I am getting my first truck. It is a 1995 F150 extended cab with a 351. It has 171k on it. It seems to drive decent other than a popping noise from the front drivers tire any ideas on what this may be? Also what are the common problems on these trucks. I have hurd the dual gas tank setup does not work well is this true? Also how much should it cost to get it tuned up at a garge?

 

The dual tank setup in the 92-96 trucks work very well, though on occasion you do have to replace the check valves, fuel pumps, sending units/floats and the seals on the top of the tanks - standard for any old truck, brand irrelevent. The "problem" were the older trucks that didn't have check valves, and instead had an actuator that switched tanks, actuating a valve. Those would gum up and stick quite a bit over time. Ford stopped doing that years ago.

As far as the popping noise, that's not descriptive enough where we'll be able to guess... but as a precautionary measure I'd jack up the front wheel with a floor jack, then try to wiggle the tire with your hands.... put some brute into it and see if it has any play up, down, left and right. If so, you probably need ball joints and/or rod ends depending how you can move it by hand.

If it's more of a thunk sound maybe the shock is frozen up or loose on that side, which would cause more of a thumping sound than a popping sound...

My local shop wants to charge $199 for a tuneup - including oil change, cap and rotor, plugs, wires, fuel and air filters. Materials are less than half that and you certianly can do all those things yourself with basic hand tools and the desire to get your fingers dirty.

 

The reasson I ask about the tune up is it seems to hesiate a little. Also which transmission would it have be likely to have? The shifter has a switch for the OD. And with the 351 is there anything that is likely to break that I should be aware or I guess what I am asking is how many miles do these motors usually go to?

 

You will have to go to your door jamb and look up the trans code then post it and someone can decode it or go to articles and specs and look under vin decoder to find out the tranny it should be a E4OD or a 4r70W these motors go forever if they are maintained and not abused if it doesnt burn oil smoke or run like crap like ticking valves noises etc your okay

 

the 351s are good motors and last a long time with proper maintenance,

do the tune-up yourself,it will save ya money and help to familiarize ya with the truck

gl with the new truck

 

When I go to pick it up I will look at the code. I am trading a grand prix for it. The tune up pretty easy to do on these motors? I know on some of the cars I have tuned up the plugs are really hard to get to and im just not in the mood to deal with that. Any reconmendations on where to get the parts such as napa? Back to the transmission do either of these trannies have any issues? I know some ford trannys are not good like the a4ld that comes with b2s and explorers.

 

the plugs are not bad to do---
both trans are decent with the right maint., if your not gonna beat on em real bad

look at the thread a few down "to many miles to change trans fluid"------theres alot of info in there

 

Anther question I have is what should I expect to get for mpg on this truck if it is in good running order? I am hoping to be able to pull are 13-14 with it. This will be my first v8 Im not sure if im looking for to the mileage.

 

Forget about 13-14 MPG with a 351, dude....you'll find that motor is a rock solid one especially if you work it, but good gas mileage was definitely last on its list of priorities. My 95 XLT 4X4 with 302 with easy driving is at about 13.5 on the best day of the week. Expect maybe 10 or 11 and not much more, otherwise don't buy it cuz you'll be disappointed in the mileage. But everything else about it you'll love; those 351 Windsors were great motors dating all the way back to 1969. I have a friend with a 97 F250 with that motor in it, and he's got 275K miles and counting and never had it apart...

 

Yea I get 16MPG on mine . But its Got 302 with MAf and been played with. I don't know your area (flat hilly town country) But all will vary. I have had several 351 and never broke 13 mpg. 12 was the norm. Good luck enjoy.