Hello,

I will be purchasing a F150
It has to have automatic transmission(I understand I am probably going to have to drop a rebuilt tranny in her)
It has to be one with the fabled 4.9L I6(I leased one back in 1996)
It has to be a 4x2 regular cab with bench seat.
It has to have a long bed (no short bed/flareside/lightning, those are unsightly to me)

I would like it to be 1996 model but what other years would be good choice for this great truck?
I'm not going to be doing any work on it, I do have a great mechanic though.
What I am looking for is some tips on how to spot a good deal besides the obvious" hey I kicked the tires, looks good to me"
I have a budget of around $7500
I assume any mileage under 200k is in play for me.
This will be my main transportation but I don't drive more than 7-8k miles a year.

I'm just a middle aged quiet type who wants to relive the past a little.
Thanks for reading/responding

 

What part of Texas are you in?

 

Hello, I live north of the Dallas area.

 

I'll keep my eyes open for you here in Houston. You should have no problem with your budget. And there is no reason to buy a 200K mile truck, so take your time as you can get a nice lower mileage truck with a good transmission for your budget. Good luck and welcome. Sandy

 

Thank you Sandy,

Oh yeah, I won't be rushing into this. I'm not spending a dime unless this truck has everything on my list. No exceptions.
I'm in the perfect part of the country to find the right truck. Plus, I have the ear of the best community on the planet to help me.

 

I disagree with the automatic-200k-mile rule out, there are plenty of trucks out there with high miles that have been well taken care of. When buying something this old, you should assume Trans and engine rebuilds regardless of mileage, even though you may never have a problem with either. There are a ton of variables i could go into; auto or manual, "type" of owner, location (dry climate vs cold and salty), interior condition (huge IMO), past overhauls of engine or trans, etc, but I'd be writing you a book...mileage is irrelevant, price and condition are king.

I recently bought a completely rust free 97 2wd with 190k on the clock, and did a head cam swap on the original engine and trans. Got it for 750 bucks simply because the mileage and 2wd prevented the guy from finding a buyer, but it's a gem.

 

I do agree with you, but Texas is king of the Ford Trucks and we have plenty to choose from. His budget and abundance of trucks ( in any condition) in our area give us more choices and we are almost rust free. This is why I made my statement. He also stated he would not be working on the truck so as you know his potential for excessive cost is a consideration in his choice. Add it all up and I can show you Jewels here in the Houston area for that kind of budget with many fewer miles than 200K+. Just one example.
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6021777998.html

 

I agree with both of you guys, on one hand , my budget allows me to find a truck with decent body and appearance and overhaul the drivetrain or find one which has already recently been overhauled. But Sandy hit it on the head, being in Texas I see these trucks everyday on the streets. Every time I am out, I run across one. I just love the way an older Ford looks.

Incidentally , I have revised my opinion on the motor, I would also feel comfortable with a 351 Windsor under the hood. The 5.0 would probably be fine too but I am a bit stubborn still. The main reason I would want the 4.9L is the long life it has, perhaps I am being naive about the engine of an at least 30 yr old truck I am looking to purchase, lol.

 

$1800.00 147K 1995 4.9 One owner that I bought. Factory paint. Dime a dozen.

 

Good fords are out there. 300 is the best engine ford ever made on my opinion. The only way mines getting pulled is when I find a f350 chassis to swap a Cummins in

 

That is a sweet looking one, Sandy.
After some browsing, I am seeing some pretty outrageous listings and some that look too good to be true. This is going to take some time but I am positive it will be worth it.

 

Here's another one that looks like a decent deal.

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6020589475.html

 

Another question that came to mind- have any of you guys with the EFI(6 or 8 cylinder)ever considered swapping out to a 4bbl carburetor? How much power would you gain, if any? Would it improve your mpg?
Just curious.

 

not worth it man. If your in a emissions regulated area it won't pass the sniff test. You'll loose your fuel economy,but u can gain some back if I go to a older egr system. The egr valve is a electric actuated and won't work with a carb. And you'll will need a ignition box or a older type distributor. And a automatic can't live without the computer. But I'd like to do this to my pulling truck one day though! 😂

 

Well, where I am at in Texas, if you have a 1995 or older you don't have to pass emissions, not sure about other states though. Great advice, thank you!