351M?
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From: Vernon, BC
351M?
I am looking at a 1988 F250 4X4 SC Longbox. The current owner says it has a 351W for an engine. However when I look up the VIN the engine code (H) shows 351M on some of the VIN decoding websites. Did Ford use the 351M in 1988? If so, that would be the FE series of engines, correct?
When I looked under the hood it does look different than my current 351W but not so much that anything stands out. Different shape to the valve covers but that about all I saw. I do know it has the throttle body fuel injection instead of the fuel rails like my current 351W in my 1994 F150.
When I looked under the hood it does look different than my current 351W but not so much that anything stands out. Different shape to the valve covers but that about all I saw. I do know it has the throttle body fuel injection instead of the fuel rails like my current 351W in my 1994 F150.
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From: Roseville, MN
The 351M went away in the early- to mid '80s. I'm not sure exactly when but I know by '85 it was gone, replaced by the 351W.
And no, a 351M is not an FE engine. FEs were replaced by the 351M and 400 in about 1977.
And Ford did not ever offer TBI on trucks. By '88 I'm pretty sure they were multi-port FI, but they used carbs until they switched to MPFI.
Not to say that someone didn't swap a 351M with TBI into that truck, but neither would be factory.
And no, a 351M is not an FE engine. FEs were replaced by the 351M and 400 in about 1977.
And Ford did not ever offer TBI on trucks. By '88 I'm pretty sure they were multi-port FI, but they used carbs until they switched to MPFI.
Not to say that someone didn't swap a 351M with TBI into that truck, but neither would be factory.
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From: Vernon, BC
[QUOTE=Nothing Special;17600172]
And Ford did not ever offer TBI on trucks. By '88 I'm pretty sure they were multi-port FI, but they used carbs until they switched to MPFI.
Thank you for the replies. I did some internet searching (I have finally learned how to effectively search without getting a ton of unrelated crap) and discovered you are absolutely right. Ford didn't offer TBI in the trucks. When I get the chance I will have to go and have another look under the hood. I may take pictures so I can compare it to my 94 5.8. There were differences (I think, now I'm beginning to doubt myself
) but I don't remember what they were.
And Ford did not ever offer TBI on trucks. By '88 I'm pretty sure they were multi-port FI, but they used carbs until they switched to MPFI.
Thank you for the replies. I did some internet searching (I have finally learned how to effectively search without getting a ton of unrelated crap) and discovered you are absolutely right. Ford didn't offer TBI in the trucks. When I get the chance I will have to go and have another look under the hood. I may take pictures so I can compare it to my 94 5.8. There were differences (I think, now I'm beginning to doubt myself
) but I don't remember what they were.
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From: Vernon, BC
Conanski,
I don't remember what it looked like per se. I noted the cover for the throttle body was up near the front like on my 5.8. It had the flattened plastic cover on the top with some cables routed from it to the firewall. There were two snorkels going over to the air cleaner. I seem to remember being able to see more of the motor than what is evident in your picture.
I remember being able to clearly see a valve cover on the drivers side and it was quite rounded. I am going to look under my hood tomorrow to see if mine is the same shape. I'm pretty sure it didn't have air conditioning so that may be why I could see the valve cover easier.
I thought it might be an FE as the valve cover reminded me of my old 360 I had in my '72 F250. Then again, 30 od year old memories are not that reliable.
I don't remember what it looked like per se. I noted the cover for the throttle body was up near the front like on my 5.8. It had the flattened plastic cover on the top with some cables routed from it to the firewall. There were two snorkels going over to the air cleaner. I seem to remember being able to see more of the motor than what is evident in your picture.
I remember being able to clearly see a valve cover on the drivers side and it was quite rounded. I am going to look under my hood tomorrow to see if mine is the same shape. I'm pretty sure it didn't have air conditioning so that may be why I could see the valve cover easier.
I thought it might be an FE as the valve cover reminded me of my old 360 I had in my '72 F250. Then again, 30 od year old memories are not that reliable.
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From: Vernon, BC
I hope not as the 351 in my current truck has just enough power. The SER # engine code is an H so it should have a 351. What confused me is a few of the decoder sites I used showed it as a 351M. I'm guessing it was a typo.
