I spotted a pretty clean 97 F-350 the other day for sale. The owner used it for plowing but didn't drive it a lot, has 100,000 miles or so. It has the 7.4 V8 in it and auto tranny, everything works from what I can tell. Not familiar with that motor, is there things I should be on the look out for? It's a standard cab and has only a little surface rust on the cab corners, typical NY truck but no rust anywhere else. Owner wants $5,300 but he will take $4,500 and it is inspected for the year. I can't get the money for a couple weeks so I am looking around, no plow with it, but its set up for it.

 

Plowing means the front springs, ball joints, tie-rods, front u-joints, etc... have all had a hard life. So $4500 is pretty high, especially for a 460 gasser regular cab with rusty cab corners. Highest I'd go would be $3800-4000, and It'd have to be real clean with power windows/locks/AC for that with no perforated rust at all.

 

Radiator support, body mounts, rear spring hangers. 7.3 is a great motor, really no specific issues there. Transmissions take a beating from plowing too.

 

by 7.4 do you mean:

the 7.5 460ci Gas motor???

or the 7.3 444ci powerstroke diesel motor?

both are v8s, that will change the price alot

 

As Matt says the difference in the motor will significantly change the price. Diesel is much more expensive in my area than gas, depending on condition I'm talking thousands more. Little rust for a northern truck is understandable, I'd look at the radiator support those can rot out before you see much rust at the rear wheel wells.

When I shop for these trucks I don't even look at ones with plows on them that are auto. Too much beating on an already testy transmission. If you plan to use the plow mount to attach your own then that is different. This is just MY opinion and what I look for when shopping for my truck.

 

It's the gas motor, not the diesel, myself I don't have the use for a diesel so wouldn't get one. The truck is fairly clean although I am going to look over it again, I have a few weeks to wait and I told the owner's brother who I spoke to it about when I was looking at it, if its there when I get the money, it's there and I'll look at it again. If not, then its on to something else.

 

Take this little bit of advice that I learned with my own identical truck that I drove for five years (except mine was a c/cab 4x4)----the E4OD trannies cost more than a new crate 460 engine. They're pretty tough---but they need to be well cared for. And they definitely do NOT like putzing around town at 30 mph when in overdrive. First thing I learned from other owners was to keep the o/d off until I was up to at least 55 mph. Oh yeah, and don't ever tow anything in o/d---unless perhaps on a downhill grade. Besides that I had no other issues and absolutely loved my truck for all the time I owned it. I also honestly think that that last year was and is the best looking body style Ford pick-up....which is why I'd never own any of the newer models.....

Good luck. But check that transmission out thoroughly....

 

Btw, over here in Kali....they're almost giving these gurls away....


1992 f350 crew cab 4x4

1995 Ford F350 4x4 long bed, crew cab w/power lift gate

Lifted ford f350

1994 F350 Crew Cab Ford

1996f350 turbo diesel 3500

 

then it's very likely you don't have a need nor want a truck with a 460 either.though these BB gas trucks go cheap,it's not without reason.they are very expensive to drive with lifetime true averages under or around 9-10 mpg.
as a general rule,if a diesel truck wouldn't do you any good,then a 460 truck wouldn't either.keep your eyes open for something that would do what you want/need but still get something in the teens for fuel economy.
remember it's not just about the purchase price.it's about operating costs.don't get into far more truck than you'll ever use,or you'll be needlessly tossing $ away.

 

I WISH I lived NEAR CA for some of those smoking deals and RUSTFREE trucks

 

You had a lemon...

My 95 F250 has a 460 and e4od, and I've towed with it for 130,000 miles.... Always in overdrive, always pulling a camper, or equipment, or my 4000lb mustang to the racetrack. This truck was used hard and never failed me.
From the coldest night in Maine to the hottest day in Carlisle pa (not that it is that hot) I start the truck up, idle it for 1-4 minutes, and drive it like a car. I leave it in overdrive for everything unless I was towing in a hilly area and the trans was hunting for the right gear.
It's when the trans is hunting for a gear that it's hard on rigging. Otherwise, leave it alone to do its preprogrammed job.
I've had a lot of these trucks and never had any transmission troubles.

 

Right there. MOST people do not have the brains to take it out of OD when it starts hunting. Shifting creates HEAT, HEAT kills autos

 

Are you seriously trying to tell people on this forum that an E4OD will actually 'hunt' for over drive when it's in 3rd gear, o/d off?

(And btw, I never said I fried mine nor needed it rebuilt. Because just after I bought it from the dealer w/49k miles on her, I met five different people here in So Cal with the exact same truck who clued me in on these trannys ---three of them having killed theirs with under 110k miles on the clock. Their trucks were daily drivers, and they all spent countless hours a week stuck in L.A. traffic. So I took their advice, kept o/d off in city driving and put another 65k miles on her with not even a hiccup. Go figure, huh?)

 

Huh...
You need to reread what I wrote I'm guessing.
I leave my truck in overdrive, unless it's hunting for which gear it wants.... Meaning 3rd gear, or overdrive. Then I turn off overdrive so it doesn't hunt. Are YOU seriously thinking I'm telling people that with od off, it's trying to find it still. I may not have been as clear as I could have, but you could interpret it a little better also.