Newbie requests guidance and opinions.

[gkeepa]

Hey everyone. Love this site! Here's my can of worms: I am in the market for an F Series(gotta sell my sedan 1st!).Can't wait to hear any and all suggestions/answers to the following question: Which generation F Series has the most interchangeability(part-wise/mechanically)within its own generation, and outside of its own generation(either the preceding or succeeding). I do have a few things I must have which will limit my choices from a generation standpoint:
-gotta have factory a/c,
-gotta be an F100 or F150,
-gotta have the 300/4.9l big six,
-gotta have a manual transmission,
-No feedback carbs, CFI, or bank fired EFI,
-extended cab is a plus.

I'm thinking I'm looking at something before 1983, and that's, pretty much, the best I can narrow it down--thanks in advance your thoughts and suggestions!
Karl in Phoenix

 

[Austin]

Welcome to the site!

Looks like you'll be dealing with either a gen 6 (73-79) or a gen 7 (80-86).

Supercabs are nice finds in a gen 6, but are sought after by fanatics. A gen 7 supercab might be a little easier to find.


You could always go back in time a little more, but you lose come creature comforts.

 

[Mil1ion]

Why the 300?

You could buy my 77 if you like the 460

 

[slmann]

Welcome to the site.

 

[fatherdoug]

Welcome. I know the feedback carburetor was used as early as 1984 on the 300 engines, but I don't know how much earlier. This might limit your selection.

 

[LEB Ben]

Welcome aboard, I'm always an advocate for 73-79 Fords...but I've gotta ask, why no efi? If this is anything more than a toy, I'd opt for something of the 92-96 vintage.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

Welcome aboard, I'm always an advocate for 73-79 Fords...but I've gotta ask, why no efi? If this is anything more than a toy, I'd opt for something of the 92-96 vintage.

Which I might add has the greatest interchangabilty since many of the parts had been the same since 1980.

 

[LEB Ben]

^^^Exactly...should yield the best mpg's, darn near 20 years of parts to pluck from, and by far the most cabin creature comforts.

 

[flareside_thunder]

By george...that sounds like Cliff's truck if he was gonna go all EFI. Why the F100? I've owned em but it's a little more difficult to find aftermarket wheels for them.

 

[gkeepa]

Hey everyone. Thanks for the replies. It looks like I'll be going with the 1992-1996 options--seems like I have the most choices with the interchangeability, to boot!

Answers to some of your q's about my preferences:
-F100 b/c I want the lightest duty full size-ish vs. the heaviest duty Ranger(if you catch my reasoning). Figured the 5 lug set up would be easier to find wheels....
-300 six: seems to be the best engine for reliability, fuel economy, and power.
Plus I can hop it up a little if I wanted to. Truth be told, I would love the 460(esp. stroked!!!), but the gas costs associated with that beast has me quakin'....
-I amend my EFI pref.: I'll take a rig with mass air efi, and since bank fired efi is fairly easy to convert, I would consider it subsequently. I just want to stay away from the CFI and feedback carb stuff. They were transitional technologies then and history has not been kind to them. Include me out....

BTW, there is a Gen6 Supercab w/cabovers at a crappy little used car lot down the street from where I work. The trucks been there for years. I can look into it for you guys if you want...let me know.

Thanks again. I'll post updates when i get my rig.

 

[LEB Ben]

Only minor little issue is...you can't get a 100 fron 92-96...150 was the lightest full size truck in that line up. Beyond that, wise choice deciding to go with the 92-96's.

 

[5.0Flareside]

92-96 F150 300 I6 M5od, 3.55 rear gear reg cab short bed.... is the combo you'll want unless Supercab is a NEED...

Bank Fired 300 I6.. hmm... i wonder how that works........ lol... as it only has 1 bank technically... but im sure it fires 3 and then 3....

3.55 gear is a good gear for the 300 I6.. even if the truck has 3.08.. more than 50% probably of those trucks had 3.55's so a replacement rear axle aint chit to find...

 

[gkeepa]

92-96 F150 300 I6 M5od, 3.55 rear gear reg cab short bed.... is the combo you'll want unless Supercab is a NEED...

Bank Fired 300 I6.. hmm... i wonder how that works........ lol... as it only has 1 bank technically... but im sure it fires 3 and then 3....

3.55 gear is a good gear for the 300 I6.. even if the truck has 3.08.. more than 50% probably of those trucks had 3.55's so a replacement rear axle aint chit to find...

I know. I know. Bank Fired:Obviously I was thinking speed density v8--realized that screw up after i hit "submit"...d'oh. BUT: wasn't the only year of mass air in the 300/4.9l(and OBDII/"tamper resistant")1996? I'm thinking for later engine mods I now have to go for '80 thru '83(carbs, cams headers,etc.). 80 thru 86 are only interchangeable in that specific Generation, correct?

 

[5.0Flareside]

lol.. its all good... 80-96 parts are mostly interchangable except very specific stuff like body clips etc... but for the most part interchangable...

Cam, Headers should be same for all years... nothing really changed that i'm aware of.. but im not a big 300 guy...

 

[gkeepa]

lol.. its all good... 80-96 parts are mostly interchangable except very specific stuff like body clips etc... but for the most part interchangable...

Cam, Headers should be same for all years... nothing really changed that i'm aware of.. but im not a big 300 guy...

I'm starting to think going 5.0l V8 is gonna make things a whole lot easier....

 

[5.0Flareside]

alot... 5.0's were much more common with MAF but not quite the same monster of a truck...

 

[LEB Ben]

I'm starting to think going 5.0l V8 is gonna make things a whole lot easier....

I'm not a 5.0 fan in a full size truck...if you're willing to go 5.0, you may as well go with the 5.8, it'll yield the same mpg's with more power. IMO...the 5.0, in stock form, is entirely too underpowered to be in a full size rig.

 

[BKW]

Only minor little issue is...you can't get a 100 from 92-96 150 was the lightest full size truck in that line up.

You cannot get an F100 after 1983, because...1983 was the last year it was available.

 

[Mil1ion]

Hey Bill , you're not answering my emails ?

 

[BKW]

What'ja do...lose my phone number? It's 562-xxx-7106.