Maybe outa left field, but I'm looking for your experience here with salvaged powerstroke trucks. I'm usually over in the 73-79 forum (I have a 79 crew 4X4/ 460), and I have this idea that some of the guys are already doing, which leads to my question...

What is a ballpark price for a 'totaled/salvaged' 1999-ish to 2003-ish 7.3 F250/350 4x4? I know there are many, many variables.. just trying to ballpark here..

My ideal salvaged truck would be one that runs, but was rolled, or otherwise smashed up pretty bad (no or minimal frame damage, no fire damage).. My plan would be to put ONLY my classic crew shell (all 79 body panels) on the modern frame and engine.. I'd even put the modern interior in the 79 crew cab. I don't need ANY of the late model sheetmetal, and if it's all smashed up already, maybe it'll save me big bucks?? Lotsa fab work, but it's being done already.. I'm just having a hard time cracking into the 'salvaged' market and getting a fix on what to expect (you have to be a dealer to buy salvaged?? ).. I would imagine the salvaged truck will have 80+ thousand miles.

Bottom line, I love the older 73/79 body style, but I also love the reliability/diesel torque/ high tow capacity/ and creature comforts of the later model trucks. It doesn't bother me that my frankentruck will be titled 'salvaged'... it will be a one-off anyway..

Any experience/ thoughts/ or leads on a smacked-up powerstroke's value?

 

Check this out, you might wanna talk to this guy..

1972 Power stroke 6.0 483 rwhp & rising - Powerstroke Nation

 

i would think if the motor is in good shape its about a 5k doller motor now i think if you could get a salvadged one for about 7k thats still about 1/2 price of a non salvaged one

 

Here's a current project happening on FTE https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-progress.html

 

I might have a little info for you.....
I run a salvage yard in Saginaw MI and we buy about 75 cars and trucks per week, give or take. Big Steve is pretty close on the price for a salvage motor,but the prices vary. As far as a roll-over, finding one,at least here in MIchigan,might be rough, as for whatever reason anything that has any amount of front end damage or roll comes lately with a parts only title. In Michigan that means never able to be titled again...
80k is a factor because one with that low of miles to be at a salvage auction has to be smacked pretty hard. The trans in these things is also hot, so all of that adds to the cost of the wrecked vehicle.
Timing is also a factor as there are not a whole lot of psd being wrecked right now, there is some, but not as much as say in February.
All in all, sound like a very cool project and I wish the best of luck to you in your search. Price will vary all over the place,so shop around.

 

Wouldn't you be able to keep it titled as a '79 or whatever, so that a salvage or parts-only condition wouldn't be much of an issue?

After all, the frame *is* a part, isn't it???

As are the engine and axles.

 

Great info guys.. I'd seen a few pics of that 72.. but never his build thread.... great lead!Crazyjunkie- good insight on the yard side- thanks! I'm not sure what my title/registration challenge would be.. as I understand it here in CA, the title follows the frame, so in my case is would be titled as a "200X F250-Salvaged-", even though it would obviously look like a 1979 truck.. (most of the concern out here is which year to use for smog consideration).

On ebay I'm finding some 99/2000/2001 F-250 4x4s with around 150/175K miles for 9 to 11-ish thousand dollars.. These are NOT totalled trucks.. I was hoping to go the totalled route and save 50/75%?? Sound resonable? From your powerstroke posts, it seems like 150/175K miles is not too big a deal for a 7.3...

Finally, and sort of related- I'm asking about a 7.3 salvage truck because I've read that most guys find the 6.0 unreliable.. not to hijack my own thread, but are the 6.0s to be avoided at all cost? If I consider that motor in this project (like the guy in the 72 build) it would open up the possibilities to find a donor.. not worth it, or is it just personal preference?

Thanks for the help guys-