OK... So I want a truck... but Im not sure which one to get... and I am still looking at chevy and GMC too... now I will probably have like $4500-5500 (ya I know its not a hole lot but Im only 17 and trying to move out some day) and I was thinking about a 1900-96 or so... either a 150 or 250 (1500 or 2500) and I was wondering why should I go with ford?

What I plan to do with it:
Lift it.. Wheel it... Go fast... maybe do some engine modification. I also work construction and would probably load it up every now and again.

 

For diesels go with ford the GM diesels back then were way underpowered
You could always buy a 5ton Army truck already big and allwheel drive and pretty affordable

 

I dont know.... I am also going to be driving this thing every day.. I dont think I want an army truck.


Do the non turbo ford diesles do well compared to a gas engine? Ford turbo'd the deisle motor in 1995 correct?

 

you could get a factory turbo IDI 7.3 in 93-94 then they introduced the PSD in 94.5. a 7.3 with a banks kit would be more powerfull than a stock turbo diesel.
The stock N/A 7.3's are pretty good on power and get decent milage 15-20mpg is achevable
Gas motors are ok but you say you are going to load it up. Diesels are better with loads but more expensive.

They also go more miles before they wear out with proper maitnence. But a 351 would do pretty good but not get near as good milage. One think to look for in a 7.3 is makesure the owner used a coolant additive to prevent cavitation.

Chevy- They also make good work trucks but i see alot more of them with rust than dodges and fords. I'm a ford guy but the 350 is a good motor for a work truck.
The 454 and 460 will get 10-12 mpg unloaded and worse loaded.

Find a truck you like with the options you like. You have to feel comfortable in it not me so it's up to you

I'm 16 and i use my truck on the farm and it was my first truck that i could drive on the road and i love it. The other truck well i'm restoring it right now

Good Luck

DT

 

if thats the year u want for ur truck then dont touch the chev diesel's...the easiest for mods at that time is the dodge diesel ....the ford diesels at that time all depend on the year they were changing alot...if ur gonna go gasser then id say go chev..i really didnt like that gen of fords personally great for lil dump trucks or whatever but i wouldnt touch a personal vehicle ford those years sorry

 

since this a money issue for the lad , look every thing over, stay away from the gm diesel of those years i think they are 6.2 or 6.5, right now i'm back to driving my old stand by 95 f150 4x4 with a hot 302 it has no problem towing our stang drag car or my 8000 lb drag boat,trailer and spare big block mill, not the fastest in the world towing but it getts there and back safely.195000 miles still looks good and rides good so personally i would look them over , nothing really major wrong with say 93 to 95 prices are down may be a good first car for him a 250 would of course be better but then i'm thinking low bugget but ford

 

thanx... IM realy thinging Im just gonna go with a ford turbo diesle 93-94 and maybe turn up the boost to get that extra horsepower.

 

I'm going to second the F150 in those years- I've got a 195K miler too. The Diesels are probably better- but decent ones in those model years can easily fetch double the dollars your talking (at least up here in the Pacific Nwst), ditto any repair bill the diesel might generate.

 

If you plan on wheelin' it hard, I suggest an F-350. It'll have 1 ton axles and a stout drivetrain to handle ANY modifications you want. I've taken my F-150, and completely re-done the whole truck, I'm 20 by the way and have had F-150s since I was 16. They didn't make an F-350 with the extra cab and the short bed, so I bought an F-150 and am swapping stuff around. It's very easy to upgrade an F-150, but it's easier to just buy an F-350 and it's cheaper in the long run. Take a look at my truck and see what you think...pics in my gallery.

The 87-96 Fords are, IMO, the best trucks Ford ever made. They're cheap to fix, easy to modify/swap major components, you can do whatever you want in modifications, it's a strong truck and they're very reliable. The trucks have their small quirks, but the engines, axles, transmissions...all solid from the factory.

Get an F-350 with a 351, auto (but probably not the E4OD if you want modifications, it's computer controlled), or I prefer 5 spd, but it's up to you. It'll have 1 ton axles that'll handle anything you want to put on it. It also depends on what kind of wheeling you want to do. My F-150 has stock axles, but they've been modified with selectable lockers, and other minor mods. It's lifted 6" and running 35" tires. I've designed the truck to be a daily driver but with excellent off road abiliites and power. It's getting a 400hp stroked 351 in a few weeks, with a ZF 5 spd transmission out of an F-250. The axles will be swapped out eventually, but they're going to stay for now, they won't enjoy that 400hp very much.

 

Go with the Ford. I have a 1994 F-150 with 274,000 miles on it and its my daily driver, I love it. Still original water pump, alternator, radiator, muffler, I just replaced the factory rear brakes last year. My neighbor who has a 1998 Chevy P/U has replaced his tranny, and done extensive engine work to it. I bought my truck right off the delivery truck even before they prepped it. I will keep it going as long as I can.

 

Why pursuade you??

Buy what you think is best for your application. Don't buy something because I told you to.

I don't give a damn what you buy. Just as long as it is what you want & take care of it properly.