1989 f250

[86ford]

i am going to look at a ford f250 this sunday. i have been told it has a HD dana 44 in the front and a full float dana 60 rear, 351 windsor, and a auto tranny that i believe is a OD. i am intrested in what people know about them and what i should look for as potential problem areas. i have plans on using it to tow and as a winter beater. please pass on any known problem areas for these trucks and potential reasons to make a lower offer or back out of the deal.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

They like to rust at the cab corners and above the wheelwells. Some of the AODE trannys give problems but other than that and being fond of fuel they are pretty good trucks.

 

[86ford]

i believe it is old enough it will be a AOD not a AODE

 

[86ford]

thanks for your help

 

[Jim Oaks]

I had an '89 F250 and loved it.

http://www.therangerstation.com/TRS_Trucks/F250.htm

Mine had a 7.3 diesel and C6 auto, so it got about 10-12 MPG and wouldn't go much over 65 with the 3-speed auto, but it towed great!

Mine had the D50 TTB front. Look at my link. There's before and after pics. The bed was so bad I replaced it and the bottom on the doors and lower rocker panel of the extended cab were rough. The cab itself was solid everywhere except the bottom of the doors and cab corners.

 

[JohnnyU]

An 89 250 would have a TTB front axle, as Jim mentioned, likely the Dana 50.

 

[Will]

It will be an E40D, not an AOD. The E40D is built off the C6 and is a good tranny. I think the AOD was built off of the FMX and was decent as an FMX and sort of baddish as an overdrive unit.

I had an '89 full-size Bronco with the 5.8/E40D and it was alright. Pretty mad mileage though. I got 14mpg on the interstate at 65mph and about 8mpg around town. I probably drove a little agressively because I had a 2.9 in my little Bronco at the time and was enjoying the V8. I sold the damn thing after the first fill up though.

I don't know if the Dana 60s were in the rear that late. A rear Dana 60 is only a 5,300# axle and the Sterling axle would be a 6,250# unit. If it has an 8,600# GVWR it's not that little (relatively) D60 back there.

 

[Will]

An 89 250 would have a TTB front axle, as Jim mentioned, likely the Dana 50.

The D50 would be rare. It's probably a D44HD if it has the 5.8.

 

[86ford]

thanks for all the factual help guys! what kinds of problems should i look into? weaknesses? i plan on using the truck for everything from light wheeling to hauling loads in the bed and on a trailer. the gvwr is good to know thanks Will.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Dana 50's were standard fronts on 87-97 F-250's and an option on the 80-86 F-250's.

 

[BLOODBANE]

Straight cab or supercab? I have a 89 F250 supercab with the 351 and the C-6, and it is underpowered for alot of things. It gets the towing done(slowly), but the 351 really just isn't enough engine for that size of truck(IMO). As soon as I can get a new Dodge I will pull the 351 F.I and stuff it into my Ranger(I already have a C-6 and 302 in it). It(the F-250) has been a decent truck, I just need something with a little more grunt........

 

[86ford]

i assume a standard cab. i am yet to see pictures or see it inperson. i really wish it was a manual trans. this will be the first vehicle i have ever owned that wasent if i purchase it.

 

[Randy M.]

An '89 will have a 10.25 Sterling if it's a full float.

 

[86ford]

if its the d60 it will be semi float?

 

[blue83ranger]

my dad has an '89 f250 with a 5.0 5-speed 4x4. Kinda wierd i know a f250 with a 302. He has pulled some stuff with his and never really mentioned if it was good or bad. His other truck is a '91 250 dodge and he tells about everyone he meets how horrible the dodge rids and how nice and smooth the ford rides. When he first got the ford he had to replace the gear on the transmission for the speedo, because it was stripped out. (not the cable gear, the one on the transmission) For gas mileage he gets about 13-14 but when i drove it i got 15-17 as he likes to bog stuff out because he thinks it's nicer on it. We've never really had any problems with it that i can think of, just that it's rustn where everyone has mentioned they do. So i would say it's an overall good truck.