I posted in another forum but wanted some input here too...Thursday I'm going to look at a dark green 96 f150 4x4 and I am just wondering a few things. The guy that owns it now has had it for 5 years and he doesn't know who all else has owned it. From what I can tell in the pictures the body looks clean, paint is shiny and no big dents. It does have a little rust above the rear rockers but that seems to be it. Grill looks good etc. It has newer tires but don't know about the brakes. The owner didn't really do any maintenence that he can recall other than tires. He said everything on the truck works but I know there is going to be stuff that needs to be done. What can I expect?

For example, u-joints, ball joints, radiator support etc seem to be the normal things to look for but what else?

I don't mind putting some money into it but how much financial damage can I expect to get the truck to drive great and what exact parts will I need to buy

 

A good starting point would be to know where the truck is. Is it in the western dry states or is it in the rust belt or etc. I

 

everything! sorry...but its true, a piece at a time.

Id check all running gear of course, and suspension parts including frame brackets etc, go from there...

 

If it has gone 5 years plus with no maintenance other than tires the list could be very long. Unless it is cheap $2000 or less keep looking.

When I bought my 95 F150 4x4 5.0, 5 speed, 130,000 miles I knew I was the fourth owner & I knew all the PO. I knew the history of the truck since new. (because I lived across the street from the Ford Dealer that sold it new) I paid $2700 full well knowing fuel pumps, tires, & a complete service including frt. wheel bearing & brakes were in order. I got caught with an unexpected oil pump failure in the transfer case costing me a used T/C. So there is a comparison for you.

 

Here is a closer look at mine.

 

The truck is 1.5 hours south of St Louis so there may be (probably will be) rust but it shouldn't be terrible. The current owner is kind of hard to deal with. On the ad it says he prefers txt so I txt him starting some time last week.

I asked the questions I wanted to know (how many owners, what all have you done to it, does everything work etc). Sometimes he responds right away and sometimes it'll be the next day or two before he responds. I would think he would be a little more responsive b/c I told him I'm interested but over an hour and a half away so that's why I wanted to ask questions and see more pics before I drive down there. I had planned on going to look at it Thursday evening but he was supposed to send me a bunch more pictures yesterday and has promised that for a week now. There is only pic on CL and that's it however it looks like a good decently clean truck.

I asked him if he's changed the fluids and he says "no but like I said I've only had it for 20k miles)." I then asked "did the previous owner change it and have you checked the fluids". No response and still waiting on pics....I also asked what he used the truck for and does he know what the previous owner used it for, again no response.. We'll see if he responds today. I'm not going to look at it w/ no pics or answers. He's asking 3500 and I'm hoping to get him at least to $3000

 

Well he must have been reading my thread above b/c he just txt me and said he used the truck to get around town mainly and that's it b/c he daily drives his company van. I'll post the pics on here when I get them and see if I can get your opinions on condition/price. I've been looking for about 4 months and it's one of the best ones I've seen from what I can tell in pics. There are LOTS of rough ones out there.

 

Ugh... if you go look at it, bring a GOOD flashlight with you and take a look in the valve covers thru the oil fill opening. See if you can spot any sludge.

Look at and smell the coolant.

Stick the transmission, take a sniff of that too and while you're at it, drip a drop of the fluid onto one of the white stickers under the hood to get an idea of the actual color.

Can almost guarantee the axles and transfer case need oil changes, as well the steering. Probably needs fuel and air filters too.

Take a look at the ball joints and suspension bushings while you're under there. Don't do what I did and fail to spot a crack in the frame either, look it over real good and take your time at it. Ball joints should have good boots on them all around, bushings should be firm and not crumbling or oil soaked.

 

Thanks man I appreciate the advice! I will do that for sure. He has actually agreed to take it to get it state inspected before I come up there since I told him I'd pay for it ($20.00) if he did it since they'd be closed Thursday night.

Here in MO you cannot get tags if it won't pass a safety inspection. I don't mind replacing some joints and bushings if I need to eventually, but I don't want that stopping me from getting plates to drive it at all until I got fixed whatever they say is wrong. It's a major conflict of interests if you ask me b/c you have a shop that does repairs and makes their $ off labor telling you if your truck needs parts or not in order to drive. Unless they are very honest, they're going to "find" something that "isn't safe" so it has to be replaced or you aren't getting plates. Not a bad way to boost parts sales. If it fails at least I'll know what I need to replace and factor that into my offer.

I think he got ticked at me for asking so many questions I guess b/c when he starting txting back it was a string of 5 messages saying he has 2 babies, a 16 year old and a wife at home and is busy all the time. He said the only reason he's selling the truck is b/c his daughter doesn't want to drive it and he needs a vehicle for her now. He said he's done all the oil changes himself but hasn't needed any other maintenance and not had one problem in 5 years. He literally goes "I understand you have concerns and I'm sure there are things you can pick apart about a 20 year old truck but it's one of the best ones I've seen in a long time in this body style and I've owned 4 like this. There are several people who are waiting in line to look at it locally so if you want to look at it I'll be glad to show it to you".

I understand where he's coming from. I told him if it passes inspection I'd likely buy it so I hope that will motivate him to actually do it.

I'll keep you all posted and let me know if there is anything else I should check out.