Hey everyone,

This is my first post here. So let me start out with saying sorry, as this is probably the 500th thread like this on here... but anyway. Here it goes.

Looking at this truck:

1987 Ford F-250 Supercab Styleside 155" WB - WDC Global Exports | Auto dealership in Ontario, California | Everything you need to manage and market your dealership from search engine optimized car dealer websites to CRM and inventory management tools

87 F-250 with the 7.5. Odo showing 97k, and based on the condition of the truck from the photos, believe it to be true and not 197k. Its 2WD, and not sure on the tranny or gears- waiting to hear back from the seller to see if they know. Its an auto though.

Basically, I don't know much about this generation of trucks- more familiar with newer (1997+) ones. Any major faults with the drivetrain I should be worried about? I will be taking a chance and buying sight unseen (risky, I know- but for this amount of $ willing to take a chance.. CA is far from IL. And finding a rust free 30yr old anything around here ain't gonna happen).

Any problem areas I should request pics of? Any seals prone to leaking etc.

Will be using the truck mostly on pavement/gravel pulling some of my other cars around, and occasionally hauling loads but nothing extreme. Assuming it should be plenty capable (if not fast, but I have other stuff for that!). Probably will be used less than 5k miles/yr.

 

I'm sort of a touch,feel, hear and smell kinda fella. 6 grand site unseen is a huge leap of faith. With the 5er in the bed there is a very good chance that that mileage on the odo has turn at least once. The pics show a very decent truck for high price if you know anyone that could physically give it a once over for you the maybe. Though clean I be willing to bet that it's going to be in need of repairs. Ford makes the best trucks but at that age things just wear out. Let it go and find something closer to home that you can touch, they don't call them stealers (dealers) for nothing.

 

That truck is amazing shape based on the pics. If it's what you want then jump on it. Living in the rust belt myself I know you will never find one that nice for that price.
The trans is a C6. So, no overdrive. It will tow anything you can hook it to though.

 

Well if I was paying $6k for it, I would agree with you. All my other stuff I've always went to look at. But I negotiated them down to $3,500 bucks + $900 to get it here but haven't signed on the dotted line yet. Even if I need to put $1,500 into it or so (fluids, belts, hoses, etc.), that's ok. Good point about the 5er. Truck just looks a lot cleaner than anything I've seen with 200k on it, but maybe the CA weather was just kind to it.

Part of me wants to hold out for a 4x4 as it will see winter duty occasionally. But with some weight in the bed and snow tires it should be ok. And from what I've seen, finding a really clean 4x4 from this era isn't easy- lots have been beat to s*** offroad

 

The 5th wheel may be a recent, seldom-used, addition; it has a topper for one and the driver's seat is not as warn as something with that much seat time would likely be.

 

Truck is worth 3.5K. That clean engine bay is one tell tale sign of a true 95K.

Get yourself a finish panel with the red reflector (that's the correct one for the year), for those holes on the tailgate.

Some made in the US ones are available as reproductions @ $350.00.

 

That's sort of my line of thinking. There doesn't look to be much wear on the 5er either. I suppose someone could always spray it black to make it look new, but I don't think this place would go through the trouble. Also noticed the original dealer sticker is on the tailgate, so I think the paint is at least mostly original. Surprised that its not faded, being from CA.

And thanks for the tip on the panel.. found one from a wreck on eBay for 100 bucks.

Not buying this as an investment, but it does look like the previous generation trucks in this condition are pulling $10k+. Who knows maybe it will be worth something in another 10 years.

 

Well decided to go forward with it.. hopefully I don't get screwed! Lol. Also noticed the truck has Axle code 39- which I think is the 3.55 non-ltd slip. I won't be doing any off roading, but I think a limited slip would help with the snow right? Maybe a C9? I've read 2wd lockers + snow = bad. Simply put..

This would just be a back up winter vehicle- I have a 4x4 for daily use.

 

One wheel drive pretty much sums it up.

Since your soon-to-be truck is the last of the carb big-block pick-ups, I'm curious if you were aware of that going in.

 

1-wheel drive.. yeah.. I will definitely need to fix that. Sounds like, since i'm 2wd, a limited slip is the way to go for snow.

And yes, I was aware of that. Thought that was kinda cool. Are there negative implications of that I should know about?

I want to learn how to work on my own cars, and I figured this truck would be a good place to start. Not overly complicated, and no outdated, early EFI system to worry about (I have a 1987 Jaguar XJS with the 5.3L V12 and an early EFI system. PITA)

 

If you are going to drive it in the winter be sure to get sprayed with Krown rust control or something similar.

 

The difference is that Ford knows how to do electronics. Besides some early TFI module problems (which were resolved by the early 90s), the EFI system from this era is extremely reliable and was used up until 1997.

 

That's a fair point. I was reading some more about when Ford switched over to the EFI and it seems like there was a pretty small number of 87 460s that were still carbureted- sometime during that first model year of this generation the switch was made. So that's kind of cool, even if the EFI was more efficient.

 

Just an update for you folks. I was actually able to get in touch with the owner of the truck before it was sold to the dealer. Mostly good news:

His father owned the truck in Florida since new, and his son (the last owner) took it to California. So it is genuinely a 97k mile southern truck. Doesn't burn oil, shifts fine, etc. Some problems: coolant leaking from the timing chain cover, and the valve that switches between the tanks is no good. But the rear tank and pump are only about 5 years old. Also he has been having trouble with the carb but wasn't sure what the issue was.

All in all, seems like a pretty solid truck that needs some TLC. Dealer told me it was "all in perfect working order" but I would be shocked if any of these problems were fixed.

Signed the paperwork today so hopefully will get it here in a couple weeks.

 

You may have to put that posi upgrade on the back-burner for the time being.