Hello all, I'm possibly interested in buying an older ford f150-f350 just to tinker with on my downtime. Something from the older gen trucks (pre - '97), I don't care how old. I just thought I would get some insight from the experts before I narrowed my search. I'm looking for something with a manual transmission, and 4x4. I'm a beginner and would be learning as I go with a Haynes manual. Basically, what I'm trying to get at is: what do "the experts" think would be a good engine/year truck for a beginner, like myself, to purchase and tinker with. I plan on doing all of the fabricating, probably a full engine rebuild. I don't care if it's pretty, and I plan on keeping it as a woods truck for hunting and fishing, so if it's not done proper, I don't have to worry about anyone else driving it (safety wise). I would even be willing to tackle the transmission with a little guidance. Like I said before, if I screw anything up, it's on me, and I won't be really worried. I am somewhat familiar with carb's, but Efi doesn't scare me. The only thing I don't want, is a diesel, or a 302. I've had a 302, and it was a good engine, but it felt like more of a car engine. If the truck came with the M50D, I would probably swap it just because of the reverse gear.
Thanks in advance.

 

Ive talked to a lot of guys and i would look for a ford inline six cylinder f150 as a woods truck and for what you are doing
I dont think that it will be two hard to find in a stick with 4x4 and that motor is a fantastic motor for what you are looking for
you arent gonna win a drag race wit ha new truck but you can learn how to work on the motor with an easy simple one like that

M .02 but i like that motor in a 150, good old fashion truck motor

 

Thanks, I was leaning towards a 300 just because they're a dime a dozen. I guess I should be asking what the best year to look at would be, I've heard some years have been worse than others. Obviously it will be harder to find older trucks, but would it be worth waiting? Driving it in the woods, the gas mileage really wont matter too much to me either, the gearing of the transmission would be more important.

 

Ya i seppose, and old trucks are hard to find but their is the plus that most of them have been toyed with a little

Like i know people who have had OBS fords that they took the open or limited slip differentials out and put power locking diffs in to make them into better offroading trucks

idk what your woods are like but a locking diff is nice to get yourself into (or out of) anywhere you find yourself

I mean i know that the late 1980s trucks arent to bad if you want to look for trucks that are even older

With an old truck no matter what their is going to be problems just because time wares stuff out so id look at really base model ones
Crank windows (no window regulators to deal with)
No power locks (dont have to deal with that)

Just because trucks like that tend to be the survivors cause their is so little to bust up

 

Afterthought
If its gonna be a woods truck that gets dinged up id look at R titles
I wouldn't even be worried about frame damage cause you are probably never going to be going above 30 mph so (not that safety isn't important) but a truck like that would be cheap as hell and your accidents wont be high speed that would effect the frame at all

 

The woods aren't too bad, It's just that I plan on using it for hauling wood out, hunting, and fishing. 4x4 is just for good measure, I try to avoid serious tangles. I've got a set of good narrow tires from another truck - 235/75/15 that are new that are great in the snow/mud. I would prefer that the frame was straight just because most of the trails I go, even for hunting and fishing, are about 20 - 30 minutes of highway from my house. I will be getting the truck inspected. I have a few years before I will need the truck, so if I can save money by fixing one, as apposed to getting a decent one, it's a plan. Plus, I won't care if it gets dinged up.

 

Alright than im gonna recommend that you look at regular cab trucks also, their are a lot of fleets (like orkin pest removal is a good example) that dump all their trucks after so many years just to rotate their fleets to newer trucks

These things are gonna be dinged up, cause they are company trucks, but the maintenance will be good on them and they will usually be the cheap ones that dont have much to break eather

Idk if you know any car dealers but if you do ask them to check out the local manheim auto auctions for ya, thats where they liquidate their inventory and regular cabs are hard to sell so the people that want them can usually find an awesome deal

You could probably even find a decently newer one that was in that situaiton






An never forget that sometimes you could just be rolling down the road and see your baby sitting in front of some old gas station or with a for sale sign on it
Had it happen once, its like love at first sight kinda feeling lol