I need a better pickup

[Chris142]

Just talking to myself. I need to upgrade from my currant pickup. The cab is too small, no AC, drum brakes etc.

I need atleast a 3/4 ton with a manual trans, must be 4x4, long bed, fuel injected since im tired of messing with Carburetors and AC or atleast had AC.

I don't like the 94 and newer Dodges or 97 and newer Fords. I don't know much about GM's other than the front ends are weak but the engines will run 300k no problem.

I think A diesel is out of my price range. I like 318's, 360's, 351's and 350's. I can fix those.

I'm leaning towards a Ford since they are the easiest to work on. I can replace a heater in one in 20 minutes and other stuff is easy to fix or get to.

Something like this.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2493917375.html

 

[DrDusty86]

That "looks" like a good truck. I agree, Was that a 351 or 460? Did I miss it?
EITHER WILL suck gas like it's free, but if properly maintained should provide MANY MANY years and miles of great service to you.

 

[wallyuwl]

It is odd that they don't list the year in the ad for that vehicle. It could be anywhere from 1992 to 1996.

 

[daves87rs]

That one would work...

 

[alunsy21]

i'd be willing to say it could give you another 164k miles...

 

[01rangerxl]

The truck in the ad probably has many more miles left in it.

With your requirements, a '92-'97 F-250 or F-350 sounds perfect. All of the engines Ford offered in those were very reliable. IIRC, the 250 used a TTB front axle like the F-150 and Rangers of the time. I think the 350 4x4s have always used solid front axles, but I could be wrong.

 

[qdeezie]

Very easy to work on. That's why I like my '90 so much.

 

[addyguy]

You're gonna ditch your sweet little International? That's kinda sad - it's a neat little truck.

But I understand needing something more 'comfortable' to work with regularly.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
That "looks" like a good truck. I agree, Was that a 351 or 460? Did I miss it?
EITHER WILL suck gas like it's free,
Ya but I bet a F.I. 351 or 460 will still get better MPG than my currant carbureated 392 with 4.30 gears in the axles.

I think I'm going to find a Ford but would consider an older Dodge but Dodges are hard to find with a bigger cab.

 

[DrDusty86]

It should be a fine truck for you then,, 351 and 460 are good motors

 

[Chris142]

I wonder if they ever used the 300 inline 6 with a stick shift in a 3/4 ton?

 

[The_Jeff]

Yes they did! IIRC they also used something stronger than the mazda 5 speed from the 1/2 tons.

fueleconomy.gov says a 1993 f250 2wd comes with the 300-6 and a four speed stick or the 302 V8 and 5 speed. Trucks over 8500 lbs don't have fuel economy stickers, so there may be some unlisted 3/4 ton trucks with HD axles and springs and whatnot.

Whatever that 4 speed is, it must be a rock crusher.

 

[DrDusty86]

Correct. They DID put 300 I6's in the 250/350 series. The trans ranged from a NP 435 4spd manual with a 6.69 granny gear, T19 4spd with a little taller granny, ZF 42..??? it was a small block version of the diesel zf 5, with similar gearing and a low 1st, the 5spds had OD, the 4spds did not.
My 78 F350 has 3.73 gears, a 300 I6 and the NP 435 trans...
I have loaded 12 round bales on a goose neck that with the truck weighed 32,000lbs and it pulled it. Due to road conditions and terrain I never got over 50mph, but it would have.. I get 11mpg empty and about 9 loaded.
The 300/ Granny box is an EXTREMELY good puller for a gas combo.. It pulled 16k of trailer out of a creek bed but I wound it out in low..fearing if I tried to shift to 2nd I would break something or start rolling backwards..

 

[OVERKILL]

I had the 300 I6 in an '88 F-250 with a C6 and 4.10's. It would pull the derrière out of the world. Just not very quickly.

 

[Chris142]

I think I need to find one with the 300 inline 6. I remember seeing a Dodge dually with a 225 once. Here in Ca where gas is high priced there are tons of 460's running around. I've only seen a few 300's in my life.

So now I want a 97 or older F250/F350 with a 300, stickshift, 4x4,, extra cab and a busted AC system so I can use that as a barganing chip.

 

[The_Jeff]

Do you like rust? Do you want to spend $500 in gas to get it home?

There's a 93 by me for $2300.

I used to have a 95 F150 with the 6 cyl and tall gears (3.2 or so.) Everything you read about those motors is true. Would sometimes miss 3rd and shift into 5th. Would pull it.

 

[The_Jeff]

Hopped on my mountain bike to buzz by this jewel in the rough...

351W, automatic, regular cab. Everything's wrong!

 

[Panzerman]

I cant agree with any of you on the 300 Ford V6. I think the 4.6 V8 was a much better engine and has more power, better reliablity and better fuel milelage. It was a V6 that got V8 fuel milelage and still had V6 power. I guess with low enough gears anything would pull. Do yourself a favor and try to find a 4.6 motor, they are bulletproof.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Panzerman
Do yourself a favor and try to find a 4.6 motor, they are bulletproof.
I hate the new body style. Besides being ugly any maintenance is a major undertaking.

9 hrs to replace a heater or AC evaporator. Gotta pull the cab to get the engine out! No thanks!

I can have a heater in the old body style replaced in 30 minutes. An hr to get the evaporator out and the new one back in.

Flying spark plugs etc. No thanks.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
9 hrs to replace a heater or AC evaporator.


False

Quote:
Gotta pull the cab to get the engine out!


Completely false