Introduction and a question
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
Hey buddy thanks! Really enjoyed meetin you guys. Hope to see ya in Dec ! you can find me camped out at AZPetes place. Really looking forward to that. Nice to come back and meet friends. I hope you and BigDub GTG as you are a fountain of 7.3 info. Keep in touch and there always a lite on fer ya in the Smokie mtns .
Smokie
Smokie
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Thanks guys for all the replies and offers to help. I'm just outside Daytona Beach but willing to take a ride if need be. Currently looking all over for the particular truck I want. I expect to have it nearly forever (kept my 96 f150 until last year, no telling how long I'll have a 7.3), so don't wanna settle. I may end flying wherever it is, so I may have to call on some out of state help....
Please feel free to call on me should u ever need anything in my neck of the beach....
Please feel free to call on me should u ever need anything in my neck of the beach....
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 2
From: D.C. but heart's in TEXAS
Well, FL is sort-of like TX...just because you're in the state, doesn't mean you're close by!!! LOL. Looks like JeffreyT is 350 miles away, and Franko72 is 180 miles away in Bradenton. Hang in there...someone here will be closer to you...
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 9
From: Longview, TX
My .02, Texas (houston) has more options, and there's little risk if salt damage. Not to mention that the Houston area guys are top notch and second family now. I had 7-8 trucks on the list to look at when I went, added 10-12 to that, and picked the best one out of the bunch. Keep an eye for clean coolant, good shifting trans, rusty oil pan, and low blowby. Add that to your list of needs, and any other issues can be fixed. Just use them as bartering tools.
Again, if its something my way, let me know. What are you looking for? Single, super, Crew cab? Long/short bed? Single/dual rear wheels?
Again, if its something my way, let me know. What are you looking for? Single, super, Crew cab? Long/short bed? Single/dual rear wheels?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 25
From: Panama City, FL
I'll be driving through live oak on april 4th to panama city for my final resting home. I'll have AE with me also, so if you find something locally during that time I can stop and hook it up. Also, I'll be comuting front PC to Crestview 5 days a week so I'll keep my eyes open for ya.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 9
From: Longview, TX
I'll be driving through live oak on april 4th to panama city for my final resting home. I'll have AE with me also, so if you find something locally during that time I can stop and hook it up. Also, I'll be comuting front PC to Crestview 5 days a week so I'll keep my eyes open for ya.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 1
From: Bryson City NC
Dang BigDub I am not to far away from you! 
I am about 20 miles east of Ocala just off 40 . Only problem is I am headed back to the the Smokies in about 10 days. I would have liked to talk with ya and help ya find a 7.3 . When I get back to NC I will keep a eye peeled for ya! Let us know here what ya lookin for single ax dually crew or super cab and I bet your email and this site will start lookin like truck selling site!!
Smokie
I am about 20 miles east of Ocala just off 40 . Only problem is I am headed back to the the Smokies in about 10 days. I would have liked to talk with ya and help ya find a 7.3 . When I get back to NC I will keep a eye peeled for ya! Let us know here what ya lookin for single ax dually crew or super cab and I bet your email and this site will start lookin like truck selling site!!Smokie
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
@jefferyt- I have just started looking in Texas, thanks to a contentious but informative thread I read here. The prices are far more reasonable out there!
@smokiesman- glad to know your so close, at least in the winter time. Have a safe trip north.
As to what I'm looking for- perfect truck would be an 02-03 F350 7.3 Lariat CC SRW 4X4 that is close to stock configuration. Not super particular about color, but charcoal grey would be best, and Im not a red/burgundy fan. While mileage isn't a huge concern, I'd like it to have less than 175k or so.
The truck will only be asked to tow the occasional small (20-25') boat and to move the camper around at the hunting club, but it must be a solid daily driver capable of the 600 mile round trip to NE Georgia twice a month during deer season.
I know, tall order....
@smokiesman- glad to know your so close, at least in the winter time. Have a safe trip north.
As to what I'm looking for- perfect truck would be an 02-03 F350 7.3 Lariat CC SRW 4X4 that is close to stock configuration. Not super particular about color, but charcoal grey would be best, and Im not a red/burgundy fan. While mileage isn't a huge concern, I'd like it to have less than 175k or so.
The truck will only be asked to tow the occasional small (20-25') boat and to move the camper around at the hunting club, but it must be a solid daily driver capable of the 600 mile round trip to NE Georgia twice a month during deer season.
