A friend is buying a new truck, and after years of admiring his old truck, it is for sale. It is a 1999 F350 2wd XLT Dually, with a V10 and 5 speed.He ordered it new, and frankly, I can`t recall ever seeing another Super Cab with this configuration, it is virtually exactly how I would have ordered it. He mainly used the truck for towing his drag race car,that would also be my plan.It would mainly be driven from April thru Oct, and parked for the winter, maybe 5000 miles per year.My main concerns are related to the V10 engine, mainly hearing horror storys about spark plugs blowing out, breaking off in the heads, or damaging the plug threads when replacing the plugs. He has recently replaced the plugs for the 2nd time in 120,000 miles, and said the plug changes went smoothly with no drama, and for preventive maintanance, he also replaced all 10 coils.The truck is all stock, very clean, and has been mostly freeway driven, towing a 6500 lb trailer. (he said the brake pads are still the origionals, and over 50% left). I realize many may question buying a 15year old truck, but it would be a huge upgrade to my current 1974 F350 DRW car hauler, which will be 40 years old soon. The 74 has a mildy warmed up 390 4 barrel that I rebult in 1990, and a 4 speed with 4.10 Dana 70, and has been extremely reliable, and has been well maintained mechanically, but it is getting kinda crusty overall, and with no A/C isn`t that much fun on long trips in summer heat. So, my question is, is a 15 year old V10 still likely to be good for another 100,000 miles or so, and will the rest of the truck hold up for another 10 years or so? I test drove a new 2013 dually F350 with a 6.2 V8, but they are automatic trans only, and I still like to shift for myself! Plus the 99 would be about $25-30,000 cheaper. What do you guys think?

 

check the manifold studs , mine had 8 broken at the time of purchase ....as for longevity I hope mine goes 300k

 

I bought my 2002 v10 with 90000 on it and had the same reservations as you. I've replaced the spark plugs without any drama and had to replace the manifold studs which was a bit of a pain due to needing to drill out a few of them. Nothing else for the last 25000 miles. From what I've read these engines are proving themselves as one of fords best gas engines with reliability approaching the 300 six (which I have 2 older fords with). I paid more for mine than what I see others here paying for them but the po took good care of it with documented service records from day 1. Go for it if it hasn't been neglected.

 

I test drove a near identical truck except this one was 4wd. 220,000 on the odo. It was getting a bit tired... It didn't have near the power my current V10 has (and also half the miles)

Like said before, these V10s are a pretty infamous motor for reliability. The 1999 is also a bad year for spitting out spark plugs. If this engine has went over 120,000 without doing it, it seems unlikely it will (although Iv been wrong before).

The only issue I see with this truck is resell. V10s arnt exactly popular these days with fuel prices and being 2wd hurts it too. Although if you plan on keeping it til it rusts away and dies, then no worries here

 

Resale value is not a big concern for me, this 1999 F350 is almost 15 years old, and I tend to hang onto vehicles long term anyhow. I currently am still towing my race cars with a 1974 F350 that I bought almost 26 years ago, back in Janurary 1988, and 1 of my race cars I bought in 1986. The fact that this truck is a 2WD, with a V10 and 5 speed is exactly what I am looking for, I may be an oddball, but this truck was factory ordered pretty much identically to how I would have ordered it myself. I had considered ordering a new F350 2wd dually, with a 6.2L gas V8, since the V10 is no longer available in new Ford pickup trucks, but the lack of a manual transmission is a deal breaker, at least for me. Thanks for the input.

 

I have a 99 F250 v10, purchased with 126k miles. I can see these trucks lasting a long time. Provided that maintenance is kept up. If it is the truck you want and well taken care of go for it.

 

Yep, you're crazy! Just like the rest of us V10 owners!

Hey, if it's what you want and the price is right, go for it.

 

If that truck is exactly what your looking for then why don't you own it yet?!

 

I really do want this truck, but in my area, V10s are not very common, so I`m just trying to find out if the V10 is likely to bust my wallet with expensive and common problems. I know if the engine blows up, they are not cheap to rebuild or replace, they don`t look like a whole lot of fun to remove either!

 

I don't think there is an engine that is fun to remove lol. But as others have said prior, if you take care of the engine, itll take care of you. Im planned on putting full synthetic in mine next oil change just to make sure its well lubricated. Im taking care of it so hopefully it takes care of me!

And being a 2wd 5 speed, theres no doubt in my mind the drivetrain will outlast the rest of your truck.

 

I have seen hotshot drivers run 300-400,000 miles on the Ford v-10's. That said I just bought my 1st v-10, an Excursion last week. I really like the way the power feels, smoother than a v-8 if that makes sense. Also I recently got a 2013 f-250 with the 6.2/auto. While I would have preferred a standard, I am slowly getting use to the auto. Heaviest tow so far is 12k and it did good. Just hard not to shift gears anymore.

 

Have a 99 250SD with about 300,000
Bought it about 7 years ago for 2000.
After replacing the plugs(original) and replacing 2 coils.
Rebuilding the front end and putting on new tires.
I took it to Alaska,from Michigan.
Didn't miss a beat.
The dip stick tube broke when getting the oil changed and didn't find it out until I hit Florida again from Michigan.The mechanic didn't say a word.
When I got to Vero Beach,Fl. I had that fixed and a few studs on the manifold. Which prompltly came loose again.
Mielage isin't the best.
Great running motor.

 

Sounds like a great truck. Sounds like you are going to regret not getting it if you don't buy it.
One of the biggest reasons to buy it, you would be the second owner.

Even if you had to replace the engines 3 times its still cheaper then the best used truck today. (imo)

Coming out of Costco yesterday, brand new Government Motors SUV
$72,000.

 

I cant say I would buy a V10 again. My 2000 hasnt got 100,000 on it yet and the Triton curse cost me about $800 to rethread a plug that decided that it didnt need to stay in the engine block. If your inclined to wrench a lot and dont mind retorquing plugs every few weeks go for it.
I know its my fault for not wanting to spend my free time under the hood of this Ford but what the hell the pride of ownership is waht its alll about. You get plenty of face time while standing beside the filler cap with your fuel hose in hand.
To be honest the truck has been pretty reliable. (plug issue aside) In 13 years its needed the front king pins and a brake job. Couple of batteries and 3 alternators. Second alternator has a lifetime guarantee . So as I cant give this gas sucking pig away I will likely have it for 13 more years. I wonder what the price of a gallon of gas will be in 2026

 

I say go for it. I just bought a 2001 V10 supercab with 170k on it. I bought it from its origional owner too.

I plan on keeping it until it isn't driveable. The way I look at it is even if I have to put a trans or an engine in it at somepoint, its so much cheaper than a brand new supercab truck. And the insurance is cheaper too.

It's worth mentioning that I do have another car, but I use the truck as a truck.


If you get it, enjoy it!