Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
New User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
I am new to the board and need help. Have the chance to buy an 86 F150 stepside, 5.0 EFI, Auto, 3inch lift, 33 inch tires. The truck is in good shape, some surface rust on the bed around the rear fendersand the bottom corner of the door. Interior is ok, not the greatest shape. Motor was rebuilt approx 40,000 miles ago, slight oil leak from valve covers. Runs really good, drives straight. Uses about a quart of oil in between changes. New front end last summer. Truck has sat for about 8 months. Also a hole in the bed floor. Does this sound worth $2500? I like it alot, but don't have much to sink in to it right away.Any help please.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
I'm inclined to say: Negative, Ghost Rider.
The reason is, it isn't 4x4, the bed is shot, the engine could be total garbage, and the only way to tell is to open it up, and look inside.
My advice is to skim some classifieds, look for a few offroad shops in the area and find out from the guys there -
1) What shop has the best prices, and kits
2) [font color="004499"]Do they know of anyone selling a truck[/font]
The best way to find a deal worth dealing with, is to get right inside the community and ASK. Truck people know about each-others trucks, and they'll tell you if they know that someone is trying to wish their stupid mistakes on someone else.
"Gossip is a wonderful thing..."
>=op
The reason is, it isn't 4x4, the bed is shot, the engine could be total garbage, and the only way to tell is to open it up, and look inside.
My advice is to skim some classifieds, look for a few offroad shops in the area and find out from the guys there -
1) What shop has the best prices, and kits
2) [font color="004499"]Do they know of anyone selling a truck[/font]
The best way to find a deal worth dealing with, is to get right inside the community and ASK. Truck people know about each-others trucks, and they'll tell you if they know that someone is trying to wish their stupid mistakes on someone else.
"Gossip is a wonderful thing..."
>=op
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
The box isn't too bad by the sounds of it, the floor should be wood, so fixing it is nothing big, cab corners are commonly gone.
$1800 sounds like a good price for it. I'm not going to say anything about the engine... Lets just say, I don't like 302's....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 4wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
NP 205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9" & Trac-Locked TTB
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's
$1800 sounds like a good price for it. I'm not going to say anything about the engine... Lets just say, I don't like 302's....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide 4wd
HD 300-6 9.5:1 CR
Clifford 270H cam
Hedman Hedder
SBC valved 66 240 head
Headlight Relays - Delanty Style
NP435(6.69 low)
NP 205
3.55 Geared ARB'd 9" & Trac-Locked TTB
31x10.50/15 Cooper Discoverer LT's
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
From: Durham
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
IMHO, if the truck runs great and seems mechanically sound, then it should be worth $3k (4X4 or not) with a good body...Then start deducting for rusty body, shabby interior, etc. From what you stated, I think $2k would be fair and reasonable.
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 0
From: Campbell River, BC Canada
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
From what I have read so far it sounds like an okay deal, not great but not bad. It all depends on how bad the body and engine is. If it is a safe and you can deal with the rust then I wouldn't worry about it. The Engine could be something simple like the gaskets you don't really no. I have a 302 and the thing has over 300,000 km on it and it is still running not strong but running.
If the 4x4 works good and everthing seems to be pretty sound then I would go for it for around $2000.
What I have found through dealing with used trucks is if the Interior is in crappy condition then the owner hasn't taken care of it which means the rest of the truck has probably not had a lot done to it. Good Luck.
If the 4x4 works good and everthing seems to be pretty sound then I would go for it for around $2000.
What I have found through dealing with used trucks is if the Interior is in crappy condition then the owner hasn't taken care of it which means the rest of the truck has probably not had a lot done to it. Good Luck.
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Need advice - 86 F 150 Stepside
Well, I own a 1985 Stepside 4x4 that I bought over three years ago. It had a good amount of bed rust but the cab was fine, couple dents in the fenders. However, it had exactly what I was looking for - 351W HO 4V, C6, 9" rear, unmodified, never offroaded, unlifted, nothing had been rebuilt. It had the leaky valve seals and the rear brakes needed to be worked on. He had been asking $2500 just like your seller, but I talked him down to $2000 for the truck, plus he threw in two doors, two fenders, a hood, and a spare set of tires and wheels for $150 extra. Oh yeah, it also had a hydraulic dump bed when I bought it. So, is $2500 too much for what he's selling? Probably. Remember it's the first year of the EFI, plus it is a fifteen year old truck, so things are going to go wrong that you never thought of. I've replaced the alternator, starter, rear wheel bearings, axle seals, and a few batteries. I'd say try and get him to $1800-2000.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post