Glad you got it fixed! Woohoo!
So in the spirit of improvement, and to capture this for posterity, the question arises: How many of those parts that you replaced were really necessary, e.g. the coil? Do you suppose if you took the truck to Ford and paid them $80-plus for a diagnosis that they would have found the problem?
An example: When my '91 was doing this exact same problem, I took it to Ford and paid them $75 for a diagnosis. The concerns were (1) rough cold start, (2) raw fuel smell in exhaust, and (3) cruise control cutting out and stumbling at highway speeds. It took them two days to do the diagnosis so I had to rent a car for the two days ($120). So the total cost to me was a little over $200 just to find the problem. So I go to pick up the car and - they can't find the problem per se, so this is what they tell me they need to do to 'narrow down' the problem:
1) needs a major tuneup ($450) - they say they have to do this to eliminate unknowns
2) the 'tech' said that since my truck has so many miles on it (180k) that the oil pressure was low because the pump was worn, so worn pump means it won’t pump cold oil when cold starting the engine so the lifters won’t lift the intake valves all the way thus causing a rough cold start. Sounded like horse sh*t to me at the time but, having no other data or any way to disprove that at the time, I went with it. I asked him if he checked the fuel pressure – he said yes and that it was fine.
3) He couldn’t verify the cruise problem but said the only thing it could possibly be would be addressed by replacing the cruise servo ($350).
So the total repairs were over $800. I said fine, thanks, and took the truck home and posted my problem on this board. Dr. Alex said it sounded just like the FPR so I replaced it and – the truck runs perfectly. No more cruise stumble, either. Hmmmm…
The point here is that, had you taken your truck to Ford and paid for a diagnosis, they MIGHT have found it. In my case they didn’t, I would have paid over $800 for unnecessary repairs and I STILL would have the same concern! You did the diagnosis yourself and finally found the problem through a strategy of combined R&R, trial and error, and diagnostic testing. I am thinking it is likely you replaced some perfectly good parts during this time, but maybe not. And you had the use of the truck during this time and you didn’t have to fart around with rentals, getting rides, etc., having to put up with the dealer’s ‘tude, and all the other inconvenience.
It just astounds me how these techs are continuously unable to diagnose driveability problems even with a bay full of diagnostic equipment and years of experience. Sheesh.