I've had my '97 F250 for seven years this month. It has been a great truck and I have enjoyed working on it over the years. It is also how I ended up on this site. I take pride in the fact that in the entire time I have had it, nobody has turned a wrench on it but me.

But, I am starting to think that it is time to give it up. It still looks good for a 14+ year old truck but there is some rust breaking through. The frame is pretty well rusted. The spring shackles aren't long for this world and the oil pan is leaking like a sieve. I don't have the time to pull the engine and honestly, with some things I have going on now, I don't have the desire to get into it. Last weekend the exhaust let go on it. Sounds terrific now but it won't be long before I will need an inspection sticker and that will be that.

So, I'd like to hear some thoughts on what to do with it. It runs fantastic, doesn't burn any oil and has pretty decent power. The tranny still shifts well and the four wheel drive works fine in it. It is just the rust that is doing this truck in.

Discuss.....

 

I think you should donate it to a guy in WV that needs some parts

Seriously, I have a hard time selling vehicles especially trucks. Seems like when I buy one, the owner thinks it's made of gold but when I sell one, I don't get nearly what I think it's worth. And you never get back what you have in it.

 

The good thing is that I got it for a good price and really got my money's worth out of it. I don't need to sell it for much money to feel like I am getting my investment back. I have put about 40k miles on it in the seven years since I got it.

I don't know what your truck is like but after looking at mine you might decide that the parts off your truck would go good on mine.

 

Don't know where in WV you are or what you need but I have an entire front clip and doors I'd like to sell. They were on a 95 F150 that got hit in the rear.
PM me if interested.

Sorry for the hijack, Nitramjr

 

pics of the ol girl?

 

[quote=KevinGnWV;10609834Seriously, I have a hard time selling vehicles especially trucks. Seems like when I buy one, the owner thinks it's made of gold but when I sell one, I don't get nearly what I think it's worth. And you never get back what you have in it.[/quote]

SAME HERE......Whats the freakin deal? I mean, with recouping what I originally paid for the truck, all the maintenance parts thats less than 6 months old, all the goodies, etc.....Seems mines isn't worth 2k....W-T-F.....My hood and bed tarp were over $650......

 

I hate having to take a loss for a truck I've busted dozens of knuckles on and spent hours chasing down that one lil electrical gremlin, only to have some tire-kicker try to get me to sell it for scrap value.

Sadly I think that alot of our era trucks are really starting to fade into history, down here all the 92-96's are looking rough, let alone an 87-91 or 80-86.

 

its that good ol thing called depreciation...its a little ugly thing that hits hardest on autos...im sorry im not getting rid of my truck till it no longer wants to run and i can't rebuild things on it...I plan to keep this a long time (i hope) so yea shes staying in my garage for as long as possible, ill sell it once ive harvested all useable parts off her for any future trucks i get HAHA...the tire kickers can have the tires if they want kick them...of course im not responcible if they break there feet on the tires

 

One. Last. Ride.

Jason

 

You're not really 'jacking it since I kind of left it just hanging out there. Besides, I am interested to see how folks deal with getting rid of a "good" old truck that they just don't have the time to deal with.

I won't junk it and I don't have time to part it out so I am hoping to find a local Ford truck guy that will give me a fair price for the entire truck.

 

Pictures are a couple years old but except for the running boards, looks exactly the same.

 

If I were closer, and had the funds available...I'd give ya cash fer it...lol

 

i second this too....beautiful truck!!!! love the color...

 

Dang Ray. Hate to see you giving up your truck but I understand you don't have time for it. Can you send it south to "retire" with your people?

 

I was actually thinking of stealing yours next time I was down that way until I remembered that it is 4x2. Mine has more rust on the door handle than yours has on the entire truck.