Hi All,

I am looking to buy a general weekend truck that could be a fun project. I don't know a lot about trucks but have time to learn and know the basics and am very comfortable with remove and replace repairs.

I was thinking that the older the better for reliability and ease of repairs but I am just not sure. I love the mid 90's ford truck style and extended cabs, but really want a truck I can work on and keep running for a long time. I honestly like the look of all ford trucks between the early 70's and mid 90's.

I would love any input.

Thanks!

 

Older is not "better" for reliability. Not in my opinion anyway. Over the years pretty much every component or system that ever required periodic service, preventive maintenance or adjustment has gone bye bye, mainly because about half the people never performed any maintenance at all unless they absolutely had to, or it wouldn't start. Then they would. The neglect interfered with emissions and safety. The Clean Air Act resulted in a lot of effort and design going into vehicles that wouldn't "go out of tune", and were closely handled by computer feedback.

Points and condensers, hell even distributors, carburetors, generators, drum brakes etc, all went (mostly) away because they needed at least some attention now and them by the operator or a mechanic. We're just about to the point now where they can weld the hood shut and say "No User Serviceable Parts Inside."

So yeah, if you want to work on something just because you can, then anything made after about 1985 is probably not for you, because each succeeding year after that becomes more and more complex, and more and more cramped. Half the engine needs disassembly first to get at anything, and then more work is often required to repair or replace all those components that got snapped off or bent trying to get at something else, it's pathetic. It appears no thought whatsoever is given to maintenance or repair by the designers, One reason labor costs are so high in fact.

The old school trucks on the other hand, have enough room in the engine bay for a couple guys and a keg of beer. Save your money first, buy a fully restored cream puff from pre 1972 and be done with it. Overall the problem is, you won't hardly ever have to work on the later model trucks, but God Help You if you have to.

 

You could still get a pre 1987 truck with the 300 I-6 and get a carb, no EFI. The V-8's started with EFI in the 1985 models IIRC. The pre EFI models would still be pretty easy to diagnose and repair if needed without scanners and code readers and a ton of additional plumbing.

 

Time waits for no man, what's interesting to me, is the 40s and 50s Fords weren't really all that old (though they seemed like it) when I was growing up but they were still considered classic or whatever.

The equivalent today for a High school ager might be a 1995 pickup. Pretty dang complex innards compared to 1955 wouldn't you agree? And probably not very much fun to work on. Engine bay packed tight as a drum with incomprehensible gee-gaws. The electronics package alone is impressive but being able to maintain these beasts at any practical level in the same way we did is pretty suspect in my mind. Maybe nobody will even want to, I dunno. Do younger people today look back at 1995 with a lot of nostalgia the way we did 1955? Hm.

 

X2... I had an 81 F150 4x4 with the 300 six and a creeper gear 4 speed. It is the only truck that I regret selling... That was the best (bar none) engine that ever came out of Ford. Other than the twin I-Beam suspension - the trucks were without parallel from the other two truck manufacturers...