The decision needs to be made on what truck to buy being as the last 7 have been overpriced trucks that are mis represented. So of the trucks I have seen here's the ones I have had in mind. $1500 is now the max I can spend for various reasons.

A) Price ~$700

This is the 10 foot bed truck. Comes with extra cab with one good door and sliding glass. Likely needs a new 385 series engine and will have to have fenderwell headers because the way it is mounted uses what looks like stock modified mounting perches and then plates to adapt it back to the 385 series mounting points. Bed is flappy on one side, gas tanks are a mystery, some rust on top of cab and near drip rails. Only one mouse nest was found in glove box. D44 front, D60 rear, 205 T-Case, C6. Tires all hold air and decent interior. Can be made back into a supercab easily.

B) Price $1200

8400 GVW truck. High loader D60 front, D60 rear, 205T-Case, 400, 4 speed. Flat bed that might as well just be thrown away. Rust in floor, doors, cab corners, cab mounts, hood. The rear of frame, rear spring perches, and tank straps are all scaling rust in chunks. The engine will supposedly turn 7500 rpm and is a 400hp monster but has stock manifolds . Have not heard run yet. Starter is bad and grinds the flywheel every other start. 16.5 tires are all flat. 2 are off the bead and all 4 will likely need replacement. Brakes do not work at all. Might need all new lines as well as fuel lines. Seat is a freaking mouse maze and they are living in the hood as well. Doors don't seal because the bushings are gone from the pins.

C) Price ~$1500

Supercab 1/2 ton. D44 front, 9" rear, 4.10 gears, 205 T-Case, 400, 4-speed, leaf spring front end, treated wood flat bed with rear tank. Engine has RV cam, headers, 4bbl on edelbrock intake. Intake gasket leaks oil at dist, runs PIG rich (likely from too much carb) and might be washing the rings out, clutch is out of adjustment/bad, most of interior is missing, rust on bottom of cab, newish tires and wheels.

D) Wait for something else to come along.

 

WOW, Keep waiting

 

Wait is my vote

 

D


A, the 10 ' bed doesn't make up for the future headaches.

B+C sound like a couple of parts trucks with the only real part being the front D60.

 

I'd bank your $$ and wait....

 

The problem here is that I have been without a truck for the past month. Have to have one for use around here. Have been using the neighbor's for now but not sure how long that generosity is going to last.

Looked at another one tonight that is a disaster. Might still buy the wheels with tires and tach off him because the truck is going to the scrapper this weekend.

 

Honestly, if you need a truck now and have 1500$ to spend, you just need to be looking at something newer. I know it stinks but anyone who has kept a truck around for 30-40 years knows either the value of the parts, or the value of it as a project. There are pleeeenty of 15-20 year old trucks however that people just want GONE for whatever reason, that still have a bunch of life left in them. If you really need a truck yesterday, then just look for one of those. I went through the same search two years ago and they're honestly just not out there from my experience.

 

You're saying the last 7 you bought were overpriced or misrepresented, but the 4 you describe sound overpriced and/or misrepresented as well. Maybe it's time to start re-evaluating what you look for in used vehicles?

If you're strapped for cash and need a truck sooner than later, I don't think a 73-79 project truck is necessarily the answer, at least in your area it sounds like. I'd side with NC above and look at other generations too. I see quite a few 80-86's around here on Craigslist that look like decent work trucks for that price range.

 

I might be new here, but these guys are telling the truth. I looked for 3 months and found what I have now. Which is a decent project.

 

Keep searching...

 

Do you need a truck for occasional hauling stuff around or reliable transportation? If its the latter, dont toss your money away on a beater that is going to be more headache and heartache. That $1500 you spend on a beater is nothing but a small down payment compared to what you are going to spend on it, wait and until a better one comes along.

 

A quick look at ebay :Ford : F-100 - eBay (item 260751495947 end time Mar-19-11 16:40:15 PDT)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-...item3cb5fe47d3

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-...item20b7c874c4

 

$1500 doesnt usually buy a reliable truck. For that price no matter what kind of truck it is, its most likely going to need some work. you need to decide do you want good looking ( doesnt run well ) or good running ( doesnt look good ). IMHO

 

I looked for about 7 months before I bought my current Dent. Yes it still had issues, Yes, I'm still working on it, Yes I spent more than $1500, Yes I have and will continue to dump $$$ into it, but.............I drive it every day and if I had been looking for a new Ford 4x4 back in 78........It would have been the one I'd have driven off of the lot...................... and it's still cheaper than the '06 Ranger that it replaced that I was still making payments on...........This one is paid for............

 

What are you looking for in a vehicle? You said you need a truck but what kind an what kind of work will it be doing an what will you be hauling an towing? Do you need a regular cab or extended cab or crewcab truck? Also did you check out ebay & craigslistcrawler?