Ford F-Series (ninth generation)

Ninth generation
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Also called	Ford Lobo (Mexico)
Production	August 1991–1997[1]
Model years	1992–1997
Assembly	Cuautitlan, Mexico Kansas City, Missouri, USA Norfolk, Virginia, USA General Pacheco, Argentina (Ford Argentina) São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil (Ford Brazil) Louisville, Kentucky, USA Wayne, Michigan, USA Oakville, Ontario, Canada (Oakville Assembly) Valencia, Venezuela (Valencia Assembly) St. Paul, Minnesota, USA (MY1992)
Designer	Jack Telnack (1989)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door pickup 2-door chassis cab extended cab 4-door chassis cab 2-door chassis cab Medium-duty truck Bus chassis (B-Series)
Related	Ford Bronco Ford B-Series
Powertrain
Engine	3.8L Essex V6 (available only for the F-150 made in Mexico) 4.9 L Truck Six I6 5.0 L 5.0 Windsor V8 5.8 L Windsor V8 7.5 L 460 V8 7.3 L IDI diesel V8 7.3 L Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 Old Body Style (OBS)
Transmission	3-speed C6 automatic 4-speed E4OD automatic 4-speed 4R70W/AOD-E automatic 4-speed NP435 manual (1992) 5-speed M5OD manual 5-speed ZF S5-42 manual 5-speed ZF S5-47 manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	Regular cab 8' box: 133 in (3,378 mm) Regular cab 6.75' box/Flareside: 116.8 in (2,967 mm) SuperCab 8' box: 155 in (3,937 mm) SuperCab 6.75' box/Flareside: 138.8 in (3,526 mm) Crew cab 8' box: 168.4 in (4,277 mm) Crew cab 6.75' box: 152.2 in (3,866 mm)
Length	Regular cab 8' box: 213.3 in (5,418 mm) Regular cab 6.75' box: 197.1 in (5,006 mm) SuperCab 8' box: 235.3 in (5,977 mm) SuperCab 6.75' box: 219.1 in (5,565 mm) Crew cab 8' box: 248.9 in (6,322 mm) Crew cab 6.75' box: 232.7 in (5,911 mm)
Width	79 in (2,007 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford F-Series eighth generation (1987–1991)
Successor	Ford F-Series tenth generation (1997–2003) Ford Super Duty (F-250 and above)

The ninth generation Ford F-Series is a line of full-size and medium-duty commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from 1991 to 1996. While still based on the basic design dating from late 1979 (for the 1980 model year), the 1992 F-Series brought a number of minor changes to the exterior and interior (where most enthusiasts consider this a facelift for the same existing truck that first appeared in 1979 as a 1980 model instead of a redesign). This is the last generation of the F-Series that was produced as a complete range of trucks from a half-ton pickup (F-150) to a medium-duty Class 6 truck (F-250 and above). As this generation was replaced during the 1997–1998 model years, the larger models of the F-Series (F-250 and above) were split from the F-150; these became the Ford Super Duty trucks, related to the latter with a few powertrain components.

Design history

1994 F150 FlareSide SuperCab

In the interest of aerodynamics, the lines of the hood, front fenders, and grille were rounded off for 1992. Along with the larger grille, the headlights were enlarged (with the turn signals again moving below). Inside, the interior was updated, with a redesigned dashboard along with new seats. Extended-cab (SuperCab) models received larger rear side windows. A notable change included the reintroduction of the Flareside bed that returned for production since 1987. Instead of the previous classic-style bed, the Flareside bed was now a narrow-body version of the dual rear-wheel bed; the rear fenders were repositioned to fit the width of the cab.

The 1994 models brought a slightly updated dashboard and the addition of a driver's-side airbag on F150s only, Centre high mount stop lamp (CHMSL) third brake light, brake-shift interlock and CFC-free air conditioning. New options for 1994 included remote keyless entry with alarm, a compact disc player fitted into the regular stereo system, and a power driver's seat; an electrochromic inside rear view mirror was also offered for 1994 and 1995 as part of a luxury light package.

