To VG30_S12:
Congrats on the purchase. Just don't follow this link.
Sorry for the hijack, but I figure this would be a good place to ask a related question, since knowledgeable Ford truck people are in this thread.
Should I run screaming from this: 89 F250 ?
Obviously needs a new door to replace the giant cabin air intake scoop. The rest of the cab and bed don't seem too horribly rusted for a rustbelt denizen, based on the standard CL quality pics.
8 lug wheels and floater rear = nice.
Check to see if the core support is still attached to the frame. The trucks may look great on the outside but the mounts get all rotted, especially the front ones. This isn't a terribly difficult fix but it is an indicator of what the rest of the truck may look like. I've never seen one that was bad elsewhere but with a good body mount at the core support. So by my estimation, if that area is solid then the rest of the truck probably is too. If it's all gone (usually literally gone), that's not a kiss of death but you do need to check out the rest of the body mounts and the bed laterals.
While you're poking your head under there, check to see if it has ball joints or kingpins. Ball joints are a very regular maintenance item but they are a lot easier to change. When the kingpins eventually start binding, it sucks majorly to change them even if you have a full shop at your disposal. I'm not sure which one I'd rather have.
In reply to XLR99:
Not as cheap but here is a local Ford Truck that caught my attention on CL.
2000 Ford f150 4x4 - $2900 http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/5415360645.html
In reply to JohnRW1621:
They MADE a V6 4x4? The poor little thing!
I had an '89 f150,4.9,5spd,2wd. Great truck!! I hauled so much that the steering would get light. Never had any engine trouble. the pedal box on these is known to be a weak point. iirc bbc rocker arms wake the motor up a bit
Great, thank you very much guys!
Looks like it's at a sketchy Girard used car dealer 
. Probably 50/50 if we come back alive.
Hoping to be able to keep the door and make up some 'Sanford & Son' replica door decals. Probably spray paint stencils would be more in keeping with the look.
patgizz wrote: 3 things in the automotive world refuse to break. the 235" chevy straight 6, ford 300 straight 6, and chrysler's slant six. those should be held as the benchmark to which everything else is measured. unfortunately, almost everything else pales in comparison.
I concur.
However, I have managed to kill all of these. In catastrophic fashion.
They were not neglected.
Just extremely abused. And high mileage. And never rebuilt. And I wasn't nice to them.
i miss my 76, ive been looking for a 75-79 with the 300 in it again! i find fords inline 6's are pretty hard to kill, i know the 200 in my wagon has taken things i never thought it would. keep oil in it and be prepared for gas tanks/pumps because they seem to die long before anything else.
Had several 4.9's, loved that engine. Had a WTF moment when it was discontinued.
Screws on the old Carter single barrel carb body would loosen periodically so Loc-Tite was the answer. Once had a harmonic balancer spin the outer on the isolator so lost the timing marks, no big deal tho. '90 F-150 Lariat XLT 4X4, EFI 4.9L, E4OD w/ 3.55 axle was the best, really miss that truck. They were great in snow too. Lost interest in Ford trucks after they did away w/ that engine.
Never had a problem w/ the engine itself. Wouldn't have a problem owning another 4.9 but I'm into newer E36 M3 now.
Once saw a F-700 railroad truck w/ that engine, that said a lot.
The 4.9L is also used in some UPS trucks, airport tugs and in stationary applications (water pumps, gensets, etc).
My dream truck would be a 92-96 F150, Flareside, single cab, 4wd, 5 speed with the 4.9L. In dark blue over white please.
oldopelguy wrote:patgizz wrote: 3 things in the automotive world refuse to break. the 235" chevy straight 6, ford 300 straight 6, and chrysler's slant six. those should be held as the benchmark to which everything else is measured. unfortunately, almost everything else pales in comparison.QFT. I'd add Toyota 2/3TC motor is somewhere in the top three but with those domestics you certainly have my top four of all time for reliability.
IHC bg241 inline 6 makes all of those on that list look pathetically unworthy.....used in everything from the Scout to tractors to industrial trucks. If you have one, it will outlive whatever you put it in. 
Dealt w/ a industrial salvage guy back in the late 80's that bought salvage outta the Pgh steel valley, post-industrial era. 3 NG fueled 4.9L gensets running 'off the grid' just outside the city. He had issues w/ the gubmint, IRS as well as power companies but otherwise one of the coolest guys ever. He swore the 4.9's would run forever.
I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engine
Antihero wrote: I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engine
^that X 1000
One of my work vans has it in it. Not exactly fast but loads of torque and super smooth
Antihero wrote: I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engine
It was also awful for emissions and it wouldn't have fit the new chassis. Same reason why Mercedes went from inlines to V6s.
Knurled wrote:Antihero wrote: I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engineIt was also awful for emissions and it wouldn't have fit the new chassis. Same reason why Mercedes went from inlines to V6s.
And it was kinda underpowered. It's a damn good engine, but I probably wouldn't buy a truck with one, and certainly not more than a 1/2 ton, as it's no fun having a trailer on the back and winding the thing out at WOT trying not to get too far under the speed limit on a hill...
The only problem we ever had with one is vapor lock on the fuel lines. Ford had a kit to fix it.
Other than that, put gas in it, change the oil with some sort of frequency, normal replacement items (rotor cap, button, hoses, belts, filters) and it is the Energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going and going....
FWIW Ford had two inline sixes and both were reliable. The 300 (4.9)/240 and the 260/200. Like the difference between a big block and a small block I6. Both were dead nuts reliable but in stock trim not the most powerful.
Although there was a drag racer that built a 300 and did quite well.
It was a T-Bucket but this will do.
rslifkin wrote:Knurled wrote:And it was kinda underpowered. It's a damn good engine, but I probably wouldn't buy a truck with one, and certainly not more than a 1/2 ton, as it's no fun having a trailer on the back and winding the thing out at WOT trying not to get too far under the speed limit on a hill...Antihero wrote: I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engineIt was also awful for emissions and it wouldn't have fit the new chassis. Same reason why Mercedes went from inlines to V6s.
Well yeah it's still a 6 cyl. I like it better than the 302 in trucks though definitely
Hal wrote: To VG30_S12: Congrats on the purchase. Just don't follow this link.
I forgot about Clifford, they make good stuff.
For any of you interested in a basic---but tough as nails truck, I found this last night. If it's as well taken care of as it seems, this truck would last you.....basically forever!
http://daytona.craigslist.org/cto/5473928271.html
someone here needs it! 
In reply to Joe Gearin:
If only it was a super/crew cab. It would be mine...
Knurled wrote:Antihero wrote: I wish they hadn't stopped using the 300 it's an insanely good truck engineIt was also awful for emissions and it wouldn't have fit the new chassis. Same reason why Mercedes went from inlines to V6s.
I have it on good authority that cross flow heads were built and tested before the new chassis and they could have made it happen.
I want a Bronco with this engine in it. That is all....
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