What is the general opinion of this forum at to what was the best year and engine / trans combo for the F-150 as a general purpose / light farm use truck?

 

Hopefully just a good debate!!! A little more use info would help with advise. Tow, haul, offroad, hiway? etc.


Putt

 

1973 - 1979, 390 CI, C-6 trans Next question.....Van

 

Light to general weight 2000-4000 lbs cattle/hogs, fencing work, hauling dead vehicles back to the shop for repair, etc.......wuz thinkin bout early to mid 90's 300 six/5 speed.....

 

I bought my first Ford truck, a 1988 F-150 4x2, 302engine, AOD transmission, 3.55 axle ratio, recently with 110,000 km (about 65,000 miles), and it only needed a new sensor and all-round brakes, and has been running really well for 6 months. I will keep my fingers crossed, but so far it runs well, tows my boat well, and seems reliable.
I had a 1988 Lincoln previously, with a 302 engine, and kept it til recently, with 290,000 km (about 175,000 miles) before it began to have significant problems.
I am looking forward to others' comments.
Frank.

 

If you're going to use it as a truck, you need a truck tranny as well as a truck engine. The Mazdog is not a truck tranny. If you're looking at an F150 get anything with a 300 and an NP435. If you're willing to step up to an F250 and can take the gas mileage hit, consider a 351 or 460. You can get a late model f250 with the ZF tranny which is miles ahead of the Mazda.

 

For what it's worth. I've done quite a bit with my M5od tranny sitting behind an I6. I've put around 3/4 ton of steel in the back of the F150, (steering like a boat!), pulled full sized cars at 55mph on a tow dolly. she even gets them up steep hills. Granted a ZF tranny's better, but I've got no complaints about what I've got. That is outside of not having Trac-lok...yet.
-John R.

 

Better off with a 80's model F 250 with a 6.9 idi diesel, Turbo'd and a ZF5 conversion. Prolly be the last truck you'd ever need to buy.

It'd have pretty good power and great dependability. 15-18 MPG doesnt hurt either

 

300 6 cyl general light duty, and my favorite 1974-76 ford ranger 3/4 ton , 390 cid, 4by4

 

My 96 tows 6000lbs with no problem. IMO the last of the good looking ones and the last 4.9L Granted I only have 61K on her so I don't know the durability of my 5 speed. It sure pulls nice and I get around 16mpg when not pulling.

 

Best: 300 Strait six, with either a ZF 5 speed, or the Borg Warner T-18.

 

Dad's old 77 F-150 4x4 heavy half sure held up well to the abuse of the farm. The 400 engine was junk though, 3 engines in 145k miles. Go for 76 or 77 with the 360 or 390...

In a newer pickup I think the 80-86 were built pretty good too, 87-96 a little cheaper. The 97 up are tin cans, Dad's 98 has way too many squeaks etc. for never being used off road! Just my opinions...

 

i beat the tar out of both my trucks and neither has given me to much grief. the f 250 is sitting pretty good on 39" michelins and is perfect for driving down the ditch and pounding in fence posts. the dana 60 front solved my front end problems. the f 150 with its aod has held up surprisingly well for the beating it takes. its not safe to drive on the highway but makes a decent tractor in the winter. i can honestly say the small blocks are by far the beat motors for balance of fuel economy with durability. parts are easy to find and easy to fix. the e4od is the best auto but the aod is pretty decent to.

 

Well constering it's in the 87-96 fourm, I think he was refering to truck's in this range of years, which still dosen't change my answer.

 

Is a Borg Warner T-18 a manny or a auto?