Not yet. I'm still out of town.

 

Any updates? You won't be able to keep from smiling the first time you drive it.

 

Ya, kind of a ****ty update though.

The guy wouldn't contact me after I hounded him for most of the week. Then he finally got back to me on a Wed. to say he was leaving town til Sat. and would contact me then.

Then I didn't hear from him until last night at which point I passed. He was probably waiting to get a better offer on it and kept me in the lurch in the meantime. Don't appreciate that.

BUT, he also told me he had the timing gears on but that'd I'd probably have to "redo" them because he didn't have the time to start the truck and set the timing. I asked if I he took the gears off correctly and he didn't know what I meant (which also means it's tore down - gear box is off, far, radiator, who knows what?).

So, yeah. Turned into a real dumb runaround after which he seemed angry I was no longer going to buy it. Knowing he didn't even swap out the gears correctly makes this a sub 1k truck as far as I'm concerned.

 

That's too bad, but often things happen for a reason. Perhaps a better or better priced truck is right around the corner.

 

I'll still take it off his hands for 900, knowing full well the engine probably needs replacing.

Of course he probably doesn't understand that.

 

I'm lost. If he didn't start the motor, why would it need replaced? I haven't had one of these engines apart, but generally timing the camshaft isn't rocket science. Does the gear box have to come off to time these?
The biggie is: Are these clearance motors? If it is, then even if he started it and it didn't run right or at all, nothing should be hurt. If it is an interference motor that can be a different story. Valve get friendly with pistons. I thought I remember reading that these were clearance.

 

It needed replacing because the phenolic gears stripped.

He told me just now it's non-interference so I'd be ok.

 

Dang Jesse, sounds like you've been through the mill a bit on this one...bummer.
I can guarantee you that this truck is likely going to sit there a while...right now, these trucks
just aren't selling with most people watching their wallets.

He sounds like a bit of a tough character to deal with...we can all be like that though-I'd want
$4grand for mine as it sits, knowing full well I'd be lucky to get $2600. Give it some time and maybe
you and he can do a deal. A tow home is not much $$, if it's known that it will run with some timing work.

Personally, if I bought this truck, I would put a 302 into it anyways-they are easier to work on (in terms of $$)
and 302's/C4's + aftermarket stuff are a dime a dozen thanks to
the Mustang guys. The F100 Sh. Beds are quite a bit lighter, and the 302 would be great.

Food for thought maybe...or, I could well be just muddying the waters for you...

Best.
Jason