I know, tall order....
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 9
From: Longview, TX
Can I ask why 350 and not a 250? Especially since you aren't towing that heavy. The main difference is the 350 has 4" rear blocks vs 2" blocks in the 250. Some 350 SRWs have 4.10 gears, but for the sake of fuel mileage, the 3.73s are what I'd recommend for what you describe.
There's one at home that I've seen, and iirc it's an 01 back (amber running light lenses) but its that burnt orange/burgundy color. I'll check on it next week.
There's one at home that I've seen, and iirc it's an 01 back (amber running light lenses) but its that burnt orange/burgundy color. I'll check on it next week.
Molon Labe
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,272
Likes: 1
From: Alaska
Yep, JeffreyT, possibly Smokiesman (if he hasn't gone back up to the Smokies for the summer), and maybe even Franko72 depending on where he is working. Put a quick city location in, and I will forward this thread to all of those guys to see if they're anywhere close.
Big Dub, welcome from Bradenton. I don't think a 600 mile round trip to Ga is too much to ask out of a 7.3, Mine makes routine 2000 round trips to Texas hauling my 5'r and I have just under 300k miles. I have no plans on retiring her any time soon.
I think your on the right track with looking for a Texas truck. I was looking at San Antonio Craigslist this past week and found a few deals on some nice 7.3's They seem to be holding their value here in the sunshine state.
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
JeffreyT,
I must admit that I have no NEED for the F350, but I like to keep my trucks forever. I would not have sold my 96 if gas prices and a 70 mile commute hadn't forced it. Now I live in town and can get back into a truck without going broke, and it fits my leisure activites much better then the car.That bring said, I can see a 5'r in my distant future as well.
As to the rear end, I again have no legitimate answer, though I may go up in tire size/small lift once I'm sure the truck is running up to par.
Franko72
Holding their value" is right!!!!!
I must admit that I have no NEED for the F350, but I like to keep my trucks forever. I would not have sold my 96 if gas prices and a 70 mile commute hadn't forced it. Now I live in town and can get back into a truck without going broke, and it fits my leisure activites much better then the car.That bring said, I can see a 5'r in my distant future as well.
As to the rear end, I again have no legitimate answer, though I may go up in tire size/small lift once I'm sure the truck is running up to par.
Franko72
Holding their value" is right!!!!!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
600 miles? Pshaw.... These rigs love nothing more than to have somebody set the cruise control and keep their grubby little fingers and toes to themselves. I can show the result of this practice on my 3.73 gearing (longbed fuel tank with H/H):
My tired ol' horror story: I was on vacation and the engine started banging, running rough, smoking on startup, and overall just scaring the bajeezuz out of me that it was going to blow up. I drove about 1000 miles with it doing this and made it home just fine...getting 18.5 MPG while it was hurting. Here is a vid I took while trying to figure out what was wrong (still 400 miles from home). It turned out to be my fault - one of my injectors worked its way loose after I upped my injectors. Turn of the wrench took care of business.
Side note: I saw a beautiful rig on CL yesterday where the guy wanted $7000 for the truck. He lowered the price because the truck was making a particular noise when he accelerated. If I lived closer and had the time, I would have picked that bad boy up. I recognized the symptoms right away... and it's a free fix.
Now... if he was a member on FTE, he could have asked what the noise is, fixed it himself, and asked for thousands more out of the truck. I'm just sayin'.
Welcome Big Dub!
My tired ol' horror story: I was on vacation and the engine started banging, running rough, smoking on startup, and overall just scaring the bajeezuz out of me that it was going to blow up. I drove about 1000 miles with it doing this and made it home just fine...getting 18.5 MPG while it was hurting. Here is a vid I took while trying to figure out what was wrong (still 400 miles from home). It turned out to be my fault - one of my injectors worked its way loose after I upped my injectors. Turn of the wrench took care of business.
Side note: I saw a beautiful rig on CL yesterday where the guy wanted $7000 for the truck. He lowered the price because the truck was making a particular noise when he accelerated. If I lived closer and had the time, I would have picked that bad boy up. I recognized the symptoms right away... and it's a free fix.
Now... if he was a member on FTE, he could have asked what the noise is, fixed it himself, and asked for thousands more out of the truck. I'm just sayin'.
Welcome Big Dub!