$280 at Ford will get you a remanufactured POS computer. It will have the "newer" Ford profile for your engine and your engine will run with noticable less power (de-tuned).
They can be hard to locate but they are out there for sure.
Advanced Auto Parts in Colorado has them in stock, but you will need your computer code from your truck.
Many junk yards have them, usually on a shelf somewhere, you have to go search for yours.
I have bought several of them from local used part suppliers and also from U pull it type junk yards. Anywhere from $30-60
I had a Ford re-maned unit and it lasted 1 month before it failed. Also ford tried to not warranty it saying that the wiring harness it was connected to was modified, so make sure you ask about your warranty...I did and it ended up saving me $300+.
I have noticed that many of the Gen I trucks are getting up there in years and the computers are getting older and failing. These problems are hard to diagnose because the problems are often intermittant.....