What to expect when you buy a $1200 truck

[fury9]

didn't catch if she (or it for that matter,the truck) is a 4x4, but anywho you are gonna want to change the diff(s) over to a synthetic. That's another hundo definatley more if a 4x4.Then you got the front diff and xfer case to deal with. if you want to do it right, that front diff fill hole is a pita to suck all the juice outta so you may as well take the cover off and put a new gasket on it.add all that. proly talkin in the 250 range for cheap syns ALOT more for the good stuff. colant flush is due with sca's add some more for that. add all this up and you know what you got? Tons of memories with your boy and some more passed on knowledge.Maybe (probably) a little or alot of blood and just that bond that is that much greater. We all know that is what matters most. I CAN'T wait till my boy is wrenching!!!! Thanks for the 1200 dollar truck post!!!!

 

[mustangmatt89]

My 93 f250 I paid 3500 for, it was a spotless body almost brand new looked to be well maintained and interior was pretty good. I have been slowly replacing everything possible on the truck, I learned its better to do it that way then be on the side of the road.

 

[Diesel JD]

I spent 2500 for my truck back in 2003. I paid another 900 to have it shipped here. It needed head gaskets almost straight away, but unlike the worn out, overpriced IDIs that had been beaten like a rented mule, it was obvious someone had loved this truck and that they were pretty straight with me about the condition. I never would have had the balls to make this purchase if it weren't for this community which at that time existed at another website, and a member there by the name of PhilD who graciously examined this truck for me. It started, it ran, it had 450 psi compression all the way around. The head gasket job was killer but it was a great learning experience and I'm glad it happened that way. I only wish I had learned enough to not inflict my ignorance on the poor truck, but that was going on 7 years ago and it still runs well and I drive it almost every day. I don't put the huge number of miles on my rig that some here do, but it's quickly coming up on 60,000 since I bought it. The most expense was the head gaskets and a rebuilt C6 transmission, other than that everything expensive has been for upgrades. I also got screwed by being cheap and trying to find a real inexpensive way to replace the injection pump. Anyway, I would buy another one of these trucks including a 1200 or less fixer upper, but I would expect to spend some money to make it right. Good post Mel.

 

[burtcheca]

Hi Mel,
When we bought our '86 F350, dually, flat bed dump truck we paid $1,500 for it. The engine was tired already but it run for a while till it quit one morning; we paid $1,400 for a rebuild 6.9 engine, I took the old one out and put the new one myself (no money to pay a mechanic's shop for the job), a real challenge for me, I'm just a cabinetmaker/farmer but it went good, thanks God. The interiors also need mayor renovations but it will be done some time this summer. I had do change all the brakes lines too, maybe I'll change some other parts in the brake system later but at least it works now. There are some other cosmetic things I would like to fix, but I can not afford it now.
But what I really want to say to you is this: Look at the good side of it. Now you own a truck, no payments to no bank; it takes you from point A to point B, don't mind if it's rusty or ugly, it does the job; it hauls or pulls what you need. It's diesel; you may some day produce your own fuel, or adapt it to burn just WVO. You can fix it yourself, no complex electronics or computer system that tied you up to a dealership. Many parts are in a regular NAPA store, or you can find them in a junkyard, some you can even fix or recondition yourself. To sum it up, it adds to your sense of independence and survival. That's for me the most important part, specially in these times we are living now, that is part of what defines being an American.
Congratulations in your new truck! May the Lord my God bless you while you or any family member drives it, may it give you back in return many accomplished jobs and give you also that feeling when you look at it, that it's ready, at any time you need it, for a hard day's work.
Burt.

