Newbie Here.....
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Newbie Here.....
Just wanted to say hi.......I just bought an 86 F350 crew cab diesel and I'm bringing it home tomorrow.......Looking foward to becoming active here and working out a few bugs on the truck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
Do yourself a big favor and spring for a set of Ford factory shop manuals, they're invaluable for an old truck owner and much better than any of the aftermarket versions. There are some on eBay Motors auction site right now. I couldn't do without mine. The one I've used most is the "Electrical & Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual".
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 2
From: Rockport, WA
Welcome aboard! Sounds like a nice truck. I have a 1986 (September 1986) F250 SuperCab 4x4, but mine is the 460 gas. Bought it just before gas hit three bucks, so I WISH I had the diesel.
I think Piffery1's advice is good. I just bought a Haynes, but I'm going to look for a deal on factory manuals.
I think Piffery1's advice is good. I just bought a Haynes, but I'm going to look for a deal on factory manuals.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by Lane Dexter
Welcome aboard! Sounds like a nice truck. I have a 1986 (September 1986) F250 SuperCab 4x4, but mine is the 460 gas. Bought it just before gas hit three bucks, so I WISH I had the diesel.
I think Piffery1's advice is good. I just bought a Haynes, but I'm going to look for a deal on factory manuals.
I think Piffery1's advice is good. I just bought a Haynes, but I'm going to look for a deal on factory manuals.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 2
From: Asheville, NC
The Haynes and Chilton manuals are good if you have a basic knowledge of your truck. Shop manuals assume that you KNOW your entire truck.
I have all 3 for my truck. Bought the shop manuals from the Ford dealer. Best $60 that I've spent in a long time. It came with a vacuum line book, and an electrical hook-up guide, too. Its nice to have everything working properly on this truck. When I got it, someone had made spaghetti out of the wiriing. Its all fixed and cured.
I have all 3 for my truck. Bought the shop manuals from the Ford dealer. Best $60 that I've spent in a long time. It came with a vacuum line book, and an electrical hook-up guide, too. Its nice to have everything working properly on this truck. When I got it, someone had made spaghetti out of the wiriing. Its all fixed and cured.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by Holmesuser01
The Haynes and Chilton manuals are good if you have a basic knowledge of your truck. Shop manuals assume that you KNOW your entire truck.
I have all 3 for my truck. Bought the shop manuals from the Ford dealer. Best $60 that I've spent in a long time. It came with a vacuum line book, and an electrical hook-up guide, too. Its nice to have everything working properly on this truck. When I got it, someone had made spaghetti out of the wiriing. Its all fixed and cured.
I have all 3 for my truck. Bought the shop manuals from the Ford dealer. Best $60 that I've spent in a long time. It came with a vacuum line book, and an electrical hook-up guide, too. Its nice to have everything working properly on this truck. When I got it, someone had made spaghetti out of the wiriing. Its all fixed and cured.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,148
Likes: 0
From: Seneca, SC
yeah the chiltons and haynes have too many years in the run of their manual. they run the entire span of the production of the truck, which i my case is 73-79. Can't possibly put all the info of every model year in a truck and keep it at their 200 page or thereabouts limit(observed).
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by amish77
yeah the chiltons and haynes have too many years in the run of their manual. they run the entire span of the production of the truck, which i my case is 73-79. Can't possibly put all the info of every model year in a truck and keep it at their 200 page or thereabouts limit(observed).
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Welcome to the site Ken86F-350.
If I get another truck, it's going to be a 1980's style F-350 Crewcab, with diesel or 300 i6. Or a 70's crew cab model with a 300 I6.
As for the wiring diagrams, if you have a pretty good understanding of wiring, the diagrams are ok. The haynes manual usually puts our trucks into three sections. 1980, 1981 to 1983 and 1984 to 1986. using the latest year to represent the others. in this example, 1983 and 1986.
Even though the 1981 to 1983 wiring are simular, it can really screw up somebody, with those diagrams, cause of the differences things hook up or how wires are rerouted due to improvements or for saftey etc... They are still usefull but you have to take them with a grain of salt, and only use them as a guide only. And use your experience for the rest of the job. If you don't have any wiring experience, (or you suck at it.
; like so many previous owners ) the diagrams can actually get you into trouble. IMO 
If I get another truck, it's going to be a 1980's style F-350 Crewcab, with diesel or 300 i6. Or a 70's crew cab model with a 300 I6.
As for the wiring diagrams, if you have a pretty good understanding of wiring, the diagrams are ok. The haynes manual usually puts our trucks into three sections. 1980, 1981 to 1983 and 1984 to 1986. using the latest year to represent the others. in this example, 1983 and 1986.
Even though the 1981 to 1983 wiring are simular, it can really screw up somebody, with those diagrams, cause of the differences things hook up or how wires are rerouted due to improvements or for saftey etc... They are still usefull but you have to take them with a grain of salt, and only use them as a guide only. And use your experience for the rest of the job. If you don't have any wiring experience, (or you suck at it.
; like so many previous owners ) the diagrams can actually get you into trouble. IMO
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by 81-F-150-Explorer
Welcome to the site Ken86F-350.
If I get another truck, it's going to be a 1980's style F-350 Crewcab, with diesel or 300 i6. Or a 70's crew cab model with a 300 I6.
As for the wiring diagrams, if you have a pretty good understanding of wiring, the diagrams are ok. The haynes manual usually puts our trucks into three sections. 1980, 1981 to 1983 and 1984 to 1986. using the latest year to represent the others. in this example, 1983 and 1986.
Even though the 1981 to 1983 wiring are simular, it can really screw up somebody, with those diagrams, cause of the differences things hook up or how wires are rerouted due to improvements or for saftey etc... They are still usefull but you have to take them with a grain of salt, and only use them as a guide only. And use your experience for the rest of the job. If you don't have any wiring experience, (or you suck at it. ; like so many previous owners ) the diagrams can actually get you into trouble. IMO
If I get another truck, it's going to be a 1980's style F-350 Crewcab, with diesel or 300 i6. Or a 70's crew cab model with a 300 I6.
As for the wiring diagrams, if you have a pretty good understanding of wiring, the diagrams are ok. The haynes manual usually puts our trucks into three sections. 1980, 1981 to 1983 and 1984 to 1986. using the latest year to represent the others. in this example, 1983 and 1986.
Even though the 1981 to 1983 wiring are simular, it can really screw up somebody, with those diagrams, cause of the differences things hook up or how wires are rerouted due to improvements or for saftey etc... They are still usefull but you have to take them with a grain of salt, and only use them as a guide only. And use your experience for the rest of the job. If you don't have any wiring experience, (or you suck at it.
; like so many previous owners ) the diagrams can actually get you into trouble. IMO After long years as a professional mechanic/car builder/machinist I feel confident about tackling even difficult problems. But there is no way that I can compare with some guys on this site on Ford products. I just don't have thier experience and therefore their specific product knowlege. But a truly good shop manual levels the field a lot.
I do my troubleshooting by reasoning things out before I start taking things apart or replacing things. Manuals are a valuable tool if they give you complete and relevant information. But I don't need to have step by step instructions on how to replace a blower motor or pull an engine.
