basic gen 8/9 questions

[Skandocious]

Uh...I was (am) pissed that the 5-speed in my Ranger had a bearing go bad at 221k miles. I'd be beyond livid if I needed anything more than a clutch at 135k

There's no arguing with the fact that standard transmissions are more reliable and durable than autos... But nothing is indestructible. You got lucky with yours. My tacoma had a bad throwout bearing by 35k miles.

 

[john112deere]

Uh....no. (EDIT: No, I didn't get lucky. Hard to gripe too much, all things considered, but that failure with those miles is, if anything, bad luck.)

First off...I meant internal tranny parts. T/O bearing is part of the clutch. But they shouldn't fail at 35k miles anyway.

I have high standards for reliability. That's why I'm a Ford man.

 

[Skandocious]

But they shouldn't fail at 35k miles anyway.

My point exactly. Sure it may have been an isolated case but chit happens-- sometimes you're not quite so lucky. You can't call the trans a piece of garbage because it needed a BEARING at 221k miles.

 

[john112deere]

Yeah...it's not totally unreasonable (see edit above).

A T/O bearing at 35k is, however...and I would argue that overhauling a manual trans anytime before 200k is premature failure, too.

 

[NeXtras]

If it were me-- I'd look for a gen 9 before a gen 8. Of course I'm biased, but I think they improved a lot in the gen 9 trucks with the advent of some newer technologies. Not to mention you'll probably have less rust on a newer truck.

Theres really not too much difference in the gens when your talking about the 302 and 300.. depends on how far back you go.. all they really changed the front facia..

If you plan to keep the engine relatively stock MAF or SD will do. MAF is if you want to so some modding such as intake and all that fun stf.. as everone already stated..

If you get a 94-96, thats where minor changes begin in engines, although i cant speak for the 300.. in 94 the 302 was given a new firing order to prevent a crossfire between cyl 7 and 8..

Im not sure, but wasnt the crossmember something ud want to look at for rust? i though they rotted out quite a bit.. again as everyone said, definetly look at the spring hangers, front coils, front shock towers.. and DEFINETLY look at the springs! It seems to be common for these springs to break, ive had 2 leafs on one side break and 1 on the other, and ive replaced to hangers so far, and the other 2 are comming soon..

What ever truck you get in the 8gen-9gen era, the 300 and 302 are the strongest engines ive heard of.. a budy of mine swears by the 302..

While im in here, ive HEARD that the Windsor blocks are thicker to prevent cracking.. is this true?