I just bought a '88 F150 XLT Lariat. I am looking to make it the best truck I have ever owned.

A little about me:
For the last ten years, I have only owned exports ( Kia, Subaru, Mercedes) and did not much more than changing my own oil. I just moved back home to AK and bought this truck with the intent of learning how to do my own maintenance. I know very little about engines, but enough to know that this truck would be a good learning truck.

A little about the truck:
I bought it two months ago with 247K miles. I bumped into a municipal bus and dented the front end, but its cosmetic only. When I asked the original owner about maintenance, he said that the last checkup or oil change was at a minimum 7k miles ago. I immediately changed the oil. Since then, I have replaced the TPS and cleaned the throttle column. I have an O2 sensor and an idle position sensor that I am installing tomorrow.

What I want to know is what I can do, outside basic maintenance, that will turn this truck into a beast. I use it for everyday driving and for hunting, so it needs light offroading capabilities. No towing, no serious crawling, no serious mud-bogging. Maybe a moose in the bed, but thats it.

I replaced the TPS and am replacing the idle position sensor because I was having issues with the enging stalling during idle and irregular RPMs during highway travel.

I was curious if an independent air intake would be better for my truck than the stock intake, especially considering the weather is averaging between -10 - 25 the last few weeks. Is there anything I can do to counteract the cold weather? How much does the cold weather affect the engine?

I would like to think that I am capable of understanding engines fairly well, but please explain like I'm an idiot. Any advice or suggested upgrades would be appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Having spent 16 years in Alaska and as a mechanic, here's my take. If you are replacing any sensors or engine management components, use only OEM, Ford, Motorcraft, or Autolite. NAPA, Standard Ignition, O'riellys, Carquest and any other aftermarket are substandard and often just junk. Keep you engine plugged in in the colder weather. Even though it might still start ok, the warmup is when 90% of the engine wear and all of the oil contamination takes place so the warmer the engine, the less warmup time.
Now to the opinion part, you have a truck with a crap load of miles and one that was built towards the end of the lowest time in US automakers quality control. Also one that was before OBD 2 and the ability to pull a data stream to diagnose problems. It is a system that only flashes codes and you have to figure out the rest. We used to use a thing called a break-out box to extract the actual condition of the engine management system circuits. Tedious and kinda complicated at best. There isn't really much you can do for more performance, just keep it well tuned and serviced. If it was me, I'd keep the stock airbox and paper filter. I've tried the open aircleaner and also the K&N filters, the only difference is more noise and money spent I could have spent on something better.

 

Welcome to FTE. First off, these trucks will last forever if maintained. Second you have a stalling issue, you need to check codes the following link will have a video showing how easy that is. Then you can look them up or post here and someone is sure to help.


Third I didn't catch if it was an auto or manual... Honestly I probably looked right passed it. But if its an auto probably should get the trans flushed and a new filter put in if the previous owner went so long between oil changes.

​​​​​​​Other than that congrats on the truck

 

Welcome to FTE.

You have picked a tough candidate for learning vehicle.

WB3 gave you a really good overview & advice. (particularly on parts)

The truck if not eaten up by rust, is a very sound mechanical design, but the control system that runs the EFI & possibly trans if an auto, is getting VERY long in the tooth. It can run you ragged chasing problems that were never envisioned since it really was never expected to live this long. Resist the temptation to throw parts at it unless a diagnostic routine directs you to do so. There is a small relative inexpensive scanner that will allow you to get the codes needed as opposed to having to count flashes.

We'll/someone will get you the # of it it directly

You need to put the details of your truck (engine/trans) in your "signature" via your "control panel" (See "User CP") to get the most help out of your questions.

Good luck & welcome again.



Inova 3145, Image originally posted by Bill K

 

Get the Haynes and Chilton manuals for your truck and start reading before you start throwing parts at it. Resources are readily available online and here. Your questions and the responding answers will be at a higher level when you have some knowledge. I am electronically challenged so I know the problems of lack of knowledge. Learn all you can on your on for starters. Best of luck. Sandy