1986 F150 Lariat - rough

[ratdude747]

https://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/d/louisville-1986-ford-f150-xlt-lariat/7531903083.html

Might be a good parts truck (with all those hard-to-find Lariat parts)... the bed is pretty rotten, and with a hosed engine probably is an uphill battle.

Before anybody asks, I *probably* do not need another F150... but don't tempt me! ... nah, it's in the category of "fits my trailer but nearly too much for my F150 to tow"... 5500-5000lb ish towing capacity - 1700 trailer weight is cutting it close. No, no, no...

[grumpin]

Hmmm… talking yourself out of it eh?!

[ratdude747]

Honestly it would be redundant and while the mechanical and interior portions would be up my alley, the body work isn't. As I've said before, while I work in the body part industry (stamping, spot welding, etc.), body work/repair isn't my forte.

Could I? Probably. Should I? Doubt it. If it were an F250 (or something that would likely have a much better towing capacity than the F150) a case could be made. An F150 with a V8 of unknown displacement? Not likely... since stock at least, the best would be a 351 and that's roughly no more torque than I have, barring steeper gearing and a C6 instead of my AOD. If it had a 460 swap... then a case could be made. (But I'd have to ask, and that's stepping in a bear trap).

Read: I think it's cool and likely a steal, but I know my hoarder tendencies and don't want to break my F150 trying to tow something home that's not needed. I got burnt on chasing a waterfall project like this before... and that was indeed a case to be made.

[grumpin]

That makes sense. And as you stated an F250 or 350 with a 460 would give you grunt and towing/hauling capacity.

You have a good torquey motor that gets much better gas mileage!

[ratdude747]

... but with an AOD and 3.08 gears can't tow all that much. I have a 7000lb car trailer (dry weight 1700lb approx.) and my truck and hitch are both good for about 5000-5500lb of weight. Which puts a bullnose F150 right on the borderline. Many newer cars weigh the same (due to stronger bodies and the number of airbags and the like) so that makes the F150 half useless as a towing truck for my trailer.