Thanks, thats the direction of advice I've been looking for.
I am currently in Quebec Canada, and I am looking for a reliable truck to be used on a festival.
Since I always been a huge fan of the Bullnose, it's gonna be a F-something.
Thanks, thats the direction of advice I've been looking for.
I am currently in Quebec Canada, and I am looking for a reliable truck to be used on a festival.
Since I always been a huge fan of the Bullnose, it's gonna be a F-something.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 127
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Boy, where to start. Assuming it's EFI (I don't think they had any with carbs in '86):
1. ICM is mounted on distributor. These get very hot and are prone to failure. With under 120K, mine is on its fourth one. Two were Motorcraft, one from AZ, current one from wherever shop got it.
2. If dual tanks, a now obsolete, expensive and hard to get tank switchover valve.
3. Cartridge fuel filter is a pain to replace due to O-ring being hard to seat (not end of the world though).
4. If it has the 4 speed OD transmission, those have problems and aren't geared very well for 2nd going to 3rd.
5. This was the second year for EFI; it seems Ford learned from its mistakes in 1985-6 and later on made improvements.
6. Hydraulic clutch--people seem to have problems with the slave cylinder.
If I can think of any more, I'll add them. Of course, every vehicle seems to have problems of some sort. I fixed a few things on mine, and got several years of problem-free use before I had to put it in the shop again. I do wish I'd gotten an older one with carb, but other guys seem to prefer EFI, so that's just a personal preference.
1. ICM is mounted on distributor. These get very hot and are prone to failure. With under 120K, mine is on its fourth one. Two were Motorcraft, one from AZ, current one from wherever shop got it.
2. If dual tanks, a now obsolete, expensive and hard to get tank switchover valve.
3. Cartridge fuel filter is a pain to replace due to O-ring being hard to seat (not end of the world though).
4. If it has the 4 speed OD transmission, those have problems and aren't geared very well for 2nd going to 3rd.
5. This was the second year for EFI; it seems Ford learned from its mistakes in 1985-6 and later on made improvements.
6. Hydraulic clutch--people seem to have problems with the slave cylinder.
If I can think of any more, I'll add them. Of course, every vehicle seems to have problems of some sort. I fixed a few things on mine, and got several years of problem-free use before I had to put it in the shop again. I do wish I'd gotten an older one with carb, but other guys seem to prefer EFI, so that's just a personal preference.
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Senior User
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BTW, there is a fix for the ICM--some owners have moved them to the fender, and then run a cable and plug it into the distributor connection. This is where Ford relocated them later on.
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
Not sure what "used on a festival" means....Is that a Canadian thing?
Posting Guru
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From: Northeast Ohio USA
Could be...like the Aussie's saying "Let's have a cuppa"....or "going on holiday".
Maybe He'll clarify
Maybe He'll clarify
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From: Jackson's Point ON CANADA
Can you elaborate a bit on that?
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