condor74
Full Access Member
I am in the market for a new to me truck to replace my 1990 F250 7.3 dsl. I am looking at a few different trucks from Dodge Cummins diesels to Ford Diesels.
One of the trucks that I am interested in is a 2004 F350 Crew Cab Lariat 4x4 with 78000 miles. I jump started the truck after it sat for more than 2 ears and it started and idled smoothly. It has a couple of problems that can be easily repaired. It has had a tire blow out that ripped off the drivers rear dually fender. The windshield is cracked. The batteries are dead from sitting for a long time. I figure the truck will need new tires, new fender, and new windshield. I am more concerned with the reliability of the 6.0. I am Fleet manager for an oil field company and we have lots of Ford 6.0 trucks. The reliability has been very poor. The only thing worse than the 6.0 is the newer 6.4s have been twice as bad. So bad that the newer trucks bought in the last year or so are new Dodge Cummins trucks. Now when your company is paying for repairs these problems are irritating. When you have to pay for them yourself, they are way worse. So I want to know what has to be done to this truck in order for it to be "bullet proof".
I do not have tons of money but it seems if I could have the truck repaired/modified at the time of purchase, then it may work out to be a good deal. I can pick up the truck for around $6000. I figure an additional $1000 for tires. Another $1000 for a fender and windshield. So for around $8000 I would have a running truck. How much to have a shop perform reliability mods. I have read about oil cooler, egr cooler delete, head studs. Anything else that should be addressed? I am happy with stock power. What do you think?
One of the trucks that I am interested in is a 2004 F350 Crew Cab Lariat 4x4 with 78000 miles. I jump started the truck after it sat for more than 2 ears and it started and idled smoothly. It has a couple of problems that can be easily repaired. It has had a tire blow out that ripped off the drivers rear dually fender. The windshield is cracked. The batteries are dead from sitting for a long time. I figure the truck will need new tires, new fender, and new windshield. I am more concerned with the reliability of the 6.0. I am Fleet manager for an oil field company and we have lots of Ford 6.0 trucks. The reliability has been very poor. The only thing worse than the 6.0 is the newer 6.4s have been twice as bad. So bad that the newer trucks bought in the last year or so are new Dodge Cummins trucks. Now when your company is paying for repairs these problems are irritating. When you have to pay for them yourself, they are way worse. So I want to know what has to be done to this truck in order for it to be "bullet proof".
I do not have tons of money but it seems if I could have the truck repaired/modified at the time of purchase, then it may work out to be a good deal. I can pick up the truck for around $6000. I figure an additional $1000 for tires. Another $1000 for a fender and windshield. So for around $8000 I would have a running truck. How much to have a shop perform reliability mods. I have read about oil cooler, egr cooler delete, head studs. Anything else that should be addressed? I am happy with stock power. What do you think?