The reason this truck got to this point is that the initial driver of this truck was rear ended and at the time we found a really cheap used black tailgate. Once the tailgate was replaced, it was black with a slight scratch, the driver didn't take care of it and decided to back up into something and ruin the tail gate. This time we didn't replace it as it was time for our driver to learn his lesson. We eventually welded the tailgate to temporary fix it and that driver decided to not take care of the truck and backed into something again, hit something with the front.. etc... Moral of the story: If we had just spent the few hundred $ on paint or a brand new blue tail gate the driver would have taken care of the truck in the first place instead of trying to prove a lesson that things don't come easy.

We have learned over the years that once something is nice and clean it gives you much more of a reason to caution your employees not to damage it. Such as this truck. It is so beat up and the person who drives it won't care about the interior etc and continue to eat in it, drink in it and do whatever no normal person would do to a clean brand new truck..

The decision:

Ive decided to fix the truck with the following intentions in mind...

I brought it to a mechanics shop who said I needed a new flywheel, wheel bushings/ bearings, and a tune up/ oil change, and brakes - service..

Cost: $1500

The front end damage will be fixed at Maaco, and the color of the truck will be changed to white (the company vehicle color) for a total of $2500, this includes new fender, lights, bumper, grill, paint, etc...

Cost: $2500

I already found a brand new take off bed from a 2010 Ford F250 that will fit this truck. Its a lot more $ than you guys said...

Cost: $1900 Installed

Interior: Quality seat cover, steering-wheel cover, aftermarket radio, professional detail...

Cost: $500 Est..


TOTAL: $6,400

For $6,400 I could make the truck look rather spotless on the outside. It will literally look somewhat new. At least it will function properly.

My reasoning to pay this amount to fix the truck...

The engine works great with no problems- we just paid for some transmission work to insure this truck to run for a while.

This truck has the 7.3L Diesel engine which is one of the best engines Ford has ever built.

If I could get two more years out of this truck then It would cost me $3200 per year just to have the (refurbished) truck which is a lot less than buying a new one. If I were to get three + years out of this truck then its a no-brainer to keep and repair the truck.

In the future if the engine does decide to pass away, at least I could sell a clean chassis or a painted truck with no engine..

Any thoughts on my logic...?

 

Sound logic save for one omitted item - fire the driver that destroyed the truck.

 

Maaco????? . With 6400.00, you would have a great down payment on another truck that will be in a loooot better shape then what you are about to get.

We need lots of pics while you are getting this done.

 

This should be your first order of business.How old is the idiot that was driving this truck,or is he a "family member"?

 

Wow, that truck has been rode hard and put up wet a number of times.

 

+1 on that for sure.

 

Before and after pics would be a good ending to this thread.

 

Sell the engine and transmission for $2000 and get this truck for $8k. 2003 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.0 Diesel F 250 Smog Ready $4k Below KBB
Not only you will come ahead financially, but you will have newer truck with no accidents in the record.
I've seen 7.3 selling for less than 5 grands last month.

 

With an 03 6.0 that could cost twice that much just to keep running.

 

Are you saying that the 6.0 is more expensive to maintain/ fuel consumption than the 7.3 engine?

Explain...

Sadly most of the damage to this truck was when the truck was parked and a machine (loader/ excavator/ skid steer) backed into the side of the bed, the front damage was from a front end collision where this truck was sitting still and a small tiny car didn't see it and smashed into the truck. Yes the damage is extensive but for a work truck and a very good engine, I don't see why I wouldn't pay the 5+ grand to fix it so I could get another 100,000 miles or two + years out of it...

 

if you know the maintenance history of this truck and it is good I wouldn't hesitate to fix it and maybe fire the driver...at the least I would create a "drivers/operators handbook" with spelled out penalties for abuse/destruction/neglect of the equipment with repeated offenses being grounds for termination.

I can see $1900 for a used bed painted and installed, I know guys that have scored used beds from scrap yards for less than 500 in good used condition... but I live in the dry no rust west. You might want to consider a flatbed? less parts to bend...

 

The 6.0 was a nightmare in 03 and 04. You can get a good one, but after what I have read I would not touch it.

You need to start reading about that engine before you even think about one so you know you could be getting into.

You know what you have with your truck, I would stay with it.

 

The 6 liter is just a sample I could find today. I am finding 7.3 with no problem if I give it a week.
Than if the 6 liter made 170,000 miles in 7 years, it can't be too bad?
Do you see many V10 with that kind of average?

 

How many times have you been told to keep it in the other thread?

 

Why the other thread?
OP is considering spending $6400 to have the truck for another 2-3 years.
That kind of money can buy very nice 2005 truck with V10.
SuperDuty Work truck v10 2005 FORD 12FT FLATBED
Valuable option if you ask me. But than I relay on Bill's opinion about V10.