[TommiFIN]

What do you guys think about 4.9l 6 cyl engines?
For what i have read,everybody seem to think that they are very reliable motors with good bottom end torque.Is this correct? I´m looking a daily driver/trailer puller so it also needs to be as low maintainance as possible.

I found a ´89 F150 XLT Lariat 4x4 4.9l with 4-speed manual transmission for sale here in Finland and i would like to know if there is something particular what i should be looking at?
Any problems with drivetrain or anything like that?
It has new ball joints and velocity joints replaced recently.

I has 205000km´s (about 128000miles) on it,how much you think it would still go before rebuilding?

And what kind of fuel mileage are you guys getting with 4.9l?

Thanks,Tommi

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: TommiFIN on 3/25/06 10:05pm ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: TommiFIN on 3/25/06 10:08pm ]</font>

 

[Tracer64]

I own a '92 extended cab F-150 4x4 with the 4.9l and 5 speed manual. I have over 200,000 on her and it doesnt even burn oil. Its my daily tranportation (when I cant drive the hot rod or ninja), I I do minor hauling such as dirt bikes, engines and such with it and have never had a problem.
When it comes time I'm just overhauling the engine for another 200,000+
Tracy

 

[sharpshot71]

My brother has a 95 with well over 100k, and my uncle has one with over 200k i think, and both are still running strong.

 

[radramrod2]

the 4.9L I6 is one of Ford's most dependable engines, heck with only 128k miles on it, it's barely broke in yet. It should be a good engine. Since it's got the 4 spd, that transmission is fairly bulletproof itself, you should be fine as a daily driver. Not sure how much you plan on pulling, but that combo should be able to handle quite a bit, it won't be the fastest out there, but 65-70 mph should be possible with under 3500 lbs or so.
As far as fuel mileage, with a good tune and properly running truck...14-16 mpg should be about right. Depends on the gears in your rear axle...3.08's might be better for fuel economy, but not as great as 3.55's for towing.

 

[Luv70sFords]

Change the oil regularly, and stay on top of minor repairs and it wont be uncommon for that truck to make it to 400k miles.

 

[sharpshot71]

From what i hear those I-6 are unkillable, but as far as 14-16 mpg, i dont see that. My brother doesnt get that and his is a 95. Maybe the older ones were better for gas.

 

[TommiFIN]

Thanks guys for answers!
Maybe i will go and get a look of that truck,it sounds like a pretty reliable engine.

How about drivetrain? Anything i should be looking at?
4-speed manual is BW T-18 or T-19 right? Is it reliable,durable transmission?Any possible problems with transfercase?
And how can i figure what gears it have? Should i be looking for some tags or something? Can VIN-code tell me what gears it have?
Sorry guys,i know,these are stupid questions but i have no experience about 4x4 trucks.

Thanks,Tommi

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

All of the trannies I've seen behind the 4.9 are good trannies. The standard ones are, that is. The motor is near indestructible, the exhaust manifolds like to crack but that's ignorable.
the Gear ratio should be on an info sticker in the glove box.
The codes there will tell you nearly everything about the package deal.

FE

 

[Tracer64]

I get between 14-16 mpg with mine. It improved after I went with the newest 02 sensor Bosch makes and started use 1 quart of lucas to 5 of oil(6 quart system). The early ones were bad about cracking but my '92 has a 2-piece exhaust manifold and has held up well. I wonder on an older one if it does crack you could use a newer 2-piece?

 

[mavman]

Yep..my old '83 had a split manifold on it when I bought it. Had dual exhaust too....which was too loud for my taste. Luckily, it was yanked in favor of a 460.

At one time I had both engines in similar trucks. A '94 F150 short bed XL/5 speed...had a 4.9. Also had a '95 F150 short bed-5 speed/5.0V8. The 4.9 pulled better, but got crappy mileage. The 5.0 would run circles around it (unloaded...it was a turd with a load behind it) and got 22 mpg with the 3.08 rear. Would like to have the '94 back...good truck, pulled everything we had, lasted forever, and was easy to work on. I miss it.

 

[TommiFIN]

Hi guys.
I called the owner today and asked about the truck.
I asked the door tag info and this is what he told me.
I dont know if these are in right order as he told them to me.

WB=133 TYPE=F145 BODY= TK4 TRANS=S AXLE=18
TAPE=. SPRING=C7 EXTERIOR=2D DSO=24

According to VIN code it is actually built in 1988 and GVW class is E= 6001-7000lbs.

Thats all he told me.
Truck was sold new in US and was inported to Finland in 1990.

Is there a website where i can check these codes?


Thanks,Tommi

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: TommiFIN on 4/2/06 3:05am ]</font>

 

[dennyh]

I have most of your codes figured out hope this helps

tk4 - chesnut cloth interior regular cab styleside

trans "S" 5spd manual (should be a ZF if I'm not mistaken)

axle "18" 3.08 locker

spring "C7" couldn't decipher-irrelevant unless you are ordering OE replacements (Ford catalogs them by code)

exterior "2D" ... I didn't have a paint code book old enough to tell you the color

DSO "24" stands for Domestic Special Order. this is a code that refers to all the options the dealer chose for that truck when it was ordered new. I don't have any literature to figure this code out either.

I know this doesn't answer everything, but its a start