BUYING A 7.3 IDI

[CheckYourBuffer]

what age group owned it does not matter, what is important is if the truck has been maintained, fluids and filters being changed will affect the engines lifetime more than how hard it has been run just my 2 cents

Exactly

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

I paid 4500 for mine a couple months ago everything checked out there was a couple little problems. But 4 month later I'm 4000 deep in this pickup and still working on it. It's not cheap to fix one of these specially when stuff starts happening once you get it.

Im fine with down the road investing some money into it, its a good project. Atleast it runs currently. Paying for parts is the price you pay when going for a 27 year old truck..

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

You can't Invest money in Liabilities.

Not only are all vehicles liabilities but this one especially so,as pointed out by many members here.This truck probably isn't the best truck to buy for the money asked for.
Let's say you started with this truck for $1,500 and put another $3,000 into it.
You would then have a $4,500 truck but it's value wouldn't be anywhere near $4,500.Not to anyone.Not even you.Why not? Because you could buy a much better truck for $4,500 in the first place than you would by putting $4,500 total money into this truck.More than likely you could buy a truck in 4 to 5 times better condition than this one would be even with another $3,000 loss (not "invested").

 

[Macrobb]

Not only are all vehicles liabilities but this one especially so,as pointed out by many members here.This truck probably isn't the best truck to buy for the money asked for.
Let's say you started with this truck for $1,500 and put another $3,000 into it.
You would then have a $4,500 truck but it's value wouldn't be anywhere near $4,500.Not to anyone.Not even you.Why not? Because you could buy a much better truck for $4,500 in the first place than you would by putting $4,500 total money into this truck.More than likely you could buy a truck in 4 to 5 times better condition than this one would be even with another $3,000 loss (not "invested").

To be fair, 'value' is relative. And, it *only* applies if you intend to sell it.
If you intend to drive it, what it's worth is either A, what it's worth to you or B, what it would cost for a replacement.

I have no problem buying a $1500-2000 truck and putting $1000 into it... because of my labor, and the cost of a newer vehicle.
It's much easier to put 40 hours of labor into repairing a truck than putting $1200 in labor into it(20 hours at $60/hour shop rate), so even if it takes me twice what a shop does, I'm still money ahead.
And it's even more important to do this the less you are paid per hour at your day job.

Plus, realistically, these IDIs are pretty cheap. Yes, performance parts add up quickly(my $1200 IP being a testament to that). But you don't /need/ those parts.
You can get used stuff, JY stuff, and RockAuto parts and save a *lot* of money on parts; chances are, you can get the parts alone for less than half a 'decent' shop would charge you for them.

So, as long as you can put your own labor into a truck, it's a good deal. If you can't, then it makes sense to pay more upfront for a better truck, because any repairs are being paid for at shop rate and high parts cost.

In my case, I pretty much figure on driving my trucks until they disintegrate, so putting some money into one isn't too bad. And, as for performance parts, if one rig totally fails, you can always move them to your *next* rig... as long as you stay with the same platform.

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

To be fair, 'value' is relative. And, it *only* applies if you intend to sell it.
If you intend to drive it, what it's worth is either A, what it's worth to you or B, what it would cost for a replacement.

I have no problem buying a $1500-2000 truck and putting $1000 into it... because of my labor, and the cost of a newer vehicle.
It's much easier to put 40 hours of labor into repairing a truck than putting $1200 in labor into it(20 hours at $60/hour shop rate), so even if it takes me twice what a shop does, I'm still money ahead.
And it's even more important to do this the less you are paid per hour at your day job.

Plus, realistically, these IDIs are pretty cheap. Yes, performance parts add up quickly(my $1200 IP being a testament to that). But you don't /need/ those parts.
You can get used stuff, JY stuff, and RockAuto parts and save a *lot* of money on parts; chances are, you can get the parts alone for less than half a 'decent' shop would charge you for them.

So, as long as you can put your own labor into a truck, it's a good deal. If you can't, then it makes sense to pay more upfront for a better truck, because any repairs are being paid for at shop rate and high parts cost.

In my case, I pretty much figure on driving my trucks until they disintegrate, so putting some money into one isn't too bad. And, as for performance parts, if one rig totally fails, you can always move them to your *next* rig... as long as you stay with the same platform.

I'm in agreement with all this,as I did it twice to two IDI trucks.Purchased them right for what they were and put more into them then their "resale" value.

However in this example here (and your right) the value is relative.
In this case,the purchase price for the truck in it's condition is simply too high because the added cost it would take to correct it's issues and condition,would cost 4-5 times the amount that one could simply buy outright by just saving up a few more bucks and start with a better foundation.So it's value is relative to it's purchase price and repair cost to a better trucks initial purchase price.
In order for this truck to be cost effective,the initial purchase price would likely need to be around 4-$500 price range.Like someone else posted,this ones probably best served as a parts truck at this point in it's life.

