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A number of years ago I had a 1981 F-150 4X4 with the 300ci (4.9L) I-6 engine and the 4-Speed manual transmission. I added a 4" lift and locked both front and rear differentials. It was a pretty capable and fun truck for the Off Road Vehicle trails here in NW Oregon, until the rear diff blew apart. My hunch was the the rear diff locker was improperly installed causing excessive metal fatigue in the ring gear, but I will never know for sure.
I really liked driving this old truck and I am thinking I might want to have another similar truck to have some fun in. Anybody with thoughts or recommendations? I like the two tone paint job as well as the engine and transmission combination, so I think I'm stuck in the '80 to '86 range. Did this truck model ever come with a fuel injected 300ci engine? Was this engine/transmission option offered in the F-250?
The fuel injected 300 came out in 1987. It was offered in the f150's thru the f350's until 1996, maybe a little later. The 1987 thru 1996 f150's and the 1987 thru 1998 f250/f350 are the same trucks as the old ones, just some updates here and there and a different hood and grille and minor body differences. Starting around 1987 or 88, they started installing 5 speeds in them and got rid of the 4 speeds.
I found that the 9" Ford Trac-Lok differential works very well for most off road use in the rear axle. It is less severe than some of the lockers. I set mine up with 4.56 gears, higher friction disks and a stronger Bellville spring so it did a little croaking going around corners. If you add friction modifier from Ford it would be quiet for a while and start making noise again, so I quit using it, let's people know you're driving a serious 4x4.....
General F-150 Questions
My hunch was the the rear diff locker was improperly installed causing excessive metal fatigue in the ring gear, but I will never know for sure.
