Hello everyone.. So I posted my 1971 F100 Short bed with a 429 big block on Craigslist a month or two ago. This guy texted me the tonight asking if I'd trade for his truck. He has 2001 F450 flatbed. 7.3L Diesel 6 Speed.. He said only thing wrong with it is that it Needs Injector O-rings because it smokes.. Other than that it drives and shifts smooth..
So is smoke a symptom of bad o rings ?
Is changing O-rings expensive ?
Should I be suspicious about the trade ?
I've never owned a diesel so any and all help will be greatly appreciated..

 

235,470k on it.
Oil change every 5k with Rotella 15-40

 

Diesel repair can be very expensive....I would tell the fellow you want to sell it out right with no trades....if he wants it, he can buy it and sell his to someone.

 

So in your mind it's not worth it to buy and get the o rings fixed.

 

So in your mind it's not worth it to trade and get the o rings fixed.

 

Working on a 7.3 is EASY. Id test drive the f450 first and make sure everything is working correctly then from that id do the trade, buy new orings and install them myself and then sell the f450 and make a good profit

iPhone from IB AutoGroup

 

What color smoke? Black or white because it makes a huge difference

iPhone from IB AutoGroup

 

If you can be assured that the o-rings are the only problem, if might be a good buy. BUT, are there any assurances this is the only problem(s) with 235k on it. Hummmmm, something to ponder if you ask me.

Before you buy it or make the final choice to buy, do a search on injector o-ring replacing. It is not as simple as it sounds since the high pressure oil rail provides actuation of the injectors. You will need to replace one side and then get the truck running to properly to purge the air from HPOP rail on the side before doing the other side. Also, make sure you do not hydro-lock the engine with the oil that drains into the cylinders when you pull the injectors. you will need to pull the glow plugs (good time to replace them also) and spin the engine over to "blow out" any oil in the cylinders. This is done after you get the o-rings replaced on the side you are working on.

 

I'd walk away. Why isn't the guy fixing it himself before selling? Is he trying to peddle his problem truck onto someone else? If you were diesel mechanic and had the knowledge it would be one thing. But if you have to send it out for repair or find out there are deeper issues when you tear it apart, you'll be upside down quick and stuck with the other guy's truck.

 

Id also think really hard about it to! A f450 is a truck made to work and pull stuff behind and whos to say one of the pistons is melted down or something. That truck would not be a good daily driver. just my .02

 

Replacing injector Orings can add up, not stupid money maybe $400 bucks but a lot of time. Figure it will need glow plugs ($90) new valve cover gaskets because the connectors will be brittle and break($80) oil change ($ 60 to $100+depending on oil) injector orings ($60) and shop supplies plus TIME and all this with no guarantee that it is the problem.

Unless your f100 is beat and not worth anything or you want a 450 and are willing to spend a couple of grand to get it running clean(it may need injectors) I would move on.

 

Might just need a turbo rebuild. Test drive and checking everything over in person is the only way to get a good idea about the truck.

If it passes the blow by test and runs good besides some smoke I wouldn't be to scared of it. But I also wouldn't be paying someone else to fix it either, that CAN get expensive!

 

450's are pretty cheap on clist, cheaper than equiv 250's or 350's. supply and demand.

can you register a 450 as a passenger vehicle and does your insurance company insure it as PAS?

 

I agree, if it just needs 0 rings, let him fix them.

 

Brandon - were you looking for a flatbed F450?

I think your 71 (if in very good condition) is probably worth a lot more than a potentially worn-out work-horse like that F450...