I*M a Retiree & looking for a Diesel powered pick UP! heres an 83 FORD w/ a 6.9 w/ over 500.000 miles--heres what the owner-84 yrs old had done to it--New injectors--pump--radiator--new vacume pump--new brakes & booter--& a new fuel pump--tires are 50% batteries {2} both Good--starts great in Cold weather he says He would head for Cal w/ No probem! the interiors nice some body Rust patched--not the best job! all Inspected & road Ready!--whats it Worth?--& get THIS!--His niece is married to a Big GMC Dealer--& He just bought another New FORD!--talk about a Real FORD Freak? & He wont drive a GM product--Quote!-- a real Farmer--another Quote--Show ME any other MAKE pick Up truck that will GO 500.000 miles & still Run like it Did Day One!--& I*LL BUY IT!-- He heard I was looking for a Diesel pick Up! & called ME from over 100 miles Away!--Quote--It Ain*t Pretty!--but it will get Ya! there & Back! & will get 17 miles to the Gallon Loaded!-- as Shes a tough Ole Truck!--I have No idea? of what its Worth? & He Dono? every thing WORKS!--so Whats a FAIR PRICE?? I await your Answers!-BADCAR--

 

do you mean .. 500,000 miles.. or the way you put it .. it means 500 miles...

 

--- NO! Mistake!--500.000 or 1/2 Million thats the Figure! as told ME by the Owner--but--I assume He ment a Lot of Miles!--more than ordinary?--as 83 to date all most? 07--a few months shy of being classed as an Antique & it was a little Rough looking but sound mechanically & as one member suggested? $1.000 big ones! thats a lot of Money! for any ole Truck! & then Again Hes re-placed a lot of expensive Parts & claims? it Don*t burn any Oil! I Dono? as small Diesels are a new thing to ME! as the Wife & "I" are cutting down to ONE all around Vehicle as what ever? We do Get?? will become our Daily Driver! doing local Arrands & a JOY ride on week ends & running Mother to Work & back Home three days a week aprox 20 miles? but Winters on it Way! & We live in the Country She works 3 -11 Shift & our Roads don*t get Plowed all that Great especially at night--so I was thinking?? perhaps? new Tires & its a 4X4 so It should?? Go pretty Good in Snow? but w/ that High Milage?? as I dono? this International Diesel?? as most on here Chat about New $30.000 dollar trucks & perhaps?? Laugh?? at this One?? I Dono? as thats why were asking for HELP! & WE Dono? about where You are? but HERE! every New Dealers Lot is Full to over flowing w/ New & late model Vehicles & you know! Its really Funny! as I Am 73 yrs Old & still in pretty good Health & can BUY a New One! but theres NO way I could Pay for IT! on a fixed income but can*t BUY a nice late Model One such as a 95 Model as I*M told I*M too OLD? & over 55 yrs Old NO Life insurance is available so there We Are! Between a ROCK & a Stone Wall! & We have given Thought too?--getting a Beater & surving the Winter? & trading it in the Spring as Dealers should be Begging Buyers by then? as Nothings Selling Here! as I chat some Say the 6.9 is CRAP & others say its the Best! of the BEST? DONO?--Ole JIM--

 

Old Jim im not gonna lie to you $1,000 isnt bad for that truck if it runs .. but im gonna put it to you like this test drive it.. is the only way to tell you if your gonna be happy with it... if all else fails show up with $800 cash and be like here.. will you take this cuz im sure since he has a new truck.. that $800 will help out with a payment so the only thing i can tell you to do is test drive it .. and while your testing it .. drive it hard.. and test the 4 wheel drive... i mean .. $800.. and you figure.. $500 for nice tires.. you'll have a nice truck..... no lie.. and half a million miles is high yes.. but for $800 or $1000 the drive train on that truck is worth more then that

 

You read my Mind! but I figure He Quoted all the parts were New & not re-built--& He has the Receipts & I didn*t pay attention to the 50 % tread on the tires? I*LL offer Him $800 & go on from there! & He will deliver It saves Me another $50? On mothers next Day OFF WE will drive over & do the Road Test & Dicker! I*LL keep you posted!--Ole JIM--

 

An 83 Ford truck with that many miles is "worn out"!
Expect A LOT of repairs!
I have owned a lot of these trucks.
Also, being from Maine (or any of the New England states) I'll bet that if you were to pick that truck up by it's roof, the cab would seperate from the frame!
These trucks are noted for the frames to rust where the cab mount bushings sandwich the frame metal.
If you are bent on buying it, try lifting the cab with a floor jack. Put a 4' long 2x6 under the rocker panel and try jacking there. See if the cab is still affixed to the frame.
Most of the trucks I've dissected here in Mass. weren't. And I've never had one with more then 200K miles.
Good luck with your decision!
Steve G.

 

this Ones real BAD! as replacment CAB is a Must! You know any One?? thats installed a late model Cab on one of these? as this Ones GONE! it runs Good & mechanically it looks tight & every thing Works & the Beds Good but the entire CABs JUNK! I*D like to Save IT? but after asking for HELP? I guess ? its time to look for another Truck to mount the Body On! if? I can find One CHEAP? Here the STATE & local Power Co has vehicle auctions & I might?? be able to pick Up one w/ No Body? just a CAB & Chassis--Dono? as I*LL have to Check? & See WHO? can Bid?? --Ole JIM--

 

I think he's feeding you a story, as the 6,9's ALL use oil, it's their nature... it depends to what degree they use it that matters. Also, 17 loaded? yeah right... modern diesel maybe, but not as likely with those, unless there's a turbo sitting on it. I hae seen a best of 15 with mine, no turbo, unloaded.I hear stories of 20 mpg on some, but not pulling a load. The chassis would be my main concern, that is a lot of miles, and if it's rusty, you can figure there is rust on the frame too. $1000 ia pretty low for a diesel, but they can be found, and in better shape than that. I paid $1850 for my 4wd with not a lot of rust, more on the box than anywhere, cab is CLEAN, just the driver's door on the front half is rusty. It has quite a few miles on it, but the motor was fresh rebuiild when I got it. Personally, I would keep looking...

 

Jim,
It sounds like you've already bought it?
Steve G.

 

Look forward to replacing the glow-plug control module every couple of years or so. My relative, a diesel expert, tells me that this system on Ford diesels is not one of their greatest achievements. $200 or so.

 

Wow 500,000 Miles!

 

Well not any MORE! as WE have Given UP! in Our Search to Find a Good Used Diesel pick up--& NO! We haven*t Bought one to DATE! as every thing WE have looked At--Cost too Much & here their ither JUNK or WE can*t afford it! & I quoted the CAB was Rusted Out--Sorry wrong Truck! as the 63s Cabs really GOOD!--Front fenders need re=placing & theres Pit Holes over the Rear Wheel wells but the Rest is SOLID! & it Runs SUPER! but NO One will Finance such an Ole Truck! & I Don*t have any extra 100s laying around! so WE have Given UP! & the Funny Part I can BUY a brand New One! which on SS# I simply can NOT Pay for!-but-Can*t Get a Good Late model Used one? that I could PAY for!-CRAZY! THANKS GUYS for All your INFO! as It was Fun in Looking!--Ole JIM--