This is the only comprehensive source of information for Ford F-Series pickups: a history, buyer's guide, service manual, and high-performance tuning book all in one!

Discover every aspect of Ford F-Series, from its origins in 1948 to the latest technological advances. You'll learn tips for buying the right new or used truck, and which accessories make sense for your needs.

For do-it-yourself owners, this book provides step-by-step procedures with hundreds of photos covering basic maintenance and more complicated work like engine tune-ups, valve adjustements, brake jobs, transmission rebuilding, and installing an aftermarket suspension/lift kit.

Even if you never work on your truck yourself, this book can help you communicate clearly with a qualified technician to assure correct, cost-effective repairs.

For high-performance, get the hot set-up for your truck, whether you want low end torque or high RPM horsepower. Ford's expert at Special Vehicle Operations teamed up with the author to give you specific tuning recommendations for engines from the early 239 flathead V-8 through the 351 Windsor and modern 302/5.0 liter and 460s V-8. You'll also find suspension and chassis modification and tire and wheels combinations.

Every F-Series owner should this book in the cab or on the book shelf. It's the essential companion book for your truck.

Synopsis from the publisher

Covers all models, from 1948 up, including:
F-1
F-100
F-150
F-2
F-250
F-3
F-350

PREFACE

1 EVOLUTION OF THE FORD F-SERIES
V-8 Era: A New Truck Emerges · 1942: Ford Trucks Forge Their Own Way · 1948: A Truck With a Firm Identity · 1953-56: A Marque Emerges · 1957-64: The Pragmatic Year · 1965: The Advent of the Twin I-Beam · 1967-79: Years of Bold Refinement · 1980: An Advanced 4x4 Chassis · Poised for the Future.

2 BUYING AN F-SERIES TRUCK
Selecting The Right Truck · Anatomy of a Half-ton · F-250 Virtues · One-ton · Shopping for the Right Components · The Ten Best Picks In Used Ford F-trucks · Inspecting A Used Truck · Buying A New F-Series Truck · 1994 Ford F-Series Specifications

3 OPERATING YOUR F-SERIES Learning To Drive Your F-Series Truck · Operating A 4x4 F-truck · Off-pavement Four-wheel Drive · Tread Lightly Four Wheeling · Special Uses For Your 4WD Truck · 4WD Clubs

4 WORKING ON YOUR F-SERIES
The F-truck Chassis · Front Axle Types · Steering Gear and Linkage · Drum and Disc Brake Systems · A Glance At F-truck Engines · Transmissions and Transfer Cases · Driveshafts · Repairs On Your F-Series Truck · The F-truck Owner's Toolbox · Sourcing Ford Truck Parts · Assigning Work to a Shop

5 LUBRICATION AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance Overview · Selecting Lubricants and Fluids · Service Intervals · Building a Maintenance Schedule · Do Your Own Maintenance · Storing Your Truck

6 TROUBLESHOOTING AND MINOR ADJUSTMENTS
Guide To Troubleshooting · Engine and Electrical Problems · Cooling System Troubles · Clutch and Manual Transmission · Driveshaft and Axle Woes · Steering and Tire Troubles0 · Brake Problems

7 COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE
Safety Precautions · Cooling System Basics · Finding Leaks · Overheating Problems · Water Pump Service

8 ENGINE TUNE-UP AND EMISSION CONTROLS
Emission Controls and Tune-up · Engine Applications · A Closer Look At EFI/MFI Engines · Ignition Tune-up · Carburetor Tune-up · Major Engine Diagnosis · Valve Adjustment · Emission Controls

9 CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION SERVICE
Troubleshooting · Clutch Service · Transmission Adjustments · Rebuilding The Warner T-98/T-18 Ford Truck Transmission

1O TRANSFER CASE, DRIVESHAFTS, AXLES AND HUBS
Transfer Cases · Troubleshooting · Driveshafts · U-joint Service and Repair Tips · Driveshaft Lubrication · Driveshaft Angularity · U-joint Installation · Axle Assemblies · Differential Action · Axle Types · Axle Troubleshooting · Axle Seals · Closed-knuckle Steering Rebuild · Locking Hubs · Hub Rebuilding

11 SUSPENSION AND STEERING
Springs · Installing New Springs · Frame Damage · Shock Absorbers · Gas Shocks · Selecting Shocks · 4x4 Steering and Front End · Rebuilding A Ball-joint Steering Knuckle · Steering System · Power Steering · Inspecting the Steering System · Wheel Alignment

12 BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS
Wheel Bearings · Front Wheel Bearing Fundamentals · Wheel Bearing Service · The Braking System · Pedal Warning Signals · Brake Fluid Precautions · Brake Service Tips

13 BODY AND DETAILING
Battling Rust ·Body Detailing · Quick Tips to a Better Detail Job · Pickup Bed and Tub Liners

14 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BASICS
The Electrical System ·Electrical Troubleshooting · Testing Battery and Charging System · Starter Motor · Starter Troubleshooting · Starter Overhaul

15 ACCESSORIES
Winches · Electrical System Upgrades ·Roll Bars · Seat Belts and Safety Harnesses ·Trailering

16 FORD ENGINE PERFORMANCE: MILD TO WILD!
Engine Performance and Smog Legal Modifications · Ford Ftruck Power: An Overview · Valvetrain Modifications · Ignition Modifications · Performance Carburetion · Lubrication and Engine Oil Cooling · Supercharging · Flathead to FE F-truck Power · 460 V 8: The Ultimate Racing and Tow Engine · 351 Windsor V 8 Buildup ·302/5.0L V-8 Tips · Engine Overhaul

17 DRIVETRAIN UPGRADES
Performance Transmissions · Four-speed Changeover · The Clutch · Clutch Types · Aftermarket Clutches · Traction Differentials · Conversion Axles · Driveshaft Footnotes

18 CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION UPGRADES
Chassis Modifications · State Lift Laws · Off-pavement Suspension Tuning · Upgrading Shocks · Urethane Bushings · Installing An Upgraded Suspension · Steering Gear Conversions ·Tires · Tire Glossary · Brake System Upgrades

APPENDICES
Sources, Hardware Grading, Toolbox, Engine Break-in, 4x4 Trials

INDEX