Last carburetor year

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Last carburetor year

BigBrother-84
I went at my local junk yard yesterday, just for fun.  They have couple of old Ford trucks, I would say from 1970 to 90’s ones.
Looking under the hoods, I realized that my '84 Bullnose has much more in common with older '70s than last '80s and the 90's trucks.
Is there a key moment when the under hood changed suddenly?  When the carburetor disappeared?
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Last carburetor year

ratdude747
When they went to the bricknose generation in '87, carbs went away on all engines too. '85 and '86 were transition years with the advent of the 5.0 EFI; 1985 could be EFI or carbed while (correct me if I'm wrong) 1986 was EFI-only on the 5.0.
1984 F150: 300 L6, AOD, RWD. EEC IV / TFI, Feedback Carter YFA Carb. Stock everything but radio (for now).
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Re: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by BigBrother-84
The move to EFI was the most significant change, and that came about in several steps.  The 302/5.0L had EFI as an option in late '85.  The other engines got EFI after the Bullnose era and I don't remember exactly when that was.
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: Last carburetor year

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by BigBrother-84
You still got a carburetor in 1987 with the 460.
That was the end of it for trucks between 8,500-11,000 lb.

In fact, in F53 (motorhome) chassis you got a carb up to '92.
I'm pretty sure the long snout 429 in medium duty trucks wore a carb that late as well.
 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: Last carburetor year

85lebaront2
Administrator
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
1987 351 non-HO and 300 received EFI systems. 1988 351 HO (if they still were offered) and 460s went to EFI.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Last carburetor year

Rembrant
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
ratdude747 wrote
When they went to the bricknose generation in '87, carbs went away on all engines too. '85 and '86 were transition years with the advent of the 5.0 EFI; 1985 could be EFI or carbed while (correct me if I'm wrong) 1986 was EFI-only on the 5.0.
Gary Lewis wrote
The move to EFI was the most significant change, and that came about in several steps.  The 302/5.0L had EFI as an option in late '85.
I've always wondered about the 5.0's transition from carburetor to EFI. I've always known that it was 1985, but how exactly that was rolled out, I don't know. Gary, I'm not questioning what you're saying, because a lot of people will say that EFI was optional in 1985 with the 5.0, but I thought Vinny said one time that there were no carbed 5.0's built after February 1985 (Certification label date, not dealer sold date). The end of February would be roughly the middle of the production year.

Of course there would have been weeks, months, and probably many months in some places where carbed 5.0 trucks were on the dealer's lots with the EFI 5.0's, so in that sense you'd definitely have options to choose from, at least temporarily. Or, was it an actual option in the 1985 brochure that you could choose one or the other?

Splitting hairs here, I know, but I'm curious being a bit of a 5.0 fan boy and all.

Where's Lariat Rick?...He might know.
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: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
The screen grab below is from the 1985 Dealer Facts book, and is all I know:

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: Last carburetor year

Nothing Special
I ordered an '85 F-250 new and took delivery in Nov 1984.  Don't recall exactly when I placed the order, but probably sometime in September.  That, as well as the high line body molding my truck had, definitely made mine an early 1985.

Mine was an F-250HD, so no 302 available, and I had a 351 in it.  But before I decided on the HD a 302 was a possibility.  And I definitely remember being told that was EFI.  That was actually part of what pushed me to a 351.  I didn't want a first year effort at something more complicated.

I don't know what the actual availability was.  If I'd ordered an EFI 302 would it have taken 6 months to get it?  Who knows.  But I do know that early in the '85 model year I was told I could get an EFI 302.
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: Last carburetor year

BigBrother-84
Thanks Gentlemen!
That explains why BigBro’s similar cousins resting in the junk yard are aged a lot more behind him than ahead.
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by Nothing Special
Bob - Doesn't look like you'd have had to wait all that long as this, for the early 1985 brochure, says November, 1984 availability:

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: Last carburetor year

LARIAT 85
In reply to this post by Rembrant
5.0/302

1980 - 1984:  2V carburetor, Duraspark II ignition
1985:  2V feedback carburetor, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [before November 1984] (This is how Lucille was ordered)
1985/1986:  EFI, TFI ignition, EEC-IV computer [starting November 1984]


