Hello,

Life long GM owner, but I recently bought my first Ford from an auction site. This is a 2006 F-350 SD 4x4 5.4 w/Western Pro Plow. This truck was a county owned vehicle that only plowed and salted a moderate sized lot and thus only has 16.5K miles. Cab forward is in pretty good shape. Cab back is pretty rough.

Truck mostly sat with bags of salt in the bed so the floor is all but gone. As are the cross supports. Frame actually looks pretty good, but tailpipe has holes. I was able to view and hear it run prior to bidding, so I knew the condition.

I can buy a brand new '14 or '15 take-off bed for $1,600.00 including tailgate, lights and bolts. While the bed is off I will replace all the brake lines, fuel lines and exhaust. I'll also hit the frame with POR-15 and Fluid Film the entire truck.

Also, I did notice the manual transfer case shifter seems stiff. Is there a linkage that needs lubed?

Is there anything else I should be looking out for while the bed is off? Any other areas of concern in general?

Thanks in advance.

 

You will first want to use your favorite penetrating oil to free up the linkage. Then use a good lube to keep moisture from creeping back in the pivot points.

 

I hit it with Aero Kroil last night and it works fine now. I am going to spray the linkage with White Lithium next time I get it up on the lift. I was surprised to see the brake lines in stuff great shape. No rust to be worried about. Poly coated brake line?

I ran out to western Ohio today and picked up a new take off bed, a set of BFG AT's and captain chairs with a fold up console. While there (17,248 miles on the truck), the front drivers side wheel locked up when I tried to back up to the tire stack. The inner pad was all but gone and the steel backer was binding between the rotor and caliper bracket. The guys at Big Mikes Truck Stuff were super helpful. They gave me a ride into town to buy some pads. While I was gone they had the sliders lubed and caliper collapsed ready to install the new pads.

I offered a few extra bucks for their trouble, but they wouldn't accept it. Great place to do business with.