1994 F-250 HD. RWD, auto, 120k miles

I want a truck for home depot runs, hauling dirt, etc. I test drove this truck today and liked it. Owner told me it sometimes shifts hard from 1>2 and 2>3 but it's random. I couldn't detect it. I mean it wasn't super smooth but for a 23 year old truck it seemed fine. I heard some odd noises while driving, but it's also not my car so IDK. He thought it was some sort of transmission sensor that could be doing it. It does need the exhaust manifold redone. It sputters and smells. The oil and tranny fluid was fine. It needs a new windshield as its cracked. Front wheel tire is weird. He thinks radial band is bad, also fairly worn overall.

That's about all I noticed with it. Of course 4wd is always a plus, but i don't know if it's worth passing on this one. Did these handle well without 4wd? The first owner intended to haul stuff because it has the 5th wheel setup, trailer brakes, whole package. I don't care about that specifically. A regular trailer hitch is all I need. I am a toyota man so I don't know anything about these old 460 motors. Would those two (tranny and exhaust) issues be a dealbreaker at $2500?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Friend said the tranny could also be the filter inside being clogged hence the sporadic shifting problems.

 

oh and it's the XLT with long bed (a must for me).

 

How good of a mechanic are you?

How much parts & labor budget are you willing to put into this truck a year?

Learn how to pull codes or buy an OBD I scanner & check for the transmission codes that are/should be present. (or not if the ECU has problems, could be bad wiring or plug connectors)

Codes will also tell you what you most likely will be looking at with the engine too.

If you don't know anything about 4X front ends or OBS Fords, take it to a reputable shop & have it put on a lift & carefully examined.

Nobody suddenly decides to unload these things because they are "great" trucks.

Good luck & buyer beware.

 

I do most things on my toyota 4runner. I have a mechanic buddy who handles what I can't. I don't plan on investing a lot in this truck like I mentioned, just dump and home depot runs. But IMO if it runs and drives well then anything minor is alright. How much maintenance do these old girls need?

This one was fuel injected so there's no carb tuning. I have an OBD2 scanner, not 1. I did notice now that you mention it that the engine light came on for about 20 seconds yesterday then vanished.

 

You can check codes with a paper clip, but it takes skill & patience.

http://www.fuelinjectedford.com/page13.html

This thing is going to have issues that 23 years of service are going to demand be addressed. They can be serviceable for more but it takes time & effort.

It will also dollar you to death& **** you off as well.

Spend a day or two and read back about 20 pages of posts or scan a few years worth because there is almost nothing new with these things.

 

I guess if I throw in 250-300 bucks a year I wouldn't cry about it. I also only plan to keep it for a few years for home projects. After that, resell it. Probably for close to the price now as these aren't that common around here with low mileage.

 

Without seeing it, condition is hard to tell. I paid $700 for my 1994 F150 (4.9 E4OD 2wd reg cab long box) 4 years ago, so $2500 might be a bit much, unless it is super nice. 1995 and 96 trucks have some important upgrades, so if you can find one, that might be better.

I prefer 2wd, less stuff to break, unless you need it for doing stuff. If the roads are that poor due to snow to need 4wd, I try not to go out. Good tires and weight in the box should get you going.

The MLPS switch on the E4OD transmission might be the problem. This switch tells the computer what gear it is in. When mine acts up a bit, rough shifting, I come to a stop and run the selector through the gears a few times. My theory is that the contacts gets worn and dirty, and moving the shift lever cleans it up a bit. It works fine for a while. A newer switch should solve that issue. 95 and up trucks have a better design for this switch.

 

is that MLPS easy to swap out? I basically don't want to do anything that involves taking the engine or tranny out. If it can be worked on bolted on then I'm ok with it

 

I should add that the other truck in contention is a 93 chevy 2500. From what he told me (it's a bit of a drive) it runs flawlessly. 200k, top end redone at 160k. Tranny is smooth. it has 4x4 as well.

So really i'm looking at the 350 vs 460 for maintenance. I've head about these 460 exhaust mani headaches such as broken studs

 

Condition is king. Either vehicle could treat you well or turn out to be a nightmare depending on previous maintenance, repairs, and any modifications. I wouldn't get too caught up in which engine/trans/whatever has a better reputation, just worry about which truck is in better condition and which really suits your needs.

Unless it's been really beat on I would suspect the Ford's power train at 120000 is in better shape over all than the Chevy's at 200,000 but again it depends on how they have been taken care of. If healthy the 460 will be more capable but it will be thirsty, and a bit much if you don't have much to haul.

 

yeah I was thinking about that 460 too. I wanted a truck to handle soil, gravel, mulch, etc. 1/2 ton is not capable (safely) for a yard of gravel at 3000 lbs. That's why I bumped my need up to 3/4 ton. The 350 motor is a little better at mileage and while it would struggle at towing heavy stuff, that won't bee too often. Hell my 4runner tows 5000 and it struggles, but it'll do it.

I won't really know the condition until I test the chevy so I guess I should drive down there to check it out. Both are asking 2500 bucks so it's a tossup. I'm a sucker for low mileage though. Also it seems the 460 is not very common so I figured reselling it in a couple years may net me less of a loss.

My assessment of cars isn't great. I just look at fluids, look for leaks, tests belts, listen for weird noises, and how it drives. Someone could have a shot tranny or messed up engine and throw in fresh fluids and unless it acts up while I'm driving it, I won't be the wiser.

 

Don't get too excited, Ford put the 460 in plenty of trucks and their thirsty reputation can be a problem when selling. Don't get me wrong, it is a good reliable engine, and I would rather drive a truck with a 460. I just would rather feed something smaller more and most folks with some experience have figured that out. And those that need serious trucks for hard work would rather drive and feed a turbo charged diesel.

Also, on the subject of capability a F150 of this era with the right equipment can tow 7500 pounds. A stupidly equipped F250 may only be rated to tow 2000-3000 pounds. If you want to talk about hauling those loads in the bed, I bet 3000 pounds is pushing the limits of that era F250. Food for thought...

If you aren't so good at assessing the condition of vehicles than take your mechanic buddy with you, and ask lots of questions. IMHO there are a lot of problems that you can live with and the vehicle will still be safe and reliable to drive but there are also minor issues that can become a nightmare.

 

I personally think the 351W is enough for me, 460 is overkill, and I've seen a few of those around. I may see one tomorrow. I can't for certain say the payload for all because of variations, but the HD had a GVWR of 9000 or so so that leaves roughly 3k if its 2wd. There's another 1992 F250 4x4 that I'm looking at with a 351

 

The MLPS switch is on the driver's side of the transmission. On my 300 equipped truck it is very easy to get to account no exhaust pipe on that side. It has two bolts, a wire harness, and the shift cable running to it. Easy to get at.

 

Going to check out the 92 today. Possibly a 95 tomorrow. So if thyre both good it's map vs mag engines both have the 351