They are the most readily available, which makes them popular, but they are definately NOT the best! Everybody has their personal favorite but Purolator, Wix, and Bosch are the best IMO. But that said, all the filter companies seem to have 3 basic price ranges for their filters... less than $5, $5-10, and over $10. Don't buy the cheap ones of any brand and don't waste your money on the expensive ones!!

 

yep i'm right, ford does make autolite. check wiki

 

Well according to the source you just provided, Ford USED to own autolite, but sold the name to a company called Honeywell (who also owns prestone and fram). Ford's OEM part supplier today is Motorcraft.

 

bear with me crazy , i'm old school and autolite was always ford. just because they outsourced it to another company it's still ford, they just made it cheaper. if you could check the specs on the plugs they would be the same as the old ford specs.

 

Well guys, i did the tune up on the dakota today...I got the autolite 3923 plugs, ValueCraft wires, duralast dist. cap and rotor...auto zone didnt have anything accel so...i went with what they had...

...What about fuel filter brands...auto zone only had one and it was like $17...yikes
also where is PCV valve located? I figured since the truck just rolled 185,000 miles and hasn't had a tune up before...probably wouldnt be a bad idea...

Any other suggestions for me as far as what I should change?...EGR maybe?...I'm only getting about 11-13 mpg right now...thought some of these things would help...

 

valuecraft - motocraft sound familiar! it's all about sales. more people will buy valuecraft than motocraft because they think there getting a better deal. there not.
good move on fords part. change the name and get people to line up at the counter. they got dodge owners to put ford plugs in there dakota's! should add that dura-last is also ford.

 

pcv cvalve should be in the hose comin out of the hole on your valve cover

 

yep wish

 

The fuel filter on the v6 and v8s are integrated in with the fuel filter... I'm not sure on a part number.

Duralast is a label for parts made to sell at Autozone. Carquest happens to brand their parts as carquest, and napa brands their parts as napa, but autozone and advance auto parts have their own brands that for some reason don't include their own name. Valuecraft is the name branded for the cheaper line of duralast products. None of those have any relation to Motorcraft except the every so slight similarites in their name.

Honestly though, there are only a select few manufacturer's that make parts under many different brand names. For example, Federal-Mogul brands fel-pro, moog, sealed power, champion, wagner, and many more. I'm drawing a blank on the other big company, but you get the point.

Trust me, I've done tons of research on this subject to decide what brands I want to use for parts on my truck.

 

take my word for it slt, duralast was a ford brand in the early 80's. the company that made it for ford now makes it for carquest, autozone, etc. lots of aftermarket parts are made for dealers. but as for as i know the same supplier made parts for ford, dodge and amc. chevy had there own setup.
the carbs are stamped in the early 80's and late 70's

ford-motocraft
chev-Rochester
amc-carter

do not argue with me on this one slt. had a 73 amc gremlin that took motocraft parts that i could only get at the ford dealer.

check any early 80's. 70's ford carb and it's stamped motocraft. you will not find any other carb that has that stamp. if you do let me know. (except amc)

by the way old time carbs are my specialty. if any one has a problem with them e-mail me and i can help you out.