 

[IH_Diesel]

I don't know how things are in your area, but you don't get much of a vehicle for 4000 bucks anymore.
I am not saying this is a great deal, but for 1000 or 1500 bucks, not terrible.
Seems that "cash for clunkers" took a lot of the reasonably price used cars and added 1000 to 1500 on them.
Just my observations.

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

I don't know how things are in your area, but you don't get much of a vehicle for 4000 bucks anymore.
I am not saying this is a great deal, but for 1000 or 1500 bucks, not terrible.
Seems that "cash for clunkers" took a lot of the reasonably price used cars and added 1000 to 1500 on them.
Just my observations.

hard down here in cali, especially if you want a diesel (in which i do) I love this style of fords, i really wanted it to be something when it needs work to be able to go work on it with my old man so i can get the learning experience.

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

To be fair, 'value' is relative. And, it *only* applies if you intend to sell it.
If you intend to drive it, what it's worth is either A, what it's worth to you or B, what it would cost for a replacement.

I have no problem buying a $1500-2000 truck and putting $1000 into it... because of my labor, and the cost of a newer vehicle.
It's much easier to put 40 hours of labor into repairing a truck than putting $1200 in labor into it(20 hours at $60/hour shop rate), so even if it takes me twice what a shop does, I'm still money ahead.
And it's even more important to do this the less you are paid per hour at your day job.

Plus, realistically, these IDIs are pretty cheap. Yes, performance parts add up quickly(my $1200 IP being a testament to that). But you don't /need/ those parts.
You can get used stuff, JY stuff, and RockAuto parts and save a *lot* of money on parts; chances are, you can get the parts alone for less than half a 'decent' shop would charge you for them.

So, as long as you can put your own labor into a truck, it's a good deal. If you can't, then it makes sense to pay more upfront for a better truck, because any repairs are being paid for at shop rate and high parts cost.

In my case, I pretty much figure on driving my trucks until they disintegrate, so putting some money into one isn't too bad. And, as for performance parts, if one rig totally fails, you can always move them to your *next* rig... as long as you stay with the same platform.

In all honesty, i cant agree with you more.

 

[IH_Diesel]

Heck that alone is worth 1500 bucks

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

Heck that alone is worth 1500 bucks

Might pick it up for 1250 if he wants it sold by tomorrow haha, selling my gaming pc setup for this truck. crazy how electronics are worth the same as vehicles.

 

[Fordfan90]

Might pick it up for 1250 if he wants it sold by tomorrow haha, selling my gaming pc setup for this truck. crazy how electronics are worth the same as vehicles.

Tools also I could probably sell my snapon stuff for lots of money.

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

Tools also I could probably sell my snapon stuff for lots of money.

Exactly, if anything, buying this truck will get my off my lazy ass and stuff haha

 

[pelky350]

Sell the gaming stuff you can always buy more later on having a truck during high school kicks ass exspecially if you have a diesel that's loud lol maintain it, don't rod on it too hard lol sounds like your gonna buy this anyway and i can't blame you I saw my first vehicle, a flat black 87 bronco with new toyo mts and did everything I could to own it knowing it was broke down and had a fence board bumper lol amazingly it's still driving(sorta) 8 years later with only minor suspension work needed

 

[CheckYourBuffer]

Sell the gaming stuff you can always buy more later on having a truck during high school kicks ass exspecially if you have a diesel that's loud lol maintain it, don't rod on it too hard lol sounds like your gonna buy this anyway and i can't blame you I saw my first vehicle, a flat black 87 bronco with new toyo mts and did everything I could to own it knowing it was broke down and had a fence board bumper lol amazingly it's still driving(sorta) 8 years later with only minor suspension work needed

thanks man, your seeing it from my point of view. this trucks gonna be like a life long project until i wanna move on. this is something "i" wanna do. i love all the feed back from this page, you guys are all good guys. hopefully you guys do a meetup here in cali or close so i can drive my new truck im getting out there.

 

[pelky350]

I'm up in Oregon, like mentioned above it may have it problems but you don't need a 100% performer your in high school Rigs can come and go. Now after high schools another story still safety is a concern id probably start in the front end work, shocks are more important than one thinks and any off roading should be avoided until you have inspected and remade or replaced any front end parts that are questionable with the lift but who know maybe someone knew what they were doing lifting it you never know ask many questions while buying it as possible. Whatever is wrong with it used parts are plentiful and most new parts are reasonably affordable