in the older trucks, there was a ballast resistor between the ign key and
the coil.
this was to limit current to the coil when running.
there was a bypass wire from the ignition switch start position and the coil
that bypassed the ballast resistor when in the start position. this supplied
full power to start.
if the ballast resistor was to burn out or not be connected to the ignition
switch, the car would start on the bypass wire , but when you let the key
back to run , the coil would lose power from the ballast resistor and the
engine would die. that means that if you have a ballast resistor in the
1987, that it is dead or there is a bad connection between the ignition run
position and the ballast resistor that supplies power to the coil.
a simple volt  or ohm meter is used to check the connections .
old john

Hello, Whitelightning!
You wrote  on Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:12:43 GMT:

W> <go_drastc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
W> news:1156394232.309380.183590@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com...
??>> OK here's the scoop.  I've got an 87 2wd F150 6cyl with 4spd manual
??>> tranny. About a week ago, I went to start her up and turned the key.
??>> She cranked as usual but once I let go of the key everything died...By
??>> that I mean everything that works with the key is dead... I still have
??>> headlights, horn, door chime, and doom lights etc... but I nothing
??>> else.  I figured it was the ignition switch on the column so ... I
??>> looked and the dang thing had fallen apart so when I put the new
??>> switch in I thought everything would work.... WRONG!.... everything
??>> that is suppose to come on with the key is still dead.  I've checked
??>> the battery, and wairing up to the ignition switch.  There is power up
??>> to the switch... but from there I don't know where to look.  I'm
??>> thinking that it could be a fusible link or something like that but I
??>> don't know where those are...
??>>
??>> Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

W> The fusible links are at the starter solenoid on the fender next to the
W> battery. They are the wires that look like they have rubber "tags" on
W> them

With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net.  E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net