I currently have a 2WD 300/4.9L w/manual 5-speed. I will not be selling it, but I would be open to finding a good deal on a 4WD to add (or 2WD).

I am looking at how the new truck trends are going, and I can foresee a time where the used truck options are not good. If I can pick up a rust-free Ford truck, the "bad" gas/diesel engine trucks with 150K+ miles should be fairly affordable to buy, since I am wrench-friendly, and can swap to a "good" model of engine.

I'm not hating on anyone who has a certain engine and likes it, but we all know that some engines have a bad reputation. I'm not interested in anything newer than 2010 because a DEF diesel may still require that I keep that system in place, or whatever other emissions systems a given engine may have...

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

No idea what the emissions requirements are in Kansas, but the 6.4 PSD (the last ones made by international) are nearly universally disliked. Ford only ran them from 2008 to 2010, Navistar spent more time and money fighting the 2008 emissions standards (these trucks came from the factory with a LOT of EGR and a DPF) then preparing for them and it showed. Pistons crack, emission systems fail, injectors stick, the engine "makes" oil from so much fuel dilution, K16 injection pump (which on the REAR of the engine so cab off to repair) will perform seppuku about as readily as the CP4s in the 6.7s maybe more. On the plus size the D60 front ends on these trucks are great, they got the best version of the awesome 5R110, when built and tunned properly a 6.4 can put down monster performance but it ain't going to be cheap. They are 2008 aka DPF, emissions compliant engines, that said nearly any 6.4 I see on the road in Mass (a carb state) is deleted but I see few 6.4s than I do 6.0s or 7.3s. There are a host of Cummins swaps channels on these rigs out in youtube. The 6.0s had a rough reputation but I think they have had a bit of a renaissance recently, when properly taken care of they are pretty good engines with really good transmissions behind them and the 05+ trucks get the better front ends. No part of this is going to be cheap but if your up for it I say godspeed.

 

other than the aforementioned 6.4, and the 6.0 both of which were sourced from Navistar, Ford hasn't really put in a "bad" F250 and up motor from the factory in the last 30 years. Some had trouble with the 5.4 but in grand scheme of things they weren't terrible aside from the sparkplugs and a few things here and there, and each motor had some issues in its first year but that's just automobiles in general.

 

rufushusky and twobelugas, Thank you for taking the time to share that info. Its exactly what I am looking for.