Hi all,
I just bought an 89 f250 h.d. 4x4 , 5sp, 351, 89k miles. There are no manuals, I am totally in the dark. I will lurk ebay for some manuals. Is there a bulletin board dedicated to f-250's that is good? I plan on putting a caravan shell on it ( a Reno Nv, shell that is very well made and weighs about 350-400 lbs.), and pulling my 4runner on a trailer to Moab and So. Cal. trails approx. 4000 miles a year. And using the truck for some mild 4x4 exploring. I tried to find an f-350 but could not find one in my price range. Any advice and direction is appreciated!
JonB

If it mainly just for towing use some helper springs for the rear axle. But I would think 3/4 ton should enough to tow it. What gears are you running? :usa:

I had an '88 with the same set-up except it had a C6 auto. It had a towing package with 4.10's. It towed my M38A1 all over northern California with no problems. I think you'll be happy with your purchase:)

There are tons of manuals all over e-bay i do see them alot
sse if this link goes through
Ebay link (http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&ebaytag1=ebayreg&category0=6000&siteid=100&categorymap=0&query=%28f250%2Cf+250%2Cf-250%29+chilton&srchdesc=y)

Originally posted by jon bachelder
Hi all,
5sp
JonB

That should be ZF. Wanna sell it? :)

Thanks for the replies. I don't know the gear ratio. I have not written down the code on the tag yet. I think it is a zf trans, it works very nice. I don't want to sell it, thanks. First gear is low enough to skip normally. It is not as low as a granny 4sp but it is close. 2nd however seems lower than the 2nd on most granny boxes.
I have been concentrating on finding a shell and car trailer so have not been on ebay yet. I need to get on that.
Probably need a cat conv., anyone have a good source for that?
This truck is going to pull my 4runner out to Moab in 4 weeks so I better get off my a$$!
Thanks for the input. :beer:
JonB

I recently aquired a 68 f-250 camper special with a 360 big block, I noticed that putting headers and a K&N filter made a world of a difference in pulling power. I pull my EB on a trailer...about 7000lbs and It does just fine...so what I'm trying to say is...if you don't like the horsepower...buy some good headers and open the exhaust...you will be surprised!:D :usa:

The shop manuals are helpful if you have any computer problems.

check http://www.ford-trucks.com/ occasionally they have decent info, but I have been ford-less for a while so it may have gone downhill.

The stock 351w EFI in 89 makes OK good power. A chip upgrade for the EEC-iv computer might help, especially at altitude.

There are several online VIN decoders and door jam sticker decoders to determin axle ratios and trannies etc. The front pages of the shop manual (either volume 2 or volume B) has several pages of decoders.

http://www.f250online.com/resources/vin.cfm

Be careful using door jam codes for a bronco or an F150 or an E series as they don't always line up. I think engine and trannies codes are the same but axle codes don't cross platform boundaries.

The only advice I have right off is to change filters and fluids. The little foam filter inside the airbox that goes to the valve cover is often overlooked.

The stock front hub locking mechanism are lame. I'd replace these with warn premiums hubs if it wasn't done already.

Also, learn the date of MFG. Some parts changed mid year (at least on my bronco's they did) and you get screwed if you get the wrong one.

Dan-H and Slvrgl,
Thanks for the replies and links. I looked a little harder at the diff tag and it reads 3:55. I just put a new cat and 3" cat back exhaust and that made a big difference. The old cat was kinda plugged. It should do the job now. It will be kind of slow over all those passes on U.S. 50 going out to Moab but I can live with that.
Thanks for the advice on the hubs.
JonB

Originally posted by jon bachelder
It will be kind of slow over all those passes on U.S. 50 going out to Moab but I can live with that.

Take I-80. more miles but less up and down.

DanH,
The truck has Ford manual hubs. I know the auto hubs suck but how are the manual hubs?
I think I would prefer I-80 but everyone else in my group wants to go 50. If you break down on 50 you are a long way from a parts store!
Thanks,
JonB

if you decide you need a heavier towing capacity, dont swap the springs add the air bags to the back, the big old trucks ride bad enuff with 3/4 ton springs, i am running f450 springs and airbags, i think i could put a house in the bed. she rides great with 2 d60 in the bed :)

both my 78 and 88 plastic hubs failed. If you *need* 4x4 then I would replace them beforehand and keep the stock ones as spares.

Its probably a good idea to lube the front bearings anyway so its a perfect time to swap them out.

change the trans and tcase fluid often. Do you want a new Caravan or are you looking for a used one ?

Smurfsdad,
I picked up a used one Saturday in Reno.
DanH, I will put hubs on the list, thanks for the tip.
JonB