Hey guys, I've been a frequent visitor to the site, ton's of good info, I've owned 4 F-series gassers and i'm tempting myself with what could be my first diesel. I have a 92 xtracab F250 2wd with a 351 that got about 7 mpg towing my trailer on my trip to yellowstone from So Cal.... So when I got back I started looking around and found out someone I know is selling there 1997 F350 cc LB 4x4 diesel for $4500, I know the history of the truck pretty well, it has 250,000 miles and the only major repair has been 2 vacuum pumps. I'm not really concerned with the engine, it's the tranny I'm worried about. Fluids were changed religiously, with some special Cat high temp stuff, My father in law is a diesel tractor mechanic and rave's about the stuff. any way, my truck has 80,000 and no problems, but this diesel needs tires, interior is a little rough, and the inside of the bed is a little beat up from loose cargo. The body is very clean and straight. I'm pretty sure the front end has never been touched either as far as ball joint's go, but fluids were kept up. I talked to the owner/friend and he says there is a ticking sound that he thinks could be from the feathered tires or possibly something in the rear end.. I'm going to look at the truck at 10:00 today, so I will check all the normal checks, I just don't want to end up sinking a ton of money into all the little stuff that comes up. What do you guys think? does this sound like a time bomb waiting to go off on my next road trip? Should I just eat the 7 MPG and keep my rig... If I get 24 more post's i'll post pics.

 

Well, you probably tell by the fact that we are all here in the PSD section of the forum that given the options, we prefer the diesels. It is really your decision, but if the truck is fairly straight, runs good, and you like (you'll love that CC) I would pull the trigger and do it.

Here is a link to look at for some info about what to look at when you go to see the truck. Scroll down a ways to where he talks about buying a used truck and there is some great info there to look at.

FWIW, the maintenance will likely cost you a little more on that truck, but it still has a fair amount of life left in it, and if it has been well maintained, you should be in good shape. Besides, how much maintenance can you pay for by cutting your fuel bill in close to half. That's my $.02.

At any rate, good luck and thanks for stopping in!

 

I've tried to access this link a few times and keep getting a "This Personal Web Pages (PWP) site has been discontinued" message...

 

Huh, we have been talking about that site in another thread on here, apparently, AT&T has killed off Prodigy, so the site is unavailable to those who don't have it in cache. At any rate it is available in archive form HERE

 

Wow, Let me know if you are not interested, i may be looking for another parts truck... I'm sure I would be able to get some decent money for it. Keep posting, I want PICS!!!

 

Where is SoCal are you... Feel free to chat it up to get your posts in.

 

Keep in mind that it's much more expensive to maintain a diesel than a gasoline.

In my opinion, it's worth it. You will have to make that decision for yourself, though.

 

I don't want to sound like I'm trying to talk you out of it, but realize with those miles, if that is an automatic, the tranny won't have a lot of life left unless its never towed anything and has been totally babied. Also with those miles, the injectors could be needing some attention. You may have to deal with some little things with the motor, orings and the such, but internally it should have a lot of miles left.

I'd want the truck to be cold when I went to start it, see how it acts and if it smokes or not.

 

I live in Yucca Valley, 30 miles north of Palm springs
I have pics

 

trying to get posts up

I just got back from checking it out, it has 232,000 miles, not the 250k like I thought.

it was as cold as it was going to get today, a cool 93 deg, but when I started it there was no smoke, the only smoke I got was when I gunned it and got a little black smoke.

The inside is pretty tore up, carpet is stained, He hacked into the brake control wiring, all cosmetic stuff that I could deal with, Truck ran great, felt good on asphalt even with bad tires.

 

I would love to have a diesel, I know that this truck could have a few suprises down the road, but even if I ended up putting 4K into it, I think I would still be ahead as far as value, I'm already upside down in my gasser, so I feel this truck would be worth the money in the long run, It's not a daily driver, just for trips to the drive in and camping trips, maybe 10k miles a year. The 4x4 would be great, we moved to a house up a dirt road and when I got my trailer I got stuck pulling it home. I also have 2 boys so the cc would be a huge improvement.

 

my truck has 268k on it, it smokes on initial start u from o rings on the injectors, if it was cold and didn't smoke, id be all over it....how did it shift?

 

I could send you my email address in a visitor message if you want to send me the pics I'd post them up for you. Let me know if you want me to.

How did it shift like Juan asked?

 

I gunned it from almost stopped on asphalt and it went through the gears without any jerks or anything I didn't expect, felt like my gasser, just louder.

427, send my your email and I'll send them

it does appear it is leaking from the front of the trans, I have pics of it as well, is this common? front seal on the a4od??

 

If its trans fluid, there is a front seal for the convertor that could be leaking. All the motor leaks run down the back of the motor through a hole on the pass. side so if its oil its coming from up top somewhere.

I'll send you my email