patdaddy

I'm interested in buying an F150 between the years 92 and 96. I'm wanting a 2 wheel drive long bed single cab automatic with the 4.9 straight six. I'd like to hear what any of you think regarding the overall quality and dependability of the trucks in those years (are any of the trucks between 92 and 96 better or worse). I plan to keep what ever I decide to buy till it dies or I do so I want to make the best purchase possible. I do all my own repair work but I don't want to wind up with a money pit. I'd sure welcome and value any advice you'd share with me.

PS
I'll be using it for driving to work and general hauling, I don't have any plans to customize it.

JonathanF

Depending on the condition of both, I'd go with the 96

fordtrucknut

if you dont plan on doig anything to it but drive it, any year is fine.
one plus about the 95(cali) and all 96's is they are OBD2 systems, so it is a bit easier to diagnose problems with a scanner,

memoniz

'96 is first year OBDII, which has good and bad. It would depend on state inspection laws where you live that would decide it for me. If I knew at the time that I would deal with OBDII inspections on smog for 35 years, I would of looked for a '95. I'm not sure, but I think they are all pretty similar in the engine department. I've worked on an '89 with a 4.9 and that was not much different. I've owned an '88 with a 4.9 and had few problems.

My advice, buy one with the best running engine. The trans. seems to be a weak link to me, but the engine won't let you down unless you let it down.

I own a '96, 4.9, e4od, standard cab, long bed, with 2 wheel drive and no mods. I drive it daily (about 500 miles a week) and wouldn't trade it for anything.

BuzzDog

I own a '93 and use it as you describe, and agree with the others about finding a '96 with OBDII; it definitely makes diagnosing things a bit easier, but I also wouldn't pass up a well-cared-for truck of an earlier model year.

That being said, the main things to look out for are rust, a weak transmission, rust, and oh, did I mention rust?

But seriously, something to keep in mind is that the '94s and later have a driver's side airbag and, I believe, R134a refrigerant in the air conditioning. For some, those two items might seem to provide an added degree of safety and/or convenience.

Good luck, and happy motoring.

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

OBDII sucks.

sdmartin65

Alrighty then.......

Brandon587

Id have to disagree. Why do you think it sucks?

Just call me Sean

iTrader: (1)

OBDI is the beginning of fuel injection, just the necessities. OBDII is the beginning of added government regulation and control with added emissions restrictions in the programming and other bull ****. Tell me again how awesome the new diesels are with that regeneration/cycling whatever the hell that crap is.

Brandon587

Yea, the new dodges have exhaust that you can sell for $2000 on eBay and replace with straight pipe and egr delete. It's ridiculous. But in the case of a 96 f150, obd2 allows easier diagnostics, live data, and it's easier to mod, like adding a cam. In a place that has no emissions like me, it's just that much better. Places where obd2 is the beginnings if emissions, then I'm not sure how I would go, but probably still obd2.