I picked this truck up at the beginning of the year in SC, and have been having trouble deciding what to do with it. After blowing the headgasket a couple weeks ago I decided I better keep it and fix it up
I bought it from the original owner's son, and he could tell me all the work they had done to it. And all the abuse the truck took from the son growing up. From burning up clutches to spring break beer runs it somehow survived! It was pretty neat to have some history on the truck.
Anyway It's a 1987 F150 XLT Lariat 2wd with a 300 and a 4spd (4th is OD) and 204k miles. It's in awesome condition. 99% rust free and has cruise control (works perfect) and A/C that needs work.
I've had quite a few 60's-70's Ford trucks, but this was my first older Ford with a computer. So with apprehension and excitement I dived in headfirst.

The truck had been sitting for a while so I dropped the tanks (gas was black as tar.) I of course misdiagnosed some things and tried throwing parts at it- ex: a starter. Then I thought my PCM was bad> https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...m-opinion.html
Long story short I ended up buying a brand new front gas tank and new fuel pumps for the tanks. Then I had to install a new inline fuel pump. And after all this I installed an intank fuel pump with reverse polarity...so I had to re-drop a tank

Once the fuel issue was resolved, the 87 fired right up! I then went through the ignition, did a tune up, and inspected the brakes. The truck got new air filters, fuel filter, distributor cap & rotor, wires, and plugs. Put new brake pads on and replaced a frozen caliper. Greased up the suspension.

I was ready to go! Slapped some plates on and down the road I went. Then I got smoked out of the cab. Off to the parts store for a heater core....


When I picked the truck up it had an interesting rim/tire choice....My buddy and I somehow crammed those big tires on my tow dolly and dragged it home.


After I got it in running condition I put a set of stock tires on and started to drive it everyday.


I still hit a few snags here and there. I had to put in a new TPS, a distributor stator (not fun to switch out ), a TFI, horns, rearview mirror, some turn signal bulbs, and a shiny brand new junkyard alternator lol.

My wife and I decided to move back to NY from SC so I loaded up the 87 for the trek north and it didn't skip a beat...


Here's a few more pics of it.

Missing some trim...




Interior...nice stylish red...o and what were they thinking with those cupholders in the arm rest? They're pretty much just for show.





Found an old aluminum cap for her...



Once back in NY I considered selling the truck. Old rust free trucks don't exist in NY, and I didn't have a whole lot of money in the truck....but that idea went out the window when I forgot to tighten the radiator cap down all the way. Apparently the "M" on my temp gauge means overheated

So my plans at this point with it are:
- Fix the headgasket (which may turn into a full blown rebuild)
- Fix the heater setting selector levers (its stuck on defrost)
- Put in a radio (current one doesn't work)
- Fix the A/C
- Lastly get it repainted

Hopefully I don't run out of steam halfway through!

 

Looks like you have a pretty good project truck there. Do a rebuild and don't look back. I liked the looks of the wheels and tires that came on it.

 

X2 , I am in a similar boat. I am rebuilding an entire 88 4x4 only going a little crazy. Mine is also in amazing condition for 30 years old. I have priced out rebuilding all the major components, engine, tranny , diffs ,t-case, front end etc and with new paint and I figure I'm in under 10k, that's doing all the work myself of course. I know these are good trucks so I figured I,d go for it. Beats paying 50k for a new truck that's worth 30k. 2-years after purchase and they are now cool antiques !

 

I really would like to do a rebuild. The rims/tires on there were actually a really nice set of aluminum rims with nice mud tires. I just didn't have any use for them on a 2wd, so the money I got from selling them went into getting the truck running lol.

Badlildoggy - My plans are quickly spiraling out of control. "Well if I have X out I might as well replace Y, and if I replace Y I gotta change Z"
Even after all the time and money I've put into old trucks, it's still cheaper than buying new

 

It was for back when pop cans were "normal" sized. Not SUPERSIZED big gulps....... I used to have a couple of those old plastic door hanging style pop can holders. Only problem is pop cans aren't that size anymore. They are like 1/4" bigger in diameter and won't fit. Why? Just because.

 

I believe those cup holders were designed to hold a beer can, at least that is what I remember being in there the most in my neck of the woods LOL.....

 

Maybe if you were sitting still, when moving they were designed to see if you were proficient in profanity.

 

Sounds like me talking to my wife about spending money

 

Luckily my wife keeps believing it!


Got the head pulled today on a nice cool NY winter day. Sure made me wish it was carbureted
Anyway as you can see the head was not that great. Cylinders 2 and 5 need new intake valves, although it has been 204k. Not sure why those are the only ones with detonation...


5+6


1+2



After all those miles the cylinders don’t look bad. Can’t even feel any ridges on the metal. Nothing like a 300


The injectors need to be cleaned up. Truck definitely needed a new valve cover; oil was leaking everywhere.
Plan is to drop the head off at a machine shop, make sure it’s flat, and have it cleaned. Put it back in and keep on trucking

 

Well my cylinder head is shot. Upon closer inspection I noticed 3 cracks. It got cooked pretty good. Now I gotta check out the pistons closer to make sure they aren't shot now too. Might be getting a new engine now instead of just a head....

 

i started to say something when you spoke of having the head done and dropping it back on. My experience has been; do a valve job on an aging engine, and the increased compression will lead to piston rings losing their seal. I haven't messed with this in a long time, and maybe rings are better now, but that used to be a rule of thumb. On the plus side, usually, in rust belt states, engines are plentiful.

 

There's more 300's around than I thought there would be. I'm going to find a head to drop on so that I can at least use the truck around town. Then I'm going to pick up an engine to do a full rebuild on and drop in. Things are starting to snowball lol.

 

Picked up a 300 out of a wrecked 94 F150. Popped the head off and got it ready for reassembly in my ‘87. In my brilliance I decided to do the head gasket job on a nice 5 degree day
The coolant in my oil had gelled up and took forever to heat up and drain. Once I finally got it out and put new oil and coolant in, the truck wouldn’t turn over because the start was frozen. So looks like I’ll be waiting for a warmer day to see if I got it fixed...

 

Any updates?

 

Nothing yet. The truck is resting about 45 mins away. It just started to warm up here and it’s supposed to be mid 40’s this weekend. Planning on being able to start it this weekend and get the exhaust done. If I have enough time I’ll get the vent selector working and maybe a new radio installed...