I have a question for you guys here on the ''73-'79 board:

A gentleman in the car club I belong to is selling a '74 Crew Cab with a 460 (166K miles) on it. It seems like a fair price even though it doesn't have A/C. It started right up. I gave it a little gas and a bit of blue exhaust came out. Is this bad? Or is it just that it doesn't get used often and has some kind of build-up it's blowing out? I gave the engine compartment a visual inspection and noticed a new carb. Also noticed a fair amount of oil and "muck" (???) around the front of the engine (water pump area) and some around the passenger's side head (possible blow-off?). Body-wise it's in decent shape for a 30 yr old truck. Only thing of mention is a weakened top rail on the bed near the front of the bed on the passengers side. there are tie-down hooks just below, so I figured it's weakened by rust and stress of tying things down tightly(?).

He's asking $1000 for it. does this sound like a good deal for a truck we'll have for HD jobs and hauling animals to 4H for the kids? I don't know much about the '73's - '79's, so thought I'd bounce it off you guys who know these years better.

Really appreciate your input...

Thanks again,
Daryl
'59 F100 Styleside

 

Good bargain for a grand, if you ask me. It just burns a little oil, no big deal. My son has a 73 Crew and we figure it's worth about $2.5K. Buy it.
jor

 

Blue smoke - too much fuel. He has the new carb running too rich.
Other than that, sounds fine. Oil on engine - my dads 78 has 133K on it, and the engine does have oil in the same spots, I think it is just from lack of cleaning and build-up over the years, but it could have blown a gasket at one time. As long as it doesn't currently leak, you'll be fine.

 

sounds like a holley there good carbs just tuned a little rich out of the box

 

Amendment: It's a '68 T-Bird motor (429ci/375hp) with a new Edelbrock 600cfm carb. the oil is due to "blow by" as the rings need work, according to the owner. Sounds like an engine rebuild to me?

Daryl

 

All,
Blue smoke = oil
Black smoke = fuel
White smoke = coolant
This is an oil burner. Does it burn oil continuously or just on startup? Continuous = rings. Startup = Valve seals.
Eitherway, Oil burning + Old truck = Tools + Your time. You do the math.
My Way is the Highway,
KingFisher

 

dfisher:

black smoke - carbon build-up

blue smoke - too much fuel

white smoke - coolant in cumbustion chamber or oil burning

There is a lot of heresay about white smoke being only coolant, that is BS. It can also be oil burning, as that is what was wrong with my truck.

I have this same problem with my truck. If it burns oil while its idling, then it can also be valve seals. Also, get up to highway speed, then floor it and see if you get a cloud of smoke, if so, it could be the rings. If the rings are worn, it looks like rebuild time, in my opinion, walk from the deal. Rebuilding that engine is a lot of work and money. If you are a mechanic, then you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

 

you can tell by the smell of it to determine if it is coolant or not if it is white smoke coming out of the tail pipe. a sweet smell is most likely coolant. now you just got to convince a friend to put their face down by the tail pipe while you "give it a little gas".

 

Good advice. If it does burn something, see if you can talk him down on his price, if you still want the truck after you examine it.

 

You can buy a completely rebuilt 460 for $800, drop it in and you are ready to go. This is still a very good buy.

 

DS,
Let's talk about some of the other issues that effect 73-79 F series trucks.
1. Is the steering column in good working order? Does it shift easily? Can you pull it all the way down into 1st?
2. What shape is the wiring harness? Do all the lights work? Including the dash lights?
3. How is the steering linkage? Is the powersteering box leaking? Are the tie rods and drag link worn out?
4. How's the rear end? Does it howl? Is there axle lube leaking out at the drums?
5. Does it run cool? Does it need a radiator?
6. What about the suspension coils? Are the front tires worn evenly?
There are many more aspects to consider other than the motor. You are buying 30 years of truck. Not a car. Highway miles mean something else all together. especially with 4.10 :1 gears.
Consider it,
KingFisher
One things for sure, if your not a Ford Truck expert, you will be after you buy one.
P.S. There is a distinctive difference between oil and fuel burning. When a motor runs rich(excess fuel) carbon is the by product. Ergo, black smoke. When oil burns, it clearly has a blue tinge to it. Many, many years of racing and automotive repair have taught me this.

 

Maybe in your experience oil burns black, but not in mine. I remember when my truck was running rich at 4.7 mpg, the smoke was indeed a dark blue (we might be seeing the same thing and calling it a different color). After I adjusted the curb idle, it fixed it. Everytime I worked on the truck, it would let off black smoke, then I would look at the lawn and see the carbon deposits. It even belched carbon at the mechanic's garage too. The valve seals are worn too, and that produces a dirty white smoke, foul smelling.
Now, check all that stuff dfisher said to as far as steering, tires, and checking for leaks.

 

hahaha - mine definately pukes WHITE smoke after restarting an 1/2 hour later and WREEKS of fuel. figure that one out.

 

Yeah, that can happen. This is a real gray area, because I have seen fuel burn white, black, gray, whatever. I guess the key is to go by smell and not by color. Color can point you in the right direction, if you are having a lucky day though.

 

All, FYI,
45% of males suffer from some level of color blindness.
If you've ever blown a head gasket, you'll know what white smoke/steam/water vapor looks like.
It is easy to determine from oil burning which is generally white in color but has a blue shade to it.
Now over jet a carb and step down on the gas and watch BLACK smoke belch out the tail pipe.
We are not launching rockets here gentlmen. Keep it simple.
KingFisher