Hi Everyone , I have a few questions . I have been searching for a truck for sometime and am looking for advice . I will tell you what I will be doing with the truck and also tell you about the one i have found and welcome advice and opinions . I will be towing a 34 foot camper , A 16 foot car trailer . Hauling normal home owner things for remodels on my own home and gravel as well as dirt . In the future I will also be hauling a pontoon boat to and from various marinas . I am looking at a 2002 F 350 Crew cab 4x4 with the 7.3 . I can buy the truck at what I consider a very reasonable price around 6,000.00 . The truck currently according to the owner needs an oil pan it " has pin holes due to rust " it will also need rockers I am assuming all 4 he says no but I am just going into it assuming that . The truck has had recent injector cups his words . new batteries within the last year possibly needs tie rod ends . Has 4 new brake calipers . The body looks descent the body lines look good from the pictures . truck currently has 209,000 miles . I have been quoted from a local mechanic to do the oil pan front and rear main seals water pump and torque converter all while the engine is out . questions are What else should i be looking for while looking at the truck ? Should I also consider doing the down pipe while the engine is out ? where are the best places to get parts from ? all of this is of course if I buy the truck .

 

Here is a thought and a question. It does not sound to me like this truck has been very well maintained by its owners leading me to wonder how much you really might be getting into. A low entry price, if you have to pay to have all the work done, may not end up meaning much.

I guess you have looked and couldn't find anything for the purchase price plus the cost of anticipated repairs that doesn't need so much work right out of the gate?

Just asking.

You might want to ask some of the questions regarding specific repairs in the 1999-2002 7.3 forum under diesel forums.

Steve

 

You're looking at a 15 year old truck, in a few years it'll be a 20 year old truck. I'm a user of old trucks myself (see below), but I don't know that they make great long distance haulers. I don't have money for a new truck myself, but I'd rather find a late model gasser for the $25k range than a $6k project. When things break on the road it's always more expensive. If the oil pan rusted through, what is left of the truck?

 

Thanks for the responses I appreciate them my issue with a gas truck is the mpg when towing and the life expectancy. I appreciate the input guys that is why I am here .

 

all the older trucks have major rust with the bed and rails..

Gas mileage.. for any truck.. really they all are aerodynamic BRICKS.. so NO gas mileage

the 6.2L is one of the most dependable gas engines anywhere....
a few on here are well over 300,000 work miles..
search on the Forum. 2 or 3 threads JUST on miles on there Trucks.

I tow 9,000 pound trailer with 1,500 pounds in bed of truck.. mine has 150,000 miles and not one issue.

Re-Search.... yourself.. and Learn...

my opinion.. if the owner does not know the correct name of the last repair done.. it was not done...

 

You'll have to do your own math on if the fuel econ is worth it compared to a 6.2 gasser. For life expectancy, I don't see how that's even a factor if you're looking a truck that needs major body repairs. Most trucks don't leave the road for blown motors, the leave because of body rot.

 

To chucks first ford , fuel mileageis a concern only in that by comparison I drove my father in laws 2012 ram 2500 with the 5.7 hemi to Kentucky 866 miles towing a 30 foot 6200 pound camper the truck is 4 wheel drive crew cab and got 5.6 miles to the gallon I have done a fair amount of research and found on average 13 to 14 is common with a 7.3 under a load . So to your statement that they are all aerodynamic bricks well that honestly goes without saying but to see the difference between a 7.3 and that hemi I would say is significant. And clearly rust is an issue on all the older trucks . I live in upstate new york and in my understanding the 7.3 is known to have the oil pan rust out and develop a leak . The other repairs I spoke of were not said by the owner as being needed it was my thought of doing them as preventative measures as do to the research these items were known issues with higher mileage . My thought was the engine needs to come out to do the oil pan so whole it was out why not do themy now instead of later . That is all I will provide the link to the truck and anyone can please post their respective thoughts . Thanks again guys . On another note what could one expect from the v 10 . Any thoughts on the 2005 to 2006 6.o ?

 

https://vermont.craigslist.org/cto/5973415570.html

 

Thanks again everyone I hope I don't come across crass at all I do know a fair amount about the trucks and have my own opinions . I am honestly looking for other folks perspectives is all . Not trying to argue with anyone .

 

Add new brake lines onto the list of mitigations, they delaminates and that leads to the caliper dragging, front divers is always first to go

 

No v10 if you're talking about fuel economy!

 

gas mileage...

last trip... 1,500 in bed of truck and 9,000 pound travel trailer

N.E. Ohio to Myrtle Beach, SC and back with my 6.2 Gas.. averaged 9.4.... and the WV hills. and 144,000 miles on the clock.

I know its not the 16 to 20 some diesel owners claim they get towing.

 

I only get about 10-10.5 towing...so not much better than you.

 

It might be worth while to look in the southern states for a truck that is not so rusty and have it shipped in.

To properly fix the oil pan the engine must be pulled. there are a few patch kits but I have never heard of one that doesnt eventually leak.

I have a 97 with the 7.3 and it has almost 300k miles on it with the original injectors and auto tranny. I am in the process of upgrading to an 06.

As much as I love the 7.3 (and I was looking at getting an 02 like you) I decided that I wanted the creature comforts and ride quality of the 05+ trucks.

Richard

 

I looked for the last year for a 3/4 ton truck here in Wisconsin. I found that although the outer appearance can be rusty, get underneath and you will find that box supports, the bed and everything else is just roached out. Some of the worst rust was with spray on bed liners. The box looked good but might have holes you could throw footballs through once something was set up the bed liner which was the only thing holding it together.

If an oil pan is rusted through, the rest of the truck is most likely trash.

I bought a 2011 Ford 250 CCLB that came from Alaska, with 50,500 miles. I was set on a truck from Texas, a southern state or a place that doesn't use road salt.