You should be fine with the 350/C6 combo. Add a tranny cooler, and make sure the radiator is big enough. IT might be slow, but it will get it done.

 

95 is most likely going to be E40D, not a C6. IMO a transmission cooler is a requirement if you want it to live.

The 351 will be adequate, but if you think you might need the power, and you're not terribly concerned with having 10-13 mpg I'd go with the 460 and 5 speed any day of the week. 1987 was the first year for fuel injection on the big blocks.

EDIT: You didn't mention if the truck was a 4x4 or not, but I'm assuming it is. The F-350 would obviously have a Dana 60 up front, but for simple plow duty and stock tires a 50 will probably hold up just fine. Price and rust would really be a deciding factor for me.

 

Well I took the plunge on it... 3 grand for a really clen f350 inside and out didn't seem horrible!

Now I have to say this thing rides like a lumber truck! STIFF SUSPENSION!:laughing:

And, it wanders a bit on the highway.... plenty of wheel play. Other than that it is just what I need! Stout Mo-Fo. And for the most part it has plenty of power. I a can't say towing would be great, but it has plenty for what my needs are.

 

Glad you're happy with it. These trucks ride pretty stiff because the shackles are positioned in the front from the factory. Look into a shackle reversal if you want to improve the ride tremendously. More importantly though, check the rag joint on the steering. They like to deteriorate over time and loosen up giving a ton of wheel play. They're like $9 bucks at Autozone in the help aisle.

 

If you get a chance, throw up some pics, sounds like a good deal.

 

I have a 96 F250 with a 351 in it. Its an old highway department truck.

I get 7 mpg. ... ...

... ...


Not towing and the bed empty. :homer:

This gives me 4 mpg:

:laughing:

 

I have a 96 F250 with a 351 in it. Its an old highway department truck.

I get 7 mpg. ... ...

... ...


Not towing and the bed empty. :homer:
:laughing:

WTF? 300k miles on it?

This is really a 95 F350/351/e4od, and gets 11-12 highway:

(BTW, JM, are your tires different sizes?)

Somewhere there is a timing adjustment you can do too. Info on maybe FTE. Can't remember. Another small bump that way.

6 liter tuneup?

 

Ok... Heres what I got. The inside is equally clean but I don't have pics yet. Needs new tires, oil change and the usual service...

 

damn thats clean!!

 

Right?! No rust, complete and straight. Everything works! Both tanks are good and the windows/ locks flip and go up/down.

There is a small dribble of oil I noticed on the pan... but no spotting on the ground. Just a well rounded ford~

 

There's a reason I built my own coil/radius arm suspension

If you're plowing with it, fuck it. Just run the piss out of it.

If it's a driver/occasional plow truck, work on the suspension.

 

Very clean rig. Well worth the money

 

I really felt kind of bad when I told the guy I was prolly going to make a plow truck out of it... his face kind of went all

:laughing: What else you going to do with it though??? I might not molest it right away, and probably just throw a toolbox in the bed to use as a "remodel the house" truck over the spring.

 

Clean ride man, let us know how it tows and how you like the 351. Been eyeballing a few myself.

 

I really like the 351 so far, I will have to drive it home some 600 miles before I can get a trailer hooked up to it. I am sure it will be fine, though I really won't tow much with it... at least no long hauls.

 

one thing I have had to do with every Ford is to tighten the steering box. On top of the box a bolt comes up, with a slot in it, and a nut on it. Put a screwdriver in the slot, and loosen the Nut with a wrench, then turn the bolt a bit, then tighten the bolt, then recheck the steering wheel for play. I've never had to replace a rag joint oddly enough.
Monty

 

My 97 F250 with the 5.8 got 8mpg no matter what you were towing with it or how you were driving it. They have dual tanks for a reason!

Really clean truck man but that auto isn't going to like plowing for long. Defiantly put a good tranny cooler on it.

 

That motor would like some good headers and better flowing exhaust. Really woke up both the 351w trucks I had.

Somewhere there is a timing adjustment you can do too. Info on maybe FTE. Can't remember. Another small bump that way.

Big cooler for the trans, and I got a pan with a temp gauge port for mine too.

 

i was just gonna say...you guys need a tune up or something. my bronco, with 1-tons, 40" swampers, and a C6 still got 12ish mpg cruising on the highway at 60 mph loaded on the way to the trails.

the 351W is an awesome engine, mine was hydrolocked on oil twice and kicked over with just a pull and clean of the plugs. it survived numerous full throttle assaults at dunes, hill climbs, and rock walls; pulled stuck semis over icy mountain highways and everything else i asked it to.

set the timing to ~12-15* advanced (make sure you pull the SPOUT connector when setting the timing), throw a K&N cone filter in it, shorty headers and better exhaust (delete the cats if you can), and nice ignition wires/coil. it'll make plenty of power for what you need to do. the trans will be your weak link, but a cooler and gauge is all you really need. it is a Mass Air truck?