Ford trailed rival General Motors in combined truck sales for much of the ninth generation, though sales steadily rose each year. 500,000 F-Series trucks were sold in 1992, but this rose to nearly 800,000 by 1996, and the Ford had overtaken the combined Chevrolet and GMC pickup sales for the first time in a decade. In the second half of 1997 The F-250 HD (Heavy Duty) was in the same series as the F-350.

Trim

• Custom (1992–1993)
• XL (1992-1997)
• XLT (1992-1997)
• Nite (1990-1992)
• SVT Lightning (1993–1995)
• Eddie Bauer (1995–1996, F-150 only)
• 4x4 Offroad (1992-1997)

The monochromatic "Nite" package introduced in 1990 continued, but was dropped at the end of the 1992 model year. As before, it featured an all-black exterior with either a pink or blue/purple stripe and "Nite" decal on the sides of the cargo box.

For 1993 the Custom model was dropped, as the XL became the new base model. Following the lead of the Aerostar, Ford Bronco, and Explorer, the Eddie Bauer trim line — featuring plusher trim and increased standard features — was reintroduced for 1995.

In 1993, the SVT Lightning was introduced, slotting itself in between the Chevrolet 454SS and GMC Syclone. Ford Special Vehicles Team upgraded the Lightning from the regular F-series with heavy-duty suspension and brakes. Powertrain upgrades came from heavy-duty trucks, with a 240 hp version of the 5.8L V8 and the E4OD overdrive transmission normally paired with the 7.3L diesel and 460 7.5L V8s.

Models

File:uhaul portsmouth.jpg|180px|thumbnail|right|Ford F-350 U-haul truck at a refueling station]]

• F-150: 1/2 ton (6,250 lb GVWR max)
• F-250 : 1992-1995 3/4 ton (8,300 lb GVWR max)
• F-250 HD: 1994.5–1997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
• F-350 : 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
• F-Superduty (chassis cab model only): 1 1/2 ton plus (16,000 lb GVWR max)

The F-250, F-250 HD, F-350, and F-Superduty were available in many different configurations from chassis cab base models, up to XLT trimmed models with their chrome and plush seating. The trucks came with a variety of motors, the 4.9L I6, 5.0L V8, and 5.8L V8 were the only options for the F-150 series trucks. The heavy duty trucks could be spec'd with a 5.8L V8, 460C.I. V8, the 7.3L IDI (1992 - 1994), or the 7.3L Power Stroke (1994.5 - 1997) were the diesel options produced by Navistar International. The F-250 HD was available from 1994.5 to 1997, and differed from the earlier F-250 in the trim that was on it, and it also had a transmission cooler like the later Ford Super Duty trucks, it also received a heavier rear axle, and heavier springs and shocks. Because of these changes in design service technicians started to refer to the first powerstrokes as an OBS or Old Body Style to avoid confusion from the similar Superduty 7.3 powerstroke parts. As part of the 4x4 offroad package, they were available with several skid plates underneath. (After 1997 the heavier-duty models were splitting from the Ford F-150. The line of trucks was called the 1999 Ford Super Duty.) The F-350 trucks were only available with longbeds (8ft) while the F-250 could be optioned any way the buyer desired (besides crew cab shortbed and extended cab shortbed). The F-250 HD came with these options for 1996 and 1997 only. The crew cab shortbed and extended cab shortbed trucks are very rare, as they were only produced for little over a year.

Medium-Duty F-Series

1995–1997 F600/F700 cargo truck

For the 1994.5 model year, the exterior of the medium-duty F-Series was changed for the first time since 1979. Available only as a tilting cowl, the new hood featured a much larger grille. Instead of being mounted on the fenders, the turn signals were now mounted beside the headlights. Instead of the model designation, the cowl badge was replaced by an "F-Series" one. Inside, the interior was largely carried over from 1980.

While still available with a 7.0L gasoline V8, many medium-duty F-Series were diesel-powered. Instead of the Navistar T444E V8 engine seen in the F-250/F-350, the medium-duty models offered two inline-6 engines (the Caterpillar 3126 and the Cummins 6BT/ISB). In 1999, these trucks were discontinued, along with the B-Series bus chassis; while the bus chassis was not replaced, Ford re-entered the medium-duty truck market with the Ford F-650/750. Built in a joint venture with Navistar, they were integrated into the Super Duty lineup.

