As of right now I have a 1971 F100 Ranger XLT with the 390 in it. This truck is in great condition, just needs a little interior work on the seats and a new paint job. The truck runs great, and only has 86,000 original miles on it.
I also have a 1996 Ford F150 4x4 with the offroad package and the 351. I just bought this truck in January with plans to sell the '71. The problem is, I really do not want to sell the truck. It is incredibly hard to find one in as good of shape as the '71 is in, and I know my 96 is one of many around. The only thing is, I will be going to college next year, and I will definately need an extremely dependable vehice. I have put a lot of work into both trucks, and I am torn between what to do. I know restoring a vehicle is a tough task, even when it is in great shape, but I would be using the money I am spending on the payments for my '96 to go towards the restoration. The real question is, is it worth the trouble?

 

well I would toss the 71 aside for a while until you get free time and some money. put a weather tarp over it and get back to it later. that 96 sounds nice, i wouldn't get rid of it. plus with gas prices the way they are, i wouldn't use that 71 for a daily driver. I'd just park it somewere until you had some extra money to mess with.

 

also i didnt vote for either one, I dont think I'd sell either one of them, they both sound like nice trucks.

 

Choosing both would be my ideal situation, but I have to choose one or the other because if I keep the 96, I would need the money from the '71 to pay it off.

 

I would keep the 71 and sell the 96 personally.
Those FE's are as strong as an ox, and yours only has 86k on it...

You didn't say how many miles were on the 96...
Are either of them sticks?

 

No, neither is a stick, and the '96 has 106k miles on it.

 

Ok, that reafirms my opinion then.

 

I would keep the 71, easy to find parts and easy to work on. Gas mileage wise what is the difference?

 

Gas mileage isnt too terribly different. '71 gets around 8 mpg, '96 gets anywhere from 9.5 to 11.5.

 

I would sell the 96 and drive the 71 to school.Repair the 71 enough to make it very dependable and repair the body enough to stop any further rusting.After you get out of college restore the 71 to like new condition.Without knowing your financial situation, this would be my recommendation.If you sell the 71 you may regret it the rest of your life.I know this from a similar experience of my own, involving a Boss Mustang I supidly departed with a few years back.Good Luck!

 

Take it from a 52 year old, that has a fully restored 79 f150 4x4 in his garage and doesnt know what to do with it. With gas at 2.20 a gallon I can't use as a daily driver, so I bought a mini p/u for that, so the 79 is just a garage ornament. I would sell the 71 , pay the 96 off. Dont believe all you hear about "these old trucks are EASY to get parts for ". Try finding one in a junk yard with good parts worth having, and buying less quality, incorrect fitting, after market parts are the LAST resort. Every mile you get on a gallon of gas, is going to count major, because 2 bucks a gallon is going to seem cheap to us in in two more years.....

You need to keep your mind , labor, and money focused on your education... Get it, a good job, then you can get any old ford truck you want. There will be plenty of fully restored ones out here for sale, when you are financially sound, and you will be able to get one of your choice , for half of what people have invested in them, and if they dont have a job, even a lot less. And at that, you will not have to do all the hard work on it like I did for 5 years, or like you will have to do to yours. This country's economy is in for a shake up, gas guzzlers will not be pined for. Besides that , most good looking gals equate old pick up trucks with poverty, by keeping a newer one shiny and in the stable, it will be a better babe magnet for you. (oops, I assumed you were male, sorry if not ) all jmo,

 

When I was in college, fixing something that was broke was the last thing I wanted to be doing.

 

i would sell em both and find something that got better mileage. but that's just me. i couldn't afford to pay for gas for either one.

since you are going to college, i would say sell the 71 and keep the 96.

 

I agree with Greg... gas is really an issue now.

I'm having a hard time keeping up at $2.XX/gal when my truck gets 12MPG. I'm also going to college next semester so money will be tight. I think I'm gonnna trade in for a car.... (damn those gas prices )

 

This is a very hard desion. One part of me says keep the classic 71, the other part says keep the 96 which has more creature comforts and is easier to get parts for. As hard as it may be, the best thing to do might be sell them both and buy an old Honda for $1000 that gets 30mpg. Its hard but you have to do whats practical when Gas is $2.16 a gallon. Both trucks sound like gas guzzlers and a large part of your paycheck will be going into gas no matter which one you sell.