It also has an axle code of 39 so it's an open diff with 3.55 gearing. F250 with 3.55 gears should get decent mileage so, if I buy the truck, I will be able to live with the mileage.
It also has an axle code of 39 so it's an open diff
with 3.55 gearing. F250 with 3.55 gears should get decent mileage so, if I buy the truck, I will be able to live with the mileage.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Either the decoder site isn't accurate or the vin you were given has an error in it. Ford discontinued the M series engines somewhere around 1980 and there never was a factory EFI system for it so there virtually no way that truck could have an EFI 351M in it. If it did have a 351M it would have been swapped in by a previous owner and it would most likely be carbed.
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From: Vernon, BC
When I first looked at the truck I took a photo of the VIN from the door post. VIN 1FTHX26H3JKA41915. I have figured out pretty much everything I can from the VIN. The Ford site I tried using is a fleet site for checking VIN's and one needs to create a profile etc so I didn't use it, I used some other ones. The Ford site would have probably provided an accurate decoding.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I am looking at a 1988 F250 4X4 SC Longbox. The current owner says it has a 351W for an engine.
However when I look up the VIN the engine code (H) shows 351M
on some of the VIN decoding websites. Did Ford use the 351M in 1988?
No 351M's (or 400's) after 1982.*
If so, that would be the FE series of engines, correct?
Incorrect. No FE engines installed in F100/350 after 1976.
VIN: 1FTHX26H3JKA41915 // AXLE code: 39
However when I look up the VIN the engine code (H) shows 351M
on some of the VIN decoding websites. Did Ford use the 351M in 1988? No 351M's (or 400's) after 1982.*
If so, that would be the FE series of engines, correct?
Incorrect. No FE engines installed in F100/350 after 1976.
VIN: 1FTHX26H3JKA41915 // AXLE code: 39
1FT = FoMoCo USA - Ford Truck - Complete Vehicle.
H = Class G .. Hydraulic Brakes .. 8,501-9,000 lbs. GVWR
X26 = F250 4WD Super Cab Pickup.
H = 5.8L 4V (351W) EFI
3 = Check digit, FoMoCo use only.
J = 1988.
K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.
A41915 = 1988 Numerical Sequence of Assembly, the trucks specific serial number.
AXLE code 39 = Sterling 10.25" Rear Axle / 3.55-1 / No Limited Slip / 6,250 lbs. axle capacity.
----------
*351M: 1975/79 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars; 1977/79 F100/350; 1978/82 Bronco; 1980/82 F150/350.
1981: First year 351W available in F150/350 & Bronco. Introduced in: 1969 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars, 1975 Econoline, 1980 Lincoln/Continental Mark VI
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From: Vernon, BC
TJC,
The truck has a transmission code of 2 which translates to the 5 sp OD manual. That's what's in it at any rate. The GVW is 8800 lbs so I think it is the ZF5 as the mazda transmission was put in the lighter duty vehicles.
Number Dummy,
Thank you for the decode. I was confused about the engine code as two of the VIN decoder websites showed a 351M. I now completely understand that is simply not possible unless someone put one in on their own and that wouldn't change the VIN.
FWIW, on some of the VIN decoder websites for the 1988 F250's the code X26 for SC 4X4 was not there either.
The truck has a transmission code of 2 which translates to the 5 sp OD manual. That's what's in it at any rate. The GVW is 8800 lbs so I think it is the ZF5 as the mazda transmission was put in the lighter duty vehicles.
Number Dummy,
Thank you for the decode. I was confused about the engine code as two of the VIN decoder websites showed a 351M. I now completely understand that is simply not possible unless someone put one in on their own and that wouldn't change the VIN.
FWIW, on some of the VIN decoder websites for the 1988 F250's the code X26 for SC 4X4 was not there either.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
It's probably Z =
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Oops,
NumberDummy you are correct. The transmission code is a Z. The Exterior code is 2H and I think I got the transmission and the exterior codes mixed up as I didn't look at the tag before posting.
NumberDummy you are correct. The transmission code is a Z. The Exterior code is 2H and I think I got the transmission and the exterior codes mixed up as I didn't look at the tag before posting.
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