Hey Guys and gals,

I'm new to the forum and looking for opinions. I am currently driving a Ford Danger and want to devolve. I have a 1.4 mile commute to work and my wife has a >40mpg car. I am looking for an old fashioned American carbureted pickup to use as my everyday driver. I live in Michigan and need 4wd. I am a Ford guy, what should I be looking for, I would like to have a 460 but how reliable and is this even a good option? I can afford a new f-150 but if I only have to drive it a mile and for fun; then why not get a bench seat V8 with my babe under my arm.

Thoughts and Suggestions guys, feel free to unload the info.

Tim

 

I am sorry, but unless I am wrong(I have never been to Michigan) every truck up there is going to be rusted up to the point of being un-usable. That's the way most of them are here in Va. Unless you can find a 2wd that has a good frame and body, and a 4x4 for parts. You can bolt in the stuff from another truck to turn a 2x4 into a 4x4 without too much trouble. If you do find a 4x4 in very good shape, expect to pay a premium for it.

The frames and bodies rust bad on these vintage trucks. I am talking big holes and large sections of the frame getting eat through around the rear spring area. If you do happen to find one in good shape, what are your priorities for this truck? A 460 is a gas hog but can tow most anything. A 300 six is good on gas but usually has computer stuff all over it. 302 is a good all around performer if you are not going to do much towing. 351w is the best all around do a little bit of everything, alright fuel mileage and alright towing ability.

 

Look for single rear wheel F350 4x4's with the 460. You find them in amazingly good shape because nobody drove them much thanks to the sub 10mpg fuel economy but everybody always hung on to them for infrequent use so they pop up for sale from the back of farm lots or businesses.
The F350 has the nifty advantage of already having a heavy duty straight front axle in it which the lighter 4wd trucks of this year range don't.
They are getting somewhat harder to find as most of the fleet vehicles that had 4wd (power company, whatever) have been sold off to people already and re-purposed for mud trucks or swapped for different engines.
If you want to go older and pay more there are a large number of 390 powered 73-77 4x4 trucks running around as toys but you are almost guaranteed a huge lift and a number of other modifications that may not be desirable for daily driving assuming they are even done correctly.
Its pretty easy to find post '86 F350's coming up for sale now from fleet duty but I personally don't think there is anything classic or desirable about them.

 

Be careful. They only started putting the straight front axle in the f350's starting in 85.5. But the other axle they used is not as terrible as some people think it is.

 

I went the route that Franklin suggested and swapped a nice 2wd body onto a good 4x4 frame. Everything's bolt on and only took a weekend for me and a couple buddy's to finish the body swap.

You can't go wrong with any of the available engines. I'm happy with my little 302 in my daily driver, but I sure wish I had some more cubes under the hood when there's a load behind it. After my ZF5 swap I can pull near 16 mpg with it.

It sounds like your wanting a truck that's as simple as you can get, which means you should stay away from the electronic feedback carbs. Someone with more knowledge on them will hopefully post some info for you.

 

460 not available with 4WD or a M/T until 1983, and then only in F250/350's.

MPG will be horrible, dunno what gas costs in MI, but here in LA LA Land, it's over 4 bucks a gallon...for 87 octane.

If you can afford a new F150 4WD (around 38,000 bucks), go for it. Get an XLT, comes with a 40/20/40 bench seat.

52 F-1: 360/390 cancelled at the end of the 1976 model run, so there no such thing as a 1977 w/a 390, and...

The only V8 available in 1968/76 F100/250 4WD's: 360 2V. 390's were not available with 4WD.

Only 1967/77 F250 4WD (High Boys) have a factory lift. Disc brakes weren't available until 1976. P/S wasn't available until 1973, then it's troublesome no parts available Power Assist P/S thru 1977.

 

I think your lost NumberDummy lol. This is the 80-86 forum, not the 73-79

 

He's not lost. Read 52 F-1's post and try again.

Thanks for playing!

 

What should you look for? Simple - Original and Rust Free. Drive somewhere to pick it up if you have to. 2wd F150's can easily be converted to 4wd, so no worries there and you can buy a rusty POS to aid you in your conversion. F250/350 can be converted to 4wd just not as easy.

Rust is a PITA to deal with... I'd look around and wait till you find a clean truck.

 

Start looking on eBay. Or use an app like Craigslist Pro to watch bunches of Craigslists and alert you to something you might be interested in. And, watch FTE for guys selling their trucks as we are likely to be much more truthful than the average craigslister.

In any event, buy the best truck you can afford. Don't buy a truck that hasn't been running, unless as a parts truck, as it WILL have problems far beyond what the owner tells you.

As for an engine, I agree that the 351 is the sweet spot. However, in an 80 or 81 it is probably a 351M and in stock form they were dogs. I know - I own one. But, I also own one that has been "warmed up" slightly and it runs great. There is night and day difference in the two engines. But, I don't think the W was that bad from the factory.

 

351M & 400 available in 1977/79 F100/350, 1978/82 Bronco & 1980/82 F150/350, have 8 valve cover bolts per side.

351W introduced in 1981 F150/350 (and Bronco), have 6 valve cover bolts per side, same as 302.

1980/83 F100: Largest available V8 = 302 2V, but some came with the anemic 255 V8. 4WD not offered in F100's after 1976.

460's not available in F100's after 1976, not available in F150's after 1979 (1978 in CA). None came with 4WD or M/T until 1983.