The ninth generation Ford F-Series is a line of full-size and medium-duty
commercial trucks that were produced by Ford from 1992 to 1996. While still
based on the basic design dating from late 1979, the 1992 F-Series brought a
number of minor changes to the exterior and interior. This is the last
generation of the F-Series that was produced as a complete range of trucks
from a half-ton pickup to a medium-duty Class 6 truck. As this generation was
replaced during the 1997–1998 model years, the larger models of the F-Series
were split from the F-150; these became the Ford Super Duty trucks, related to
the latter with a few powertrain components.
Design History 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. Inside, the interior was
updated, with a redesigned dashboard along with new seats. Extended-cab
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 several changes, including a slightly updated dashboard
and the addition of a driver's-side airbag on F150s only, Centre High Mount
Stop Lamp 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.
Trim Custom
XL XLT
Nite SVT Lightning
Eddie Bauer 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 an 240hp version of the 5.8L V8 and the E4OD overdrive
transmission normally paired with the diesel and 7.5L V8s.
Models F-150: 1/2 ton
F-250: 3/4 ton F-250 HD : 1992–1997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton
F-350: 1 ton F-Superduty: 1 1/2 ton plus
= Medium-Duty F-Series= For the 1995 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. 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. Midway during the
1992 model year, the 7.3L International IDI diesel V8 gained a turbocharger for
the first time. In 1993, the 1994 model year engine lineup received a retune to
increase output. Also for 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. As before, the 5.0L V8 was not offered
above 8500 GVWR and the F450/FSuperduty 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. The 4wd F150 continued the use of the
Dana 44 Twin-Traction Beam axle from the 86–91 trucks. The 4wd F250 carried the
Dana 44 or 50 Twin Traction Beam axle from the previous generation, and the
4wd F350 used the Dana 60 Straight Axle. Variants
= SVT Lightning= The SVT Lightning is a
sports/performance version of the F-150, released by Ford's SVT division.
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 version of the 351 in3 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
Windsor V8 producing 240 hp and 340 ft·lbf 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 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