Retiring the '74.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
Well today I got home and there was a surprise, actually two, in the driveway.
We have had two 1974 F350, one 4x4 one 4x2, since they were new and for the last 29 years they have had an 18,000 lb and 23,000lb grain pellet mills in tow. The 4x2 has 376,000 miles and the 4x4 has 318,000 miles. The 4x2 has a 460 and the 4x4 has had two 400s. They were very good trucks.
Today I get home and my dad purchased two F650's to replace them. One has a 7.2 L caterpillar and the other has a 6.0 L Powerstroke. The trucks have short chassis so part of the equipment can sit on the truck and part has to be towed. Now we have to figure out what will go where.
What can I say, I am very happy to see these nice trucks.
We have had two 1974 F350, one 4x4 one 4x2, since they were new and for the last 29 years they have had an 18,000 lb and 23,000lb grain pellet mills in tow. The 4x2 has 376,000 miles and the 4x4 has 318,000 miles. The 4x2 has a 460 and the 4x4 has had two 400s. They were very good trucks.
Today I get home and my dad purchased two F650's to replace them. One has a 7.2 L caterpillar and the other has a 6.0 L Powerstroke. The trucks have short chassis so part of the equipment can sit on the truck and part has to be towed. Now we have to figure out what will go where.
What can I say, I am very happy to see these nice trucks.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
I honestly don't think they could. It's nothing against Ford, but none of the big three really makes a truck that dependable. We have new F350's and even with load leveling air bags the back ends sag when a lot of weight is put on them.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Retiring the '74.
The new trucks have all been over engineered to the point of failure at what they are supposed to do. When the old tucks were listed a XXXXX load capacity they could do that every day and a probably half again as much if needed. The new trucks will not do that every day, -or for an occasional use.
You probably will not get the dependability of those old rigs. The new trucks won't need to be tuned up as often etc but they will leave you stranded beside the road where the old Fords would always bring you home. There is something to be said for the older "stone fence" or KISS technologies. The new stuff is just too damn complicated. New stuff runs great when it runs...
You probably will not get the dependability of those old rigs. The new trucks won't need to be tuned up as often etc but they will leave you stranded beside the road where the old Fords would always bring you home. There is something to be said for the older "stone fence" or KISS technologies. The new stuff is just too damn complicated. New stuff runs great when it runs...
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Retiring the '74.
Too many pieces, each with multiple failure modes, too many chances for failure...
Murphy says; "whatever can go wrong will go wrong..."
Somewhere in the drive to produce all the "gew gaw frills" the engineers have lost track of that fact, perhaps because of pressure from sales, the EPA, and accounting
Don't retire those old trucks, -sell them to somebody that can use them again.
Murphy says; "whatever can go wrong will go wrong..."
Somewhere in the drive to produce all the "gew gaw frills" the engineers have lost track of that fact, perhaps because of pressure from sales, the EPA, and accounting
Don't retire those old trucks, -sell them to somebody that can use them again.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
They will get used occasionally, they are in nearly perfect condition. Both have C6 trannies that were well maintained. I don't know what my dad wants to do with them, he is still tinkering with the new ones. They only 300 miles on them. The Cat has an Allison tranny on it, I don't know what the gearing is but it has a double overdrive.
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Joined: May 2003
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Retiring the '74.
the old trucks are nice but if i could i would have a new diesel cuz they have lots more power and get better gas milage than a big 460. they may have some glitches in them but a big 650 with that cat motor and the allison trannie are supposed to be reall sweet for pullin heavy loads. but i still like the old trucks better
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
I still like the old trucks, the Cat is supposed to get 16 MPG and the 6.0 is supposed to get 17.5 MPG. It has less torque and HP but thats okay. The old 460 got 4 MPG and the 400 got 8 MPG. They still made enough money to operate so there was no real reason to stop using them. The new trucks will be making us considerably more in fuel savings and hopefully maintenance.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
We don't make payments. My dad doesn't trust banks and he hasn't used a check in many years. He paid cash for the trucks. The first time I saw hime do this he paid the dealer here $49,900 USD in cash for our 2003 King Ranch F350 SRW CC LB 6.0L Torqshift. You should have seen the look on the dealers face.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Retiring the '74.
Yeah but now we aren't paying any interest. I believe they offered him 8.5%. If I am figuring it right we would have only lost money on the trucks if the engines had lasted 25,000 miles and we got less than 1/4 MPG.