F250 Advice

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F250 Advice

Ray Cecil
I have a 69 chevy for sale. A guy wants to trade me an 89 F250, 460, Automatic, 4x4, regular cab. Looks like solid front axle.

Im not too familiar with a 460, or the F250s. Anything I should really watch out for other than the obvious condition of the truck?

It was a work truck, and he took the toolbox off and put a bed on in. Said he rebuilt the 460 .030 over with an rv cam.

He has looked at the Impala, and wants to trade. It'll be saturday before I can get to the truck.






1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed


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Re: F250 Advice

salans7
Sounds like it's pretty well built, and looks like it's been restored. Provided the engine sounds clean and feels clear, and the transmission shifts well, you might have yourself a solid 3/4 ton.

Btw, definitely a TTB D44HD under that truck.
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Re: F250 Advice

Ray Cecil
Is the Dana44HD the better axle? Im not well educated on axles.
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed


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Re: F250 Advice

Angelo Voltura
Depends on what you want it to do. They ride a lot nicer than the straight axle. As long as you keep up on the maintenance they do fine.
1978 F150 351W
1979 F150 "410M"
1979 F100 302
1979 F250 400
1987 F150 300
1990 F150 302
1991 F150 300
1995 F150 (1985 clip swapped) 300
1997 F250 351W
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Re: F250 Advice

Ray Cecil
Thanks Angelo. Yeah, its just going to be a hauler if I end up with it. I have a 99 Z71 I usually tow with, but it is at 349901 miles as of this morning. It was my fathers truck. I need to restore it. So trading a project car, for a useful truck....well....might be a good idea.
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed


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Re: F250 Advice

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Angelo - I disagree on the ride.  In my opinion a TTB F150 rides well.  And a solid axle F350 rides OK.  But a TTB F250 rides poorly.  Which is a big reason Big Blue is getting a D60.  (Solid axle, Ray.)

Ray - Having said the above, I think it would be a good trade with what you have in mind.  The 460/F250/auto/4x4/long bed will tow your trailer much easier than the 300/F150/manual/2x4/short bed.  But, it will be thirsty.  As my brother said of his 460, it gets 10 MPG by itself and it gets 10 MPG towing.  It don't care.

But, don't expect it to ride nicely.  However, if it has sway bars disconnect them and it'll ride less badly.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: F250 Advice

Ray Cecil
Thanks for all the advice. I couldnt care less how good it rides. If I wanted a cadillac, Id buy one. None of these trucks ride that well anyway.

If I trade, this truck will be a tool. It wont be thought of as a toy, or a family vehicle. I wont drive it everyday either. It would only be used to haul really heavy loads on the 16' car hauler.
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed


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Re: F250 Advice

grumpin
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
I’ve owned two other F250’s an 88 and a 94. The ride is not good if you’re looking for one. I'm not, it’s a truck.

If it has the C6 automatic, that’s good, a tough auto IMHO. If it’s the E4OD, could be troublesome behind the 460. However, I’ve had no problems with the one in my Bronco.

Something I find interesting is that I feel my 86 carbed 460 has more power than my 94 EFI 460 did. And it had 4.10 gears, my 86 has 3.55’s.

My 88 was a 7.3 diesel with the ZF5. Neat thing with the C6 is if you put it in second it will go to second gear and stay there, good for slippery situations.

I like them, they are “built Ford tough!” Although I rarely admit it to my wife, the Suburban we have is a beast! And built stout. But for awhile I didn’t have a truck, and I missed having an F250.
Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona
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Re: F250 Advice

Rembrant
In reply to this post by Ray Cecil
That's a decent lookin' old truck Ray. If you don't have any immediate plans for the old car and can use the truck, that sounds like a great deal to me.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: F250 Advice

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by Ray Cecil
That's not an '89, it's an '87 like mine.
At least it's got an '87 (carbureted) engine in it.

D44 HD..... I'll be stripping mine and replacing all the bushings and balljoints next week.
The D50 has bigger (350 size) hubs.
The 350 has a Dana 60 straight axle.

The D60 in the 350 rides better and has a tighter turning radius.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: F250 Advice

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
Fuel injected engines had different valve covers, intake and exhaust ports don't match either.