Powertrain

The 1992 redesign left the powertrain lineup from the previous generation; the gasoline lineup of the 4.9L inline-6, 5.0L and 5.8L Windsor V8s, and 7.5L V8 were all carried over. A 1993 model year option, the 7.3L International IDI diesel V8 gained a turbocharger for the first time. The 1994 model year engine lineup received a retune to increase output. During the 1994 model year, the IDI diesel V8 was replaced by the T444E V8. Dubbed the Powerstroke by Ford, the new diesel was again supplied by Navistar International. Despite sharing identical displacement with its IDI predecessor, the turbocharged Powerstroke/T444E was an all-new design with direct fuel injection. This is akin to the 5.0l/302c.i. v8 used in foxbody platform Mustangs, for example, is not the same as the 5.0l/302c.i. Coyote v8 used in current mustangs. The only similarity between the two motors is the displacement.

As before, the 5.0L V8 was not offered above 8500 GVWR and the F-Superduty was 7.5 and diesel only. The diesels and 7.5 were above 8500 GVWR only (F250HD and heavier.) The 4.9 was available in the F350 through 1996 as a delete option.

7.3 Diesel V8 

The 4wd F150 continued the use of the Dana 44 Twin-Traction Beam axle from the 80–91 trucks, and the Ford 8.8" Rear Straight axle. The 4wd F250 carried the Dana 50 Twin Traction Beam axle, the Sterling 10.25 from the previous generation for the rear; full float on heavy duty 3/4 ton trucks and the 4wd F350 used the Dana 60 Straight Axle front, and the Sterling 10.25" rear Straight axle.

Variants

SVT Lightning

The SVT Lightning is a sports/performance version of the F-150, released by Ford's SVT (Special Vehicle Team) division.

1993 Ford SVT Lightning

Ford introduced the Lightning in 1992 to compete with primarily the Chevrolet 454 SS, in an effort to enhance the sporty, personal-use image of the Ford F-Series pickup. This initial Lightning featured performance handling developed by world-champion driver Jackie Stewart. The Lightning was powered by a special 240 hp (180 kW) version of the 351 in³ (5.8 L) V8 engine. The Lightning shared its basic platform structure with the regular F-150, but modifications were made to many vehicle systems. To enhance the Lightning chassis, the thicker frame rails from the 4-wheel drive F-250 used to increase rigidity. The stock Lightning was capable of achieving 0.88 g lateral acceleration, yet it retained almost all the hauling and trailering capabilities of the parent F-Series. A 351 in³ (5.8 L) Windsor V8 producing 240 hp (179 kW) and 340 ft·lbf (461 N·m) of torque replaced the standard F-150 engine. The engine was based on an existing block, but Ford engineers fitted it with high flow rate "GT40" heads and used hypereutectic pistons to increase response, output and durability. The engine was also fitted with stainless steel "shorty" headers.

An upgraded Ford E4OD automatic transmission was the only available transmission. An aluminum driveshaft connected it to 4.10:1 rear limited slip gears. The suspension had front and rear anti-rollbars and a special leaf, in the rear, tipped with a rubber snubber, that acted as a ladder bar and controlled rear wheel hop during hard acceleration. Special 17" aluminum wheels with Firestone Firehawk tires, Lightning badging, a front air dam with fog lamps, a 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer and a special intake manifold all differentiated the Lightning from normal F-150s. Bucket seats with electrically-adjustable side bolsters and lumbar supports were part of the package. Suspension modifications provided a 1 in front and 2.5 in rear drop in ride height.

The 1993 Lightning, launched on 15 December 1992 by Ford President Ed Hagenlocker, received more than 150 favorable articles in America's newspapers, magazines, and television outlets, and helped Ford retain leadership in the personal-use truck market. Three-time World Champion driver Jackie Stewart was highly involved in fine-tuning of the Lightning's handling. Key Ford engineers, managers, and executives involved in developing the original Lightning Performance Truck were Jim Mason, Robert Burnham, Jim Englehart, Terry DeJonckheere, Rory Carpenter, Bob Hommel, Terrell Edgar, Dick Liljestrand, Deb Neill, Adolfo Mejia, and Fred Gregg.

References