Hey everyone,


I need you input on what truck is a better match for my needs...


I'm still attending auctions around my area in hopes of scooping up a new truck that will be a daily driver and will need to pull the odd car around on a flatbed trailer maybe 3 trips a year. I'll also be using the truck to take 4-6 highway trips during the summer months that are approx. 400-500kms round trip each.

I'm looking at getting an F350 4x4 crewcab 93-96.

There are two trucks coming up in near future auctions and I can't decide which might be the better truck.

1) 1995 F350 Crew 4x4 w/ 351ci gas motor, single rear axle(which I want). Not sure of mileage but will not purchase anything over 150,000kms. This one was run on the railway so it's got heavy duty suspension and needs rims/tires (the ones on it are really narrow for the rail) and bumpers.

2) 1994 F350 Crew 4x4 w diesel 7.3L (not sure if Powerstroke or not), dual rear wheel, and has one of those big service/storage units instead of a box. The truck has ONLY 55,000kms! I would change the rear axle to a single rear wheel unit (if not too hard) and get a std. truck box for it.

Which in all your wisdom would be a better truck for me a diesel or the gas 351? I want enough power to tow when I need to but since this is a daily driver I'm also concerned with fuel economy!

Thanks!!

 

The 94.5 has the powerstroke (early 94 models didn't), and I would take it anyday over a 351. The Powerstoke will get better fuel economy and outlast the 351 by far, plus it's a lot better for hauling.

 

Another vote for the diesel, hands down. The 351 is underpowered when compared to the diesel and mileage will be significantly lower.

In 94 Ford offered three diesels
7.3 IDI non-turbo
7.3 IDI turbo
7.3 DI (direct injected) turbo (AKA PowerStroke)

The PowerStroke was only available with a manual trans in 1994.

Both the PowerStroke and the IDI Turbo were badged Turbo Diesel, the PowerStroke logo did not come out until 1995.

If the diesel you are looking at is an auto tranny it is not a PowerStroke. At 55,000 miles you still have to finish breaking it in!

I swear by my PowerStroke but many have had success with the non-PowerStroke diesels as well.

Just one man's free opinion, perhaps overpriced at that.

Dave / Believer45

 

Pwerstroke! Mileage, durability, and sheer pulling power. I wouldn't give mine up. Now if truck is a regualr diesel, I would have to think twice.

 

I have driven an 92 f250 turbo diesel for work, and it did really well! And the truck had 375K on it (I don't know if the engine had been rebuilt or replaced, because we bought it used.) But I now have an f350 with a 460, and I really think you would be happier with a diesel. Especially with fuel prices, diesel is cheaper almost everywhere (40 cents here), and it will outlast and outpull the gas. So, if the engine was taken care of, by far, you would probably be happier with a diesel.

 

Get the diesel. A 351 is way too small for an F-350 CC 4x4. A deisel will deliver better fuel economy as well. On of the guards here gets over 20mpg with his Powerstoke when not towing.

Jim

 

Yup...I agree...get the diesel.

 

I like the 460 gas however this is a no brainier sort of like do you want a 4.6 or a V10 to pull a trailer. The 5.8 is out they have a rough time pulling a hill with a load. Expect to pay more; the low miles will cost you. You might want to check on the rear axle. I read, do not remember where, something about the cab and chassis frame being different from the one with a pickup bed and the bed will not fit with out rigging it. Do not know if the crew came as a cab and chassis or just as a pickup. If you can get the vin number it will tell you if the crew came as a pick up or cab and chassis. Gas keeps going up I might break down, bite the bullet and spring for a PSD.

I think W36 in vin positions 5, 6,7 is a 4X4 F350 pickup regular or crew cab

 

Wow guys thanks for the responses! Looks like diesel is the way to go. I'm not sure which diesel the 94 truck has but I guess I'll be happy with any of them compared to the 351. One more question though... The truck has a service bed on it right now. One of those big ones with the cabinets on the side and stuff. It's also a drw and I wanted srw axle. How hard would it be to switch this stuff? Just basically unbolt and replace?

Just noted the above response about the cab/chassis thing. I'll look into it aswell, but if anyone can confirm whether or not a F350 crew was available as a cab/chassis set up please post!

 

I would assume the F350 was available as a cab and chassis.

The frame rails are different - easiest way to tell is the pickup arches over the rear axle and the cab and chassis does not, frame rails are straight.

To tell if you have a PowerStroke or Turbocharged IDI if you have a pump in the valley on top of the engine with eight fuel lines running to the injectors it is the IDI. If you have a fuel filter cannister under a plastic looking mini-hood that flips up for access you have a PowerStroke.

Dave / Believer45

 

You might want to do a search on axles or suspensions. I think the front has a spacer/hub to keep everything in line when using the dually rim up front.

 

I'd wait until the truck you want comes up for sale.

Think about how much it'll cost to convert the DRW w/service bed into a SRW w/box bed. That's all $$ you could put towards purchasing a 'newer' truck with the desired equipment.

 

Well the Pres didnt have to have the spacers because you couldnt get the dually in 4X4. I would go Power Stroke or 460, I dont think you would be happy whit the power for pulling with a 351.

 

I didn't think it would cost that much to change over the service unit to a box if it's a direct swap. I'd sell off the service unit to recover the cost of the box and as for the axle change I would assume I should be able to sell off the dually axle of the cost of a single? Am I wrong about this?

alabamabuddog, what are you speaking of about Pres and spacers and that the dully wasn't 4x4? I have a pic of the dually and it has manual locks on the front hubs....

 

my father had a f-30 dump truck with the 5.8, and to be honest, with 2200-2500 pounds in the box, it was a dawg, and a gas hog. if your normal everyday driving is more than 10 miles one way, the desil is the way to go. just my .02 though.