96 f150 5 speed y 300 ci 6 cly 2wd 120k mi. motor runs pretty good doesn't burn oil or leak to the point of hitting the ground
needs rear/front spring brackets/shackles, rears done b4 buying look brand new still. Truck is all over the place ?control arm? bushing in front end out of whack/ creaking (directly under driver). center link? / tie rods on way out truck fades left to right alot. Exhaust leak at the header, needs new front tires but have on bad rims. rusted bed sides above wheels, one "repaired" one on way out. brake lines look rough, needs front brake pads at very least possilbe left front caliper. needs shocks front end sitting a little low.
paid 1350 5 months ago. only changed oil and replaced a broken tie rod end so far. need to know if this truck should be retired or revived. you guys know better than I.

 

A 2 wheel drive truck with all them issues? No not worth fixing in my book, might better play tap's for it and see about parting it out.

 

That's a tough call. How much do you like the truck, driving it, etc? I heard and believe that a truck/car is only worth what you're willing to put into it compared replacing it. I've had cars that I've put probably double the value into when I loved the car. Then came a point that I was frustrated with having to work on it and throw more money into it. I'd then replace the vehicle and the process started all over. Only you can make that call.

Based on your list, most sound individually minor. When you put them all together it sounds like alot. Keep in mind what you'd replace it with, and you're back to how much you like the truck.

I bought my 93 F150 4x4 less than a year ago for $1250, snapped the crank, and ended up putting about $1500 building another motor for it. I know I'll never get that back selling it, but the truck is fun as hell to drive.

I probably wasn't any help, but maybe gave you something to think about.

 

Sure sounds like your truck has led a rough life. Don't sweat it, it happens. My '87 was run pretty hard by previous owners, but thankfully has held up pretty well. I don't mistreat it, and it does fine. 248K and still chuggin' along.

But let's get back to what you're looking at here. It sounds like a lot, but if you can tackle one piece at a time (the old "Johnny Cash method," LOL) maybe you can keep it alive that way. I've done that many times and come out pretty good as long as I didn't set my hopes of making a bundle on resale too high.

Trucks, despite their gas mileage, will always be in demand because there's just so much more they can do than a car (i.e., hauling trash, etc.), so if you did decide to get out of it, you could probably get what you paid or close to that amount -- here in my part of Kentucky, I know this to be the case, because I've done it.

Before you consider that option, though, keep in mind that these trucks are not overly hard to work on, and parts are not too expensive if you shop around. Junkyards are full of good parts. You have the rusty rim problem, I'm guessing yours has the styled steel wheels? I've seen that problem before. You can get the older '87-91-style plain rims about $20-30 each at a good u-pull yard around here, and that's what my truck has. They seem to hold up better.

Give all the options you have careful thought. I'd hate to see you get in over your head with the truck, but at the same time I'd hate to see you have to part ways with a truck that only has 120K on that solid old 300. The motor alone would have me scheming up all kinds of ways to save it, but that's me!!!

 

Its hard to say PC 2000 has a good point

 

Heck if the body is in good shape,hit the junkyards to fix it up. I found one that has 2 1/2 price days which really saves me a bundle. Just check over the part before buying

 

It's totally your call if you wanna fix 'er up. I've got and oldn 89 F-150 4x4 that was abused for the three years that I ran 'er. The whole tranny mount is btrok, so an acceleration the shifter can come over & knock the heck out of your knee, it needs balljints the keyswitch is broke so it statrs with the rod coming out the top of the column. The floor & rear fenders are totally rusted out. The engine smokes & burns oil & the clutch slave (in the bellhousing, of course) leaks. I still keep it around though because you can always use something like that to beat around with or haul trash. I think it just depends on what you are going to be needing the truck for & if you can justify keeping it around. It's almost too much of a buyer's market right now to keep old basketcases around, but sometimes the sentimental value is priceless

 

Therein lies the problem, it's my first truck, i was working out of a corolla for 3 years doing construction <didn't work> I bought it on emotion, had been looking for a truck and my money had gone from 3k to 1500 during the search as things came up, as the money dwindled i may have paniced a little. i told my fiance that i was buying the truck even before i saw it, as i was having difficulty finding a truck in my range with the miles i wanted. She smoked at first for a bit, as she had been sitting, after that first day though no smoke ever. The first week i owned it i'd come around the corner to grab a tool from my "car" and there to suprise me each time was my very own truck. the motor is great and reliable and pretty fuel economical for what it can tow.. I forgot to mention the clutch that has been going since i bought it, but it seems to be better on some days than other.. never slips just gotta put it all the way to the floor.. was pulling some small stumps with it last week and pulled a boulder i couldn't budge with a breaker bar 30 ft.. it does prety good at the dump, with a few creaks and a minor burnt clutch smell when backing up a decent load.. >2500 lbs..
BTW i have really clean rims, the best part on the truck lol, but the tires are bad, being worn heavily just on the outside of each, possibly due to the front end. i have a 2nd set of tires on bad rims that i need to put on my good rims is all 20 ea , but was holding off until i had he front end looked at. i was about to replace the other tie rod end and took a look at the center link and said forget it the torque it would have taken would have snapped the whole assembly, so i just did a string alingment as the wheels were turned in slightly..
my boss/father in law to be called me today and said he was thinking about getting me in a new truck. I work for him for cheap and he helps me out with this sort of thing when it arises <his 3 y/o grandaughter my awesome kid promotes these acts> , so he told me to bring it up to scags <a reputable inexpensive mechanic> and have him take a look at it.. I do like this truck, but i don't know if it's just the sentimentality of it or all the positive aspects ive come about with it. i got a huge weather guard toolbox in it i got for 150 that locks and it's got a simple but sturdy set of racks on it. the body has minor rust in the usual spots but nothing i cannot handle. My boss has a 2000 chevy silverado 2500 extended with huge tires and plenty of power and twice as many tools, which im free to use but would rather use my own Ford.. maybe has to do with the 79 my dad had when i was a kid. thanks for the input though it is appreciated, but you guys are right i guess it is up to me really, as almost anything can be saved, and how much your willing to do for something is the variable.
I'll see what the guy at scags says, but being stubborn as i am, even if he tells me it's a junker ill probably find some way to keep it around.

 

Sounds like you really do like the truck despite the problems. If so then keep 'er. Tackle one problem at a time and you'll get her fixed in no time. It's always nice to have a truck around.

 

hey sounds like my truck-except mine has the 302-the 300 s are hard to beat-if it were me I'd fix her up-that is what I'm doing