Looking to purchase Ninth gen! Help!
 

I am looking for some input on wanting to purchase a Ninth gen F-150. Currently the one that ticks most of my boxes is a 1994 F-150 4x4 XLT. Here are the details! I currently have a 2000 Ford Ranger, but a ninth gen F-150 has been my dream truck before I ever even started driving. This would be for a daily driver college student who is open to fixing a few things. Not too willing to do major engine work.

• Runs and drives great
• 4x4 Manual locking hubs
• 5.0 V8 out of a mid 80's Mustang apparently only having 30,xxx miles on it
• E303 Cam and GT40 Heads
• 192,000 miles on beautiful black body and U code - trans
• 3.31 open diffs in front and back
• Current price is $4800

Here are some pictures!
https://imgur.com/a/svw06

What do you guys think about the price and all that? Biggest concern is the swapped in old Mustang engine, but it sounds like the guy has done lots of upgrades. He installed the heads, cam, fuel injection, BBK throttle body & mass air sensor, etc.

I have been told that swapping in an older engine is usually illegal and wont pass inspection, but thats mainly because of emissions. Being as old as it is, I don't need emissions testing in Missouri, and it should also be identical to the original 5.0 in the truck anyone. Would be VERY hard to tell even if you wanted to figure it out.

Beautiful Truck and worth $4800. Is this being 'bid' for? Or is the $4800 what the seller is asking for it.

I don't know about Missouri, but here in Texas, once it is emissions exempt, (25 yrs) you could drop a Ferrari engine in and no one would care. Looks like they did it with all the correct truck manifolds and sensors anyhow, & as you say unless they pulled the serial off the block, it doesn't show at all. Good looking truck BTW. The other areas that give grief as these trucks age are; Fuel pumps, (do both tanks and fuel gauges work?), the front end / steering / suspension (does it wander on the road, or easily follow your inputs and stay put till you change direction) all that can be fixed, it just adds to the price and effort of ownership. Personally I avoid 4X4, as it adds to upkeep & weight, and complicates repairs. Since I'd almost never use it, seems best to avoid it all together.

Looks like a nice truck.
For the money it should come with a safety inspection.
As nice as it looks, you will probably have to spend a bit after you own it so you should budget for that just in case.
If you go to f150canada.com there's a writeup on buying a truck like that - you might find a couple of pointers on what to look for.

The seller is originally asking $5200. I haven't talked too much cash with him, but I have heard from him that he will go down to $4800. I am hoping to get this lower as most of my money will have to be going to it and I am in college.

I would also like a safety inspection, but this is an Illinois truck and they do not need inspections!

Manual hubs should be easier to work with and fix if necessary. Also I believe if its just too hard to fix, I can remove a driveshaft and keep them unlocked! Run it like 2WD.

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I did pull the car fax and this is it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19Vr...ew?usp=sharing
All seems fairly good to me. Seems to have been registered over the recent years!

The list of basic truck stuff to look over will be helpful. Really pay attention to how it runs, how the power feels if just driving normal not hot rodding. The E cam should have some drivability issues, wanting to die if the idle is set normal, that kind of stuff. It’s not the best choice for a truck cam.

Even if the government doesn't require an inspection, you might want to have it inspected by a mechanic before you buy.
Once you've bought it you own it - and any problems it has.
The money you pay a mechanic to make sure it's in good condition will either save you a lot of grief, prepare you for upcoming repairs or help you negotiate the price fairly.
Anyone asking 5000 for their truck should have no issues with having a mechanic go over it as long as you're going to pay the mechanic for his time.
If they refuse to let you have a mechanic inspect it, you might want to give it a pass.

Yeah I'd rather it have more of a truck cam, but this truck does have the mass air system which apparently is what works well with the E303. I am hoping the other upgrades will balance out the loss of torque. Hoping for stock torque and increased horses.

I would also like to have a mechanic or shop look at it, but time is always the issue. Hopefully my Mech E father and Comp E self can make sure its alright. Again I am hoping to use lack of inspections in Illinois as a ways to get the price down since Missouri will probably be a little picky.

Looks like you'll be exempt from emissions testing on the 1995 or older exemption - http://dor.mo.gov/motorv/help.php#safety

The state inspection covers safety-type items only - lights, mirrors, wipers, exhaust integrity, steering, brakes, tires, etc., where an independent inspection by a mechanic should be more encompassing. Given the state inspection fee is $12, you can bet they aren't going to look at any more than they have to. :-)

I wouldn't have a problem with the car engine if it was installed correctly and ran right. Other than that, I agree with what other users have already said. Good luck!