Just ask Gary..
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: F250 Advice

Nothing Special
In reply to this post by grumpin
grumpin wrote
....  If it has the C6 automatic, that’s good, a tough auto IMHO. If it’s the E4OD, could be troublesome behind the 460. However, I’ve had no problems with the one in my Bronco.
I think I read that the E4OD had some issues early on that were corrected through the years.  Which might be a bad omen if it is an early E4OD.  But I've got ~220K miles on the E4OD behind the 460 in my '97 F-250HD with no issues (but being mine is a '97 it has the "fixes"...).

grumpin wrote
....  Neat thing with the C6 is if you put it in second it will go to second gear and stay there, good for slippery situations....
The E4OD does that too.  In fact, I think all Ford auto transmissions do.
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: F250 Advice

Ray Cecil
I was wrong. It is an 87.

Anyway, we will see how it goes. Interior is a little rough, but the roughness is limited to the seat cover and carpet. Dash and door panels look decent. At least in the pic.

I will see this saturday
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed


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Re: F250 Advice

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk
ArdWrknTrk wrote
Fuel injected engines had different valve covers, intake and exhaust ports don't match either.

Just ask Gary..
Yep.  For sure.  Different heads, different intake, different exhaust manifolds, and different valve covers.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: F250 Advice

salans7
In reply to this post by Ray Cecil
Ray Cecil wrote
I was wrong. It is an 87.
Even better, it's even closer to being a bullnose. Haha.

1987 trucks can sometimes be like the 1980 trucks. Jim can share more detail on that, but I remember there being quite a few differences on my dad's 87 F150 from the 88-91 trucks.
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Re: F250 Advice

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
I think only the 351 H.O. and the 460 were carbureted in 1987.
The carburetor lived on for a couple of more years  in F53 chassis and 429 medium duty trucks.

Yes Shaun, my truck is essentially a Bullnose, except for the cab and bed.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: F250 Advice

salans7
I know my dad had some differences in the wiring somewhere, as well as cosmetic things like the door panel trim being different for Lariats, the upper intake plenum (EFI) being the same one from 85-86, and on 4x4 trucks the t-case shifter still came through the inspection cover and was a wonky lay down design.
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Re: F250 Advice

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
Well there is no ICVR. The gauges are completely different.

It wasn't until '90, I believe, that the transfer case shifter came out the side of the tunnel.
Maybe Gary can confirm, from Huck.

All Bricknose trucks use the AC heater core, making it a lot easier to change.

Dash mounts and door panels changed -of coures- with the restyle of the interior.

The seatbelt retractors move down low, and there is a cable actuated pin sticking out of the bottom rear of the door jamb.

We got sun visors with inboard supports.

The radiator support is different.
Radiator mounts and new headlights changed.

Front fenders have a flange that bolts to the rocker pinch weld.

There are LOTS of little things!

But for '87 the driveline and frame are essentially the same.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: F250 Advice

salans7
I was referring to the differences between an 87 and an 88-91.

1988 was the first year for the tunnel entry transfer case shifter.

See interior pics, all original 1988
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Re: F250 Advice

swampedout
These are just my observations as a new bullnose owner. Take them for whatever theyre worth.
I just bought an 84 f250 4x4 with the 460. I agree with Gary about the leaf sprung TTB. Id prefer the f150 coil spring setup or the 350 straight axle. And I agree about mpg.
Ive hauled and towed with mine and drive it every day and hit the gas station every day. I prefer driving it with a trailer or weight in the bed, it smooths my dirt road bounces out.
Around here that truck would go for around 5k if it looks as clean as it does in the pictures but I dont know how it compares to where you are.
Im debating what Im going to do with the truck come summer. Id prefer something with the 300 in it for that mpg and torque sweet spot but I might keep the 460 and hopefully never need a bigger truck.
If you have youre DDs and just need a truck to tow, this one will do the job. A powerstroke might give you a little more power but your going to pay a couple thousand more for it up front.
Sam
1984 F250. 460. C6. 4x4.
 MSD Ignition. Airbag rear suspension
Whole buncha problems
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