I'm new to this forum. I recently bought a 1996 F150 with the 4.9 I6 and one of my friends recommended that I get an account here. I had a few questions I thought someone might be able to answer.

1) Unfortunately, the truck is a base XL model that did not come with the towing package. I imagine I could just buy one of those ***** and attach it to the bumber, but I want to do it right. I had an F250 in college and it had support beams that attached the hitch to the frame. I don't have anything in particular I need to tow; I just want to have that option available if I do need to tow something.
What is the best set-up and how much should I expect to pay???

2) The truck came with an automatic transmission. Short of getting under the truck and looking at it, how can you tell which transmission you have. I assume I have the E4OD, but wanted to make sure.

3) I bought the truck with 60k miles. I'm planning on owning this truck for the long-haul and had the following maintenance done [cost me $600, but I think it was worth it].
-changed spark plugs/distributor cap/rotor
-flushed cooling system
-changed rear differential lube
-had the fuel injector cleaned
-trans fluid was changed before I bought it
-the truck has new tires and the brakes are in good condition
Did I miss anything? Any suggestions?

I'm looking forward to your replies,
-Josh

 

If you have an overdrive button on the end of the shift column, you'll have an E4OD. If you don't, and the shift pattern is P-R-N-OD-D-1 you have an AOD variant...by 96 I think they were all electronically controlled (AODE).

Check the underside for rust, especially the rear spring shackles and replace whatever you need to.

You've made a good buy. She'll treat you right if you treat her right. Just remember these things don't like to sit for any real length of time and that road salt eats them within a season or two. Keep it clean.

Welcome to the party.

 

There is rust all over the undercarriage. It's not rusted through, but it is there. Any way to keep it from getting worse?
On the other hand, the body & paint look great.

 

Surface scale is no big deal.

If you see any badly rusted parts you can replace, it's not a bad idea. Also, the cab floor and rear corners on these trucks like to go bye bye when faced with years of salt/cinders and neglect. Keep and eye on them if you plan to keep the truck a long time.

Do you have a rubberized vinyl floor or carpet? My XLT has carpet and it gets wet from feet in the weather and is a pain to dry out. Water gets into it and starts to rust the floor out from the top. If you have carpet, try and get some nice big mats ro keep too much snow or rain from your feet from soaking in.

 

If you really want to treat the underside for mild surface rust, I would look at something like Eastwood Company.. Rust Encapsulator is pretty good stuff. They are a site sponsor...look at the left sidebar.

 

If you plan on doing any kind of towing a tranny cooler is must. A deep sump finned-aluminum tranny pan is also a good idea. Maybe throw a transmission fluid temp gauge in the cab as well.

Look around locally and find yourself a decent under bumper receiver, I wouldn't use anything smaller then a class 3. Use grade 8 hardware to secure the receiver to the truck's frame.

As for the underbody rust take some steel wool and sand paper to the worse of it. On my 96 F150 I treated the underside to 2 coats of POR-15 (paint over rust) along with a good coat of rubberized undercoating over top. I did that about 4 years ago and its still holding up nicely.

 

towing package was the hidden hitch, tranny cooler, and typically the E40d transmission. ( the 20 bolt tranny) Also the trailer light hook-up was different, instead of the 3 male 1 female end it came with an actual connector.