Ford F-Series (ninth generation)

1994 F150 FlareSide SuperCab

1992-1996 Ford F Series Rear View

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. Also, unlike with the classic Flareside bed, dual gas tanks were available with it, but only for 2-wheel-drive models.

The 1994 models brought a slightly updated dashboard and the addition of a standard driver's-side airbag on F-150s and light-duty F-250s only, center high mount stop lamp (CHMSL), 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 their 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, allowing Ford to overtake combined sales of Chevrolet and GMC trucks for the first time in a decade.

• Custom (1992–1993) Included: Cargo box light, tinted glass, argent grille, steel wheels with hubcaps, color-keyed floormats, an AM radio with digital clock and two speakers, vinyl bench seat, and voltmeter, oil pressure and temperature gauges.
• XL (1992-1997): Added: argent steel wheels, air conditioning, a cloth bench seat, and a rear bench on the SuperCab only.
• XLT (1992-1997): Added: Black rub strip, chrome grille, deep-dish aluminum wheels, carpeted map pockets, an AM/FM stereo with digital clock and two speakers, and a cloth and vinyl bench seat.
• Nite (1990-1992): Added: cloth flight bench with power lumbar, sliding rear window, aluminum deep dish wheels.
• SVT Lightning (1993–1995) Added (from XLT trim): 5-spoke aluminum rims, an AM/FM stereo with cassette player, digital clock and four speakers, power windows and locks, and air conditioning.
• 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. Also 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.

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.

Ninth-generation Ford F-Series models are:

• F-150: 1/2 ton (6,250 lb GVWR max)
• F-250 : 1992–1995 3/4 ton (8,800 lb GVWR max)
• F-250 HD: 1996–1997 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
• F-350 : 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
• F-Super Duty (chassis cab model only): 1 1/2 ton and greater (16,000 lb GVWR max)

The F-150, F-250, F-250 HD, F-350, and F-Super Duty 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 gas and diesel engines. The F-150 could be had with one of 3 gas engines, the 4.9L (300 cid) I6, the 5.0L (302 cid) V8, and the 5.8L (351 cid) V8. The same gas engine options were also available for the heavy duty trucks along with the 7.5L (460 cid), or you could opt for the 7.3L (444 cid) diesel.

The first version was the 7.3L IDI (Indirect Injected) V8 (1992 - 1993.5), which was produced by Navistar International. In 1993.5-1994.5 a turbocharged 7.3L IDI V8 with stronger internals was offered as emissions, power, and torque demands were increasing. In the second half of 1994, the new Direct Injected 7.3L Power Stroke V8 Turbodiesel replaced the 7.3L IDI V8. Also built by International Harvester, and used in International Trucks, known as the T444 E Engine.

The F-250 HD was available from 1996 to 1997, and differed from the earlier F-250 only slightly. It had “Heavy Duty” printed on the F250 badges, had slightly different moldings, used the F350 4407 transfer case, and was available in different cab/bed configurations from earlier F250 trucks. The term “Heavy Duty” was not in fact to do with an upgrade in the trucks abilities, but was to differentiate it from the F250 light duty truck, which was simply a 7-lug F150 Ford F-Series (tenth generation) and had no relation to the OBS Ford F250 or the coming SuperDuty F250.

As part of the 4x4 off-road package, they were available with several skid plates underneath. After 1997, the heavier-duty models were split from the Ford F-150. These line of trucks were called the 1999 Ford Super Duty. 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 Super Duty 7.3 Power Stroke parts. The F-150 could be had with either short (6.5') or long (8') beds with either regular or extended cab. The F-250 and F-350 trucks were only available with long beds (8 ft.) except in 1996 and 1997, the F-250 HD could be had in an extended cab/short bed or crew cab/short bed model. The crew cab short bed and extended cab short bed trucks are very rare, as they were only produced for a little over a year. Despite the OBS (ninth generation) officially ending production in 1997, models were still produced until March of 1998. These trucks had been planned out prior to the end of 1997 and are still titled as 1997 trucks, yet the manufacturing date on some trucks reads as late as 3/98.

It also should be noted that on some F250 single cab trucks, the front axle is not in fact the Dana 50 Twin Traction Beam, but the even lighter Dana 44 Twin Traction Beam found on the F150 and Bronco. These trucks are distinguished by their significantly smaller locking hubs.

1994–1998 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.

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 the 7.5L Big Block 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.

One thing worth noting is that the 7.3 Powerstroke was the second diesel motor with electronic fuel injection to be put into a light duty truck. The GM 6.5L TurboDiesel with the Stanadyne DS-4 injection pump was the first, appearing in 1992. The Dodge Ram did not offer EFI in its diesel engines until 1998.

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 (F250 and heavier.) The 5.8 also could have a GVWR of above 8500. The 4.9 was available in the F350 through 1996 as a delete option. The ninth generation was the last to offer the venerable pushrod 5.0L engine.[2]