Help me plan my build
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Help me plan my build
I just got my 88 F-150 finally running yesterday.. its only taken almost 3 years. Okay, really it just got pushed to the back of the list.
But its finally ready to go to work. Its main job will be to pull my Jeep and trailer around, plus some general truck jobs.
Its a 302, with the 5-speed, 4wd. It already has some of the towing package items added to it. Its has the 3.55 gears, the reciever hitch, and the rear sway bar. It will be getting a trailer brake controller, as my trailer is getting electric brakes to replace the really bad surge brakes on it.(Darn things have never worked correctly since I bought the trailer).
I'm planning on replacing the sway bar bushings with polyurethane. I know about the squeaking issues, but the performance outweighs the noise for me.
My rear tank has a coffee can sized hole in the top, so I was thinking of installing one of those 30-40 oversized tanks that have the transfer pump option.
Any cool kinda different ideas? I've kicked around all the standard ignition,exhaust,cam change stuff and will probably do some of it as it goes along.
But its finally ready to go to work. Its main job will be to pull my Jeep and trailer around, plus some general truck jobs.
Its a 302, with the 5-speed, 4wd. It already has some of the towing package items added to it. Its has the 3.55 gears, the reciever hitch, and the rear sway bar. It will be getting a trailer brake controller, as my trailer is getting electric brakes to replace the really bad surge brakes on it.(Darn things have never worked correctly since I bought the trailer).
I'm planning on replacing the sway bar bushings with polyurethane. I know about the squeaking issues, but the performance outweighs the noise for me.
My rear tank has a coffee can sized hole in the top, so I was thinking of installing one of those 30-40 oversized tanks that have the transfer pump option.
Any cool kinda different ideas? I've kicked around all the standard ignition,exhaust,cam change stuff and will probably do some of it as it goes along.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
What's the combined weight of the jeep and trailer? It would be a good idea to look at changing the gearing, it will help the little wheezer manage the load and prolong the life of the light duty 5-speed tranny you have. 4.10's would be the right ratio.
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The jeep and trailer combo was just a hair under 5500 lbs.
But, the Jeep got new tires and aluminum wheels, and the trailer got its center section removed. Removing the center section alone was about 300 lbs of steel. I'm adding aluminum wheels to the trailer also when I get some time. I'm expecting the entire process to get the combined weight under 5k.
4.10's would be a tad high for DD duty. Not to mention being a 4wd, the price of buying and installing gears both front and rear would almost put me into the price range of 'thinking of down payment'.
Luckily I live in corn country so its VERY flat here. So slow going on hills isn't really a concern.
But, the Jeep got new tires and aluminum wheels, and the trailer got its center section removed. Removing the center section alone was about 300 lbs of steel. I'm adding aluminum wheels to the trailer also when I get some time. I'm expecting the entire process to get the combined weight under 5k.
4.10's would be a tad high for DD duty. Not to mention being a 4wd, the price of buying and installing gears both front and rear would almost put me into the price range of 'thinking of down payment'.
Luckily I live in corn country so its VERY flat here. So slow going on hills isn't really a concern.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
The truck will handle it, just go easy on it and live with whatever speed it can muster on grades when towing... don't push it beyond 50-60mph on flats in 4th. As it stands the truck probably does OK by itself but looses speeds up big hills right? Gears really help the little Windsor, the extra RPM it spins is at a lower load so milage doesn't suffer much. The most cost effective way to get better ratios is to pull them from a junkyard or buy a donor truck that's taking up space in somebody's driveway, keep your eyes open you never know you might score just what you need for $100.
With this older version the motor really benefits from a cam upgrade, I'd suggest that be the first thing you do to the motor.
With this older version the motor really benefits from a cam upgrade, I'd suggest that be the first thing you do to the motor.
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