Hey folks, 1st time poster. Looks like a lot of experience on this site. I'm considering buying an 01 f350SD quad cab 4x4 w/ a 7.3d, 101k miles and basically looks and drives like a much younger truck. Loaded and bone stock. I know the original owner and he has used it very lightly (however it did go through a transmission @ 28k). I'm a little hesitant about the milage, I was looking to get one w/ less. I plan to tow a 5th wheel trailer and I rarely put more than 7k miles/year on a truck. I can pick it up in the mid $20's.

What should I be looking for pre-purchase?
What are the common expensive problems encountered with these trucks?

Any advice or suggested links would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

If he kept it stock it's a good truck. But if he's run with a chip or a programmer than the Powdered Metal connecting Rods are a real weak point.
The PMR's have a tendancy to act like glass. You can run the truck hard one day and nothing happen. A month later one of the rods will give way just idling in the driveway.
Other than that they are a bulletproof truck that will run well past the 300,000 mile mark with nothing other than a water pump, some alternators, couple of front hubs, brakes, etc. Normal stuff for a lot of miles.

 

Thanks Kwik, he has run no chip or programmer. Am I correct to assume that most of the common Ford diesel complaints for that era have been with the 6.0's?

Anybody else have any suggestions of what to look for in this truck?

 

The 6.0's didn't come out until mid 2003 so you should be safe with an 01 7.3L. As Kwik said, the engine will go 300K, the transmission ??? I would at least do a quick mod to the tranny if you are going to be towing like the Sonaxx or a BTS body which should help with the shifting. Other than that if he has done the routine maintenance you should be as good as the next one. If you are towing you will want at least a new intake (see Kwik mod 6637), 4" exhaust and guages to keep an eye on everything.

 

you cant go wrong with a 7.3. just make sure the owner has kept up with maintence and before you buy it try to check the coolant to see if he has kept up with the additive if it has the green coolant. it is very important with these engines with the green coolant. if it has the gold coolant then you dont have to worry about it. you can get the test srtips from fleetguard and maybe at the dealer. also if you have the time pull off the intake boot and check the turbo to make sure it isnt dusted. someone else may be able to tell you something else but thats all i remember right now

 

Try looking here http://pages.prodigy.net/stevebaz/_import/pages.prodigy...baz/index3.html

Theres some good info on checking out automatic transmissions and other items, and a lot of other useful info, but not for buying as it were.

BTW, for that year and mileage, I would think you could do better than that price. If not, I'd look for one with less mileage for that money. I paid lees than 30K for mine used from a stealer in 2002 with 40K on the clock. My .02.

On Edit: OK, that didn't work. Never fear, it's in the sticky thread labeled common acronyms at the top of the forum. I believe strokin put the link there.

 

Sounds like a good truck-except for the price. I picked up a 01 F350 Quad Cab for 18,000 (XLT package, not the Lariat package which maybe that is what you are looking at)

I would not be scared of the mileage, I have a 92 also with 240,000 miles on it still going strong
Good luck!