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Home/Registry/Ford/F-150/1987-1991supermotors.net/registry/ford/f-150/1987-1991

1987-1991 Ford F-150OBS F-150 (1987-1991)

1987-1991 56 on the wall 22 documents ↓

The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 is the eighth-generation F-Series, an aerodynamic refresh of the cab and body Ford had introduced for 1980. Enthusiasts group the 1987-1991 and 1992-1996 trucks together as OBS, for Old Body Style, because both share that rounded sheet metal before the 1997 redesign. The 1987 Ford F-150 was the first US truck sold with composite (aerodynamic) headlamps in place of sealed-beam units. Electronic fuel injection spread across the engine range during this generation, and rear-wheel antilock brakes were added. The base engine remained the 300-cubic-inch (4.9L) inline-six, with 5.0L and 5.8L V8 options above it.

Other Ford F-150 generations

1975-1979 Ford F-150 1980-1986 Ford F-150 1992-1996 Ford F-150 1997-2003 Ford F-150 2004-2008 Ford F-150 2009-2014 Ford F-150 2015-2020 Ford F-150 2021-2026 Ford F-150

Ford F-150 1987-1991 at a glance

  • Generation: The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 is the eighth-generation F-Series, an aerodynamic refresh of the 1980-1986 body.
  • Nickname: The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 is part of the OBS (Old Body Style) era, shared with the 1992-1996 ninth generation.
  • Headlamps: The 1987 Ford F-150 was the first US truck to use composite (aerodynamic) headlamps rather than sealed-beam units.
  • Fuel injection: The 4.9L inline-six gained electronic fuel injection for 1987 on the Ford F-150; by 1988 the V8s were fuel-injected and no carbureted engine was offered.
  • Brakes: Rear-wheel antilock brakes were added to the Ford F-150 in this generation.
  • Engines: The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 offered the 300-cubic-inch (4.9L) inline-six, the 5.0L V8, and the 5.8L V8.
  • Four-wheel drive: The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 4x4 used the Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) independent front suspension with a Dana 44 front axle.
  • Body styles: The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 was sold as a Regular Cab and a SuperCab, with a Styleside bed; the Flareside stepside bed was dropped for this generation.

Ford F-150 1987-1991 year by year

YearFord F-150 notes
1987The 1987 Ford F-150 launched the eighth generation with an aerodynamic front end and composite headlamps, the first on a US truck. The 4.9L inline-six gained electronic fuel injection. The Flareside stepside bed was dropped.
1988The 1988 Ford F-150 completed the move to fuel injection, with the V8s now fuel-injected and no carbureted engine offered.
1989The 1989 Ford F-150 carried over the eighth-generation body and the fuel-injected engine range.
1990The 1990 Ford F-150 continued the eighth-generation body with the fuel-injected 4.9L inline-six and the 5.0L and 5.8L V8s.
1991The 1991 Ford F-150 was the final year of the eighth generation before the 1992 ninth-generation refresh.

Ford F-150 1987-1991 design and body

The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 kept the cab structure Ford had introduced for 1980 but reworked the front end for lower aerodynamic drag. The 1987 Ford F-150 was the first US truck to use composite headlamps, a flush aerodynamic lens design, instead of the round or rectangular sealed-beam units used before. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 was sold as a two-door Regular Cab and an extended SuperCab; the Crew Cab body remained an F-250 and F-350 offering rather than an F-150. The Flareside stepside bed was dropped for the 1987 Ford F-150, leaving the smooth-sided Styleside bed; the Flareside returned later, for the 1992 ninth-generation Ford F-150.

Ford F-150 1987-1991 engines

The base engine of the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 was the 300-cubic-inch (4.9L) inline-six. For 1987 it received electronic fuel injection, rated at about 145 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. The 5.0L V8 in the 1987 Ford F-150 was fuel-injected and rated at about 185 horsepower. The 5.8L (351-cubic-inch) V8 was offered in a high-output form rated at about 210 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. By the 1988 Ford F-150, the V8s were fuel-injected and no carbureted engine was offered, making the 1988 Ford F-150 part of Ford's first all-fuel-injected truck range.

Ford F-150 1987-1991 drivetrain and brakes

The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 was offered in rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. The four-wheel-drive 1987-1991 Ford F-150 used the Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) independent front suspension with a Dana 44 front axle, a layout Ford had introduced on the 1980 F-150 4x4 and which ran through 1996. Manual and automatic transmissions were offered across the 1987-1991 Ford F-150, including a five-speed manual with overdrive and a four-speed automatic with overdrive. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 added rear-wheel antilock brakes, which apply only to the rear axle and are intended to keep the rear wheels from locking under hard braking on a lightly loaded pickup.

Ford F-150 1987-1991 trims

The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 was sold in a range running from a base work trim up through XLT Lariat, with Custom, XL, and XLT Lariat among the levels used in this period. Each trim was available in Regular Cab and SuperCab forms, and in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, across the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 range.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 called OBS?

OBS stands for Old Body Style. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 and the 1992-1996 Ford F-150 share the rounded body that preceded the 1997 redesign, so enthusiasts group both under the OBS name.

Was the 1987 Ford F-150 really the first US truck with composite headlamps?

Yes. The 1987 Ford F-150 was the first US truck to use composite (aerodynamic) headlamps, replacing sealed-beam units as part of the aerodynamic front end of the eighth-generation F-Series.

When did the Ford F-150 V8s get fuel injection in this generation?

The 4.9L inline-six in the 1987 Ford F-150 gained electronic fuel injection for 1987. By the 1988 Ford F-150, the V8s were fuel-injected as well, and no carbureted engine was offered.

