1987 Question
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1987 Question
Hi, All - it has been a long time (1992) since I owned an F-150, but I am about to take that plunge again for a 1987, I-6, 4Spd that I have found for a good price... Only issue I can find is that the truck starts to overheat after about an hour of driving... I don't mind putting some money into this truck as everything else about it looks good, and I am hoping it is a simple fix like thermostat or fan clutch, but I would love your more experienced opinions on these trucks about any other issues that I should be thinking of that might be causing this problem. Truck has 172k miles.
I'm looking forward to driving one of these babies again!
Thank you!
I'm looking forward to driving one of these babies again!
Thank you!
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 249
From: Iowa
If it's overheating while on the highway then it's your pump, if it's good at highway speed but overheats in town then it's the fan clutch. If it's both then the radiator is probably in need of flushing or most likely a replacement or the pump is shot. Therm's go bad by sticking open which pretty much rules that out as a problem. My guess at your situation would be the radiator is either clogged or has a good amount of damaged fins, this allows it to do it's job for a while but once it's really needed it can't keep up with the demand.
Either way is an easy fix, I would recommend if you do the pump (since it calls for a clutch replacement at the same time) to do an e-fan conversion as it costs the same or less than the cost of a new fan clutch. Pull a Mopar fan from a JY (97-05 Sebring, 300, Concord, etc...basically any Dodge or Chrysler Sedan/Conv/coupe with dual fans), they are the same width and only a couple inches less in height, be sure to cut before the car>fan connector so you can wire to the connector for easiest set-up -$25. Get this controller (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/_/N-9peiw?itemIdentifier=267187_9581_0)-$20. Grab a couple relays from JY when you get the fan-$1ea. A couple inline fuses (30amp) from ebay-$8. Maybe a couple feet of wire and your good to go. Really cuts down on engine noise, there is a noticeable power gain, and a very slight MPG bump.
I recently priced 2 row radiators, heater cores, upper/lower hoses w/oil cooler on rockauto and came out under $200, throw a $35 pump from oreillys and a new therm for the heck of it and for <$300 you can completely redo your your entire cooling system and get the benefits of the E-fan conversion.
As for things to look for read this thread:
https://www.f150forum.com/f10/what-l...6-f150-278425/
Some things I always recommend:
*Get a 120ct assrt of fuses from (rockauto-$12, ebay $8) and change all of your fuses
*Clean up all of your grounds by sanding frame and eyelet until shiny, using wire brush on the bolt, reassemble and then coat with dielectric grease to keep corrosion at bay.
*Get a can of quick drying electronic cleaner ($4 @ walmart - lasts forever) and clean all of your connectors that you can find by spraying male end, use brush to clean contacts, respray male and female end, insert male in female multiple times to clean female contacts. Coat the gasket area with dielectric grease to keep corrosion at bay.
*Clean up or replace (best to replace) battery terminals.
*Replace the plastic vacuum lines (come from the manifold tree), rubber is cheap at local auto stores but longevity is questionable. I used these (http://www.siliconeintakes.com/silic...686d47fdf65361) 22ft of 4mm hose @$0.99ft plus a 4-way vacuum T, took 20-30 minutes and just like doing plug wires-one at a time and you'll have no issues. Those lines just slip onto the barbs so there is no need for boots or hose clamps.
*Replace the brake fluid, everyone forgets about the brake fluid.
*Depending on how the overall maintenance situation looks from the PO it may be necessary to drop the trans pan and replace the filter/fluid. Judgement call.
*Grease or replace wheel bearings.
Following those steps when you first get the truck will prevent SO MANY problems down the road, I can't begin to tell you how many people have issues that are solved by these steps, get proactive and don't get stranded or upset.
Either way is an easy fix, I would recommend if you do the pump (since it calls for a clutch replacement at the same time) to do an e-fan conversion as it costs the same or less than the cost of a new fan clutch. Pull a Mopar fan from a JY (97-05 Sebring, 300, Concord, etc...basically any Dodge or Chrysler Sedan/Conv/coupe with dual fans), they are the same width and only a couple inches less in height, be sure to cut before the car>fan connector so you can wire to the connector for easiest set-up -$25. Get this controller (http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/_/N-9peiw?itemIdentifier=267187_9581_0)-$20. Grab a couple relays from JY when you get the fan-$1ea. A couple inline fuses (30amp) from ebay-$8. Maybe a couple feet of wire and your good to go. Really cuts down on engine noise, there is a noticeable power gain, and a very slight MPG bump.
I recently priced 2 row radiators, heater cores, upper/lower hoses w/oil cooler on rockauto and came out under $200, throw a $35 pump from oreillys and a new therm for the heck of it and for <$300 you can completely redo your your entire cooling system and get the benefits of the E-fan conversion.
As for things to look for read this thread:
https://www.f150forum.com/f10/what-l...6-f150-278425/
Some things I always recommend:
*Get a 120ct assrt of fuses from (rockauto-$12, ebay $8) and change all of your fuses
*Clean up all of your grounds by sanding frame and eyelet until shiny, using wire brush on the bolt, reassemble and then coat with dielectric grease to keep corrosion at bay.
*Get a can of quick drying electronic cleaner ($4 @ walmart - lasts forever) and clean all of your connectors that you can find by spraying male end, use brush to clean contacts, respray male and female end, insert male in female multiple times to clean female contacts. Coat the gasket area with dielectric grease to keep corrosion at bay.
*Clean up or replace (best to replace) battery terminals.
*Replace the plastic vacuum lines (come from the manifold tree), rubber is cheap at local auto stores but longevity is questionable. I used these (http://www.siliconeintakes.com/silic...686d47fdf65361) 22ft of 4mm hose @$0.99ft plus a 4-way vacuum T, took 20-30 minutes and just like doing plug wires-one at a time and you'll have no issues. Those lines just slip onto the barbs so there is no need for boots or hose clamps.
*Replace the brake fluid, everyone forgets about the brake fluid.
*Depending on how the overall maintenance situation looks from the PO it may be necessary to drop the trans pan and replace the filter/fluid. Judgement call.
*Grease or replace wheel bearings.
Following those steps when you first get the truck will prevent SO MANY problems down the road, I can't begin to tell you how many people have issues that are solved by these steps, get proactive and don't get stranded or upset.
Last edited by fltdriver; May 21, 2015 at 11:08 PM.