1988 F150 Customization
03-31-2023, 10:41 AM
#3
rust restoration 
Lots of people do running boards, wheels, gears, lift kits. Depends on the engine... lots of stuff to do there. 5.8L is the preferred engine. Ceramic coated headers is nice to help keep the starter from heat soaking. An aftermarket high torque starter is recommended. Ford 3G or upgraded high amp alternator upgrade is common. The big 3 electrical upgrade is common on those, as they are notorious for crap electrical systems. Replacement headlights, LED lights, and possibly a grill can give an old truck a nice face lift. You may have some issues with the turn signals and LED lights. Tint the windows. Dash is probably falling to pieces unless you got a cherry one... so thats worth protecting with some UV blocking windshield ting. I did most of that to a bronco a couple years ago. Might be nice to throw a new stereo in the dash, and at least replace the factory speakers. They gotta be trash by now. I personally would add an external amplifier, but just speakers and a deck would be way better than 35yr old tape deck and paper speakers.
Lots of people do running boards, wheels, gears, lift kits. Depends on the engine... lots of stuff to do there. 5.8L is the preferred engine. Ceramic coated headers is nice to help keep the starter from heat soaking. An aftermarket high torque starter is recommended. Ford 3G or upgraded high amp alternator upgrade is common. The big 3 electrical upgrade is common on those, as they are notorious for crap electrical systems. Replacement headlights, LED lights, and possibly a grill can give an old truck a nice face lift. You may have some issues with the turn signals and LED lights. Tint the windows. Dash is probably falling to pieces unless you got a cherry one... so thats worth protecting with some UV blocking windshield ting. I did most of that to a bronco a couple years ago. Might be nice to throw a new stereo in the dash, and at least replace the factory speakers. They gotta be trash by now. I personally would add an external amplifier, but just speakers and a deck would be way better than 35yr old tape deck and paper speakers.
Last edited by bad packet; 03-31-2023 at 10:48 AM.
04-01-2023, 09:27 PM
#4
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Buying something newer. 
'87-91 F-series are arguably the worst trucks Ford ever made. The flat nose is generally considered the worst design, and there were substantially more TSBs & recalls for those years than any other body style.
But if yours is running OK, and you like it, then the best thing you can do is FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE using only top-quality parts & fluids according to published procedures. Tearing it apart just to say you've "customized" it is a good way to ruin it. You'll enjoy it more, get more for your money, & impress more people if you can keep it running well close to stock (other than all the things Ford recommended changing in all those TSBs & FSAs).
EDIT - The staff has asked me not to help you this way.
'87-91 F-series are arguably the worst trucks Ford ever made. The flat nose is generally considered the worst design, and there were substantially more TSBs & recalls for those years than any other body style.But if yours is running OK, and you like it, then the best thing you can do is FOLLOW THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE using only top-quality parts & fluids according to published procedures. Tearing it apart just to say you've "customized" it is a good way to ruin it. You'll enjoy it more, get more for your money, & impress more people if you can keep it running well close to stock (other than all the things Ford recommended changing in all those TSBs & FSAs).
EDIT - The staff has asked me not to help you this way.
Last edited by Steve83; 04-02-2023 at 12:00 AM.