So I'm looking at buying a truck for the winter. I'm looking to spend under $2,000 and I'm not afraid of a project. I can do anything mechanically and also can weld. I have looked at 6 trucks so far and have felt most were to far rusted or just basket cases. Right now the truck I am seriously considering is a 97 F250 5.8 auto. It is the cleanest frame I have seen on any of the trucks I saw. It runs like crap, has lots of body rust, ac and heat don't work, and 4x4 shifter is broken. I am pretty confident I can handle all of that though.

One thing making me second guess is what's the difference between F250 and F350 in the 92-97 years? I just want the truck to plow some driveways, tow new projects I buy, and be a reliable winter beater.

Any information is appreciated, opinions also welcome!

Thanks
Mark

 

Probably most notable- the F250 will have the twin-traction beam front axle, a dana 50 (semi-independent suspension), while the F350 will have a solid axle- a dana 60.

 

Is that a huge difference? Can they be swapped easily?

 

Moved to the forum that covers those years.


Welcome to FTE.

 

Yes, it's a pretty easy swap. Do a little searching. It gets covered about once every couple of months here. Here are a couple of the latest ones:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...y-options.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...olid-axle.html

 

Thank you for moving it to the proper section and the welcome!

 

Thank you! That is something I will certainly research. In

So is the axle differences enough to make it better to get an f350 from the start? For light plowing and towing will it even make much difference?

 

This is the truck I am considering

 

I've had two F-250s with the leaf spring TTB. I put 183,000 miles on my '85, and now I have a '97. I find the leaf spring TTB acceptable for on-road use, including towing. Driving off-road you have to keep the speed WAY down because of how stiff the font suspension is and how little travel it has. I've never hung a plow on one, but it sure wouldn't be my first choice for a plow truck. The lack of front suspension travel would be even worse with all that weight up there. And the alignment changes significantly as the suspension cycles, so it'd probably be a bit of a mess with the plow.

 

The swap from a TTB axle to a straight axle is fairly simple if you're handy, which it sounds like you are.

My father had an 85 F250 that he used to plow with in the winter here in WI for about 10 years. It laid the front suspension out a little with the plow up (it was an old Western 7.5' straight blade, so not some huge 9' V plow or anything). If you take the plow off when you don't need it, I wouldn't worry about the TTB too badly for light plowing duties.

If you plan on using that truck for towing you might want to find out what gears are in the differentials. There should be an axle code on the door jamb sticker that has 2 numbers or a letter and a number for the code. Google that and itll tell you what it is. Should be either 4.10 or 3.55 (either one with or without limited slip). The 351w is kind of a dog with 3.55s.

 

90% of the plow trucks we sold in the 90's were F250's… nothing to worry about. Good solid work trucks.

 

My 2 cents

Nothing wrong with a F250HD for your purposes, just make sure it is a HD. Being a 97 it will be, but in earlier years you could find a F250LD. Add a leaf or something to the front springs, replace the auto locking hubs, fix what's wrong and should be good to go.

That said IMO if you can find one in your price range you are better off with a F350 to start. Sure you can swap in a D60, but the cost of parts(the axle) most of all in your part of the country is enough to be more then the investment to get a F350 to begin with.

 

Depends on what kind of performance you expect while towing and what "towing" means to you. I had a '95 F-150, 351, E4OD, 3.55 gears and 33" tires. I was very satisfied with how it handled a 6,000 - 7,000 lb load. Someone else might have categorized it as a dog because it couldn't keep up with the sports cars climbing hills. But it stayed ahead of the motorhomes, so I was happy with it.

 

Everybody wants to go 90 mph up the hills pulling a heavy load.

 

Thanks for the replies guys! Happy to see this forum is very active!

I am thinking that I am going to holdout for an F350 at this point.

Any years in the late 80s to 90's that are better than others?

So the 460 a better option than the 5.8? I don't want a diesel, they are more expensive and I know nothing about them.

I can get a 97 F350 from a family friend that has a 460 with a bad block and a crusty frame. He let me whack the frame with a hammer and it's not rusted through but is definitely thinner than it was. Will need some leafspring mounts as they are rusted through. Cab is in great shape and interior is very nice everything works. Comes with a plow and a ton of new parts. Probably get it for $1000 or less.