Interesting fact:  

On page 154 of my 1985 Owner's Manual, there is a section titled "Specifications and Capacities." There is a "Motorcraft Service Parts" chart that lists the part numbers for batteries, filters, spark plugs, etc. The interesting part is the footnote (7) referenced for the 5.0L engine for the spark plug part numbers:

5.0L (7) - ASF-32C

5.0L EFI - ASF-32C

5.8L (5) - ASF-42
______________________________
(5) 5.8L 4V use ASF-32C.
(7) 5.0L High Output use ASF-42.


According to the manual, there was supposed to be a "High Output" carbureted 5.0L that would use a hotter plug than the standard 5.0L 2V or 5.0L EFI engine. But the "High Output" carbureted 5.8L 4V used a colder plug than the standard 5.8L 2V engine.

While the 5.8L 4V H.O. was introduced in 1984 and is an improvement over the 5.8L 2V with a better cam, exhaust, and a 4V carburetor, I have never heard of the "5.0L High Output," except in the Ford Mustangs. I don't see this engine listed in the 1985 F-Series sales brochure, either. I wonder if this was a planned special performance engine for 1985 (like the 5.8L 4V H.O.) that never made production?

Lucille:  1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors:  Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain:  AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.



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Re: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Good info on the 302/5.0L, Rick.  

On the owner's manual, what version/printing do you have?  I'm going to guess that it is the first printing as my second printing version, the one we have on here, doesn't have that footnote, as shown below.  So maybe they caught that mistake?  (I'm not questioning that yours says that.  Just trying to figure out what the differences are.)




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: Last carburetor year

BigBrother-84
In reply to this post by LARIAT 85
Geeeeee...

 
Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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Re: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
We like the details.  And some of us have a bit of documentation to help find those details.  



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: Last carburetor year

LARIAT 85
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
I have the first printing, as my truck is an early 1985 [carbureted] model.  

As you know, I also have the early "new for 1985" upper trim molding - that was quickly and completely dropped not even half-way through the model year.

Another interesting fact is that the early 1985 sales brochure advertises "new cloth covered sun visors." This was deleted from the later 1985 sales brochure and didn't actually show up until 1987.


Was the 5.0L H.O. engine a mistake?  Or was it intended to be an option that was never actually delivered?  After all, there was a 5.0L 4V H.O. already available in the Mustang GT.  And there was a 5.8L 4V H.O. already available in the F-Series trucks.  

So why not?

Lucille:  1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors:  Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain:  AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.



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Re: Last carburetor year

85lebaront2
Administrator
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
A little bit more than I have, but I also have Chrysler books and a full set of available parts catalogs as PDF files on the computer.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Yes, you can't see what's on the computer, and there I have the 1980 - 89 MPC, the '96 EVTM and FSM, and some other things.  Then there's the microfiche copies of the MPC and two viewers.

But my MOPAR library just has the Dodge 1969 FSM.  
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: Last carburetor year

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by LARIAT 85
You are right, Rick.  It might not have been a mistake.  Perhaps it was actually planned and someone pulled the plug on it.  

Anyway, that's at least one difference between the 1st and 2nd publications for '85.  Good to know.
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: Last carburetor year

LARIAT 85
Or maybe, just maybe, one truck *did* escape the Ford plant in early 1985 with the 5.0L 4V H.O. engine, cloth-covered sun visors, AND the upper trim molding:








I named her Lucille, by the way.  And I wouldn't do anything to Lucille that Ford themselves wouldn't have done.  
Lucille:  1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors:  Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain:  AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.



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Re: Last carburetor year

BigBrother-84
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis wrote
We like the details.  And some of us have a bit of documentation to help find those details.  


Jeff / 1984 F350 Crew Cab 4x4/5.8L w351 4V/ T18/ D50 4.10 front/ 8' bed.
Restored 2019-2022.
Nicknamed «Big Brother 1984», due to its soooo-looong shape & nod to George Orwell's 1984 famous novel.
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