What front suspension did the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 4x4 use?

The four-wheel-drive 1987-1991 Ford F-150 used the Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) independent front suspension with a Dana 44 front axle.

Did the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 offer a Flareside bed?

No. The Flareside stepside bed was dropped for the 1987 Ford F-150 and did not return until the 1992 ninth-generation Ford F-150. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 used the smooth-sided Styleside bed.

Sources

By the SuperMotors Editorial Team · Last updated June 2026 · Spotted an error? Suggest a correction

Asked all the time

Why is the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 called OBS?

OBS stands for Old Body Style. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 and the 1992-1996 Ford F-150 share the rounded body that preceded the 1997 redesign, so enthusiasts group both under the OBS name.

Was the 1987 Ford F-150 really the first US truck with composite headlamps?

Yes. The 1987 Ford F-150 was the first US truck to use composite (aerodynamic) headlamps, replacing sealed-beam units as part of the aerodynamic front end of the eighth-generation F-Series.

When did the Ford F-150 V8s get fuel injection in this generation?

The 4.9L inline-six in the 1987 Ford F-150 gained electronic fuel injection for 1987. By the 1988 Ford F-150, the V8s were fuel-injected as well, and no carbureted engine was offered.

What front suspension did the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 4x4 use?

The four-wheel-drive 1987-1991 Ford F-150 used the Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) independent front suspension with a Dana 44 front axle.

Did the 1987-1991 Ford F-150 offer a Flareside bed?

No. The Flareside stepside bed was dropped for the 1987 Ford F-150 and did not return until the 1992 ninth-generation Ford F-150. The 1987-1991 Ford F-150 used the smooth-sided Styleside bed.

Technical Reference

Member-uploaded diagrams & documents for this generation. AI-classified; community-verified where badged.

Wiring Diagrams (8)

Service Procedures (5)

Exploded Parts (4)

Vacuum Routing (1)

Schematics (2)

Manual Pages (1)

Blueprints (1)

The wall · registered 1987-1991 F-150s

Sorted by depth of documentation. Click any vehicle to open its permanent record.

“Jack”1988 F-150 · kiwimagic0 photos 1990 F-1501990 F-150 · bshort090 photos “Big Red”1991 F-150 · tandtkalina0 photos “Flame 5.0”1988 F-150 · roby24x70 photos “Larry”1990 F-150 · MrHikone710 photos “Trouble”1988 F-150 · sjim460 photos “Gizmo”1988 F-150 · Daddyo990 photos “Griswold”1989 F-150 · Griswold910 photos “Big ugly”1988 F-150 · jws11700 photos “Gray mare”1991 F-150 · KZEWfreak0 photos “Jarhead”1991 F-150 · FordMarine0 photos 1987 F-1501987 F-150 · president010 photos 1988 F-1501988 F-150 · jobby990 photos 1989 F-1501989 F-150 · karbo00 photos 1987 F-1501987 F-150 · Crawler3740 photos “P.O.S”1988 F-150 · GeneShannonjr0 photos “towed”1987 F-150 · freddiejb860 photos “Sasified”1991 F-150 · Bender0 photos “Mule ”1987 F-150 · nick77ford0 photos “Beast3”1989 F-150 · 89monster0 photos “bigblue”1990 F-150 · jeremi790 photos 1989 F-1501989 F-150 · jcarbs0 photos “Ole Blue”1991 F-150 · foster0 photos “RED”1987 F-150 · pfrenzelXLT0 photos 1988 F-1501988 F-150 · StrongRepublican0 photos 1987 F-1501987 F-150 · keef140 photos “Sportruk”1988 F-150 · Sportruk0 photos 1989 F-1501989 F-150 · cowboy79000 photos “fly truck”1987 F-150 · bubbaoutlaw0 photos “None”1988 F-150 · jeffs2500 photos 1988 F-1501988 F-150 · Ford150custom0 photos “Truck 26”1987 F-150 · fordfirefighter260 photos 1988 F-1501988 F-150 · slamminsam320 photos 1988 F-1501988 F-150 · Justin Schminkey0 photos “pappy”1989 F-150 · richard hernandez0 photos “Ol' Red”1988 F-150 · Adam Benaivdz0 photos 1991 F-1501991 F-150 · Mach1_Viclx0 photos “francoind”1987 F-150 · FRANK BROWN0 photos 1989 F-1501989 F-150 · Mike R0 photos “Not Assigned”1989 F-150 · Matthew Breed0 photos “Piece of Junk”1991 F-150 · Jarrod Wolverton0 photos 1990 F-1501990 F-150 · charles spears0 photos 1991 F-1501991 F-150 · lil_tease_050 photos 1990 F-1501990 F-150 · BOB HARPER0 photos “Brian”1991 F-150 · Brian Lee0 photos “Old Blue”1989 F-150 · F150TX0 photos “My Baby”1989 F-150 · Luke Reid0 photos “Dixie Queen”1989 F-150 · fordredneck0 photos “Crash”1989 F-150 · Cole Marsolf0 photos “Big Red”1987 F-150 · Scott Drake0 photos “A Truck Named Sue”1989 F-150 · Justinn Jones0 photos “Betsy”1990 F-150 · Rahman Bell0 photos “The old Truck”1990 F-150 · Josh T0 photos “4X4”1989 F-150 · 351capri0 photos “Molon Labe”1991 F-150 · Graham W0 photos “Mud&Guts”1991 F-150 · Michael Elswick0 photos
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