 

[Agnem]

Thanks for the comments. Yes, I really like having my boys involved. Its fun to watch them to see what they think is important. It's kinda ******* Graham since it is his truck and he can't drive it yet, but I think he is glad I've been sinking the money into it, that he would have otherwise felt presure to spend if it were really his wheels to drive right now. Some comments... Some things are only partially done, on purpose for a variety of reasons. John pointed out one wheel cylinder. Yes, that is not my style. BUT, Graham will need to learn how to do a drum brake job, and when the time comes he will do both wheel cylinders again, and rebuild from the backing plate up. The exhaust is welded together in a half baked fashion. That will be another project for him, to fab up his own exhaust system. Mostly, I'm interested in it being cherry for the wife to drive when she wants, and have it at a reasonable level so Graham can have good platform on which to spring from. All the work I did would have been overwhelming to him in such a short time. The bed is going to need to come off, and the tanks and frame gone over. There will be lots of cosmetic stuff and customizing if he wants it. This will all come in time. And yes Scott, we haven't replaced the hoses yet. You will probably get the last laugh, but we have good luck with hoses around here, and hell the ones on the Moose Truck are original and are 27 years old this year!

 

[smolkin]

Paid $1150 for mine 2 yrs ago. Since them I've easily put $2200 into it, and it looks no different, maybe runs a bit better. And now I'm looking at kingpin replacement...is this really cheaper than a monthly payment?

Also, how exactly do you put a 3.08 on these trucks? D60 rear...so what axle do you swap in?

 

[Agnem]

The 3.08 comes in a Dana 61. Yea, it's cheaper. Besides, you could oh... let's say have a truck that is only 8 years old and needs... say... injector cups... and say have to spend $1500 on a repair, and be thinking to yourself.... "damn. I've never spent this much on a repair. I usually buy whole trucks for this kind of money."

 

[Darrin Tosh]

yep those $1200 beaters can nickel and dime you...

,..

I get it,....good one,....

 

[Darrin Tosh]

One thing about you Mel, when you and your family do something you do it right. There are a number of things on your list that you could buy used, junkyard, or rebuilt to save money, but that is not in your mentality. It has to be new and done right, once it is, you know that Graham will not have to mess with it again.

I have bought a few really cheap trucks lately and if they run and drive with a decent solid body the $1200.00 is well spent.

Just yesterday I bought this 1983 F250 Reg cab 2wd with a Banks Turbo and a US Gear Splitter for the 4speed trans. Really bad paint job, rust free box, the rest is pretty solid, alloy wheels, runs and drives quite well. I drove it over 1 1/2 hour drive home and the truck cost me $700.00

It will need work but those deals are out there and when you fix them up, you know what you are getting.

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[The Warden]

He is the reason I drive Ford trucks - I once saw my grandfather and him load a soaking wet mackeral bowl trap full of moss onto his 84 F150 - it was so heavy the backhoe was having trouble loading it in bunches....Had to be 4-ton at the least......

You remind me of a story my dad told me about his father (my grandfather, who I never had the opportunity to meet)...in the '60's, he had a '56 F-100 and for whatever reason needed to haul four railroad car wheels somewhere. So, he got them loaded into the F-100 and drove away...and, while on the freeway, the frame decided it had had enough and broke in half right behind the cab. My grandfather happened to have his welding rig with him, so he jacked up the frame to get it aligned and welded it back together on the side of the freeway (this was in L.A. traffic, BTW) and it was still like that when he sold the truck a number of years later

I don't want to think about how much money I've invested in my truck over the 9 years I've had her...but it's way more than is wise, and that's not even taking into consideration the upcoming project and I would give it all up in a heartbeat to get my uncle back

 

[The Warden]

Just yesterday I bought this 1993 F250 Reg cab 2wd with a Banks Turbo and a US Gear Splitter for the 4speed trans. Really bad paint job, rust free box, the rest is pretty solid, alloy wheels, runs and drives quite well. I drove it over 1 1/2 hour drive home and the truck cost me $700.00

I'm guessing you meant 1983? BTW, did you get my PM?

 

[Darrin Tosh]

I'm guessing you meant 1983? BTW, did you get my PM?

Yup, fixed it,..and Yup, Replied,...

 

[Agnem]

Darrin, you always do a great job of finding rigs with enough add-on's to easily justify the cost of any repairs. The Cow truck is a good example... you could have fixed it up and sold it, but your doing it to make money and that wasn't the cost effective thing to do. I'm sure the cow was a good example of the kinds of things I'm talking about. I just doesn't make sense for you to spend $1200 on a truck, put another $1200 into it, and sell it for $3000 when your labor is really NOT free.