New ride !

[toynut]

I have been truck less for over a year 2 suv's and a house don't work well unless you have room for a utility trailer (I do not). have spent about 6 months looking for a specific vehicle 1988-1997 F350 Crew Cab 4x4 351 5 speed , wanted as clean and stock a truck as possible - And no 460's or diesels .Picked this baby up with 180,000 kms on her - sending it out to a buddy's shop to get it baselined back to daily driver status as it's sat for the last 4 years, had a fibermold canopy on since 1997 and was stored under cover when not used , the tailgate was wrapped in a blanket in a garage since 1997 ! I really want to try and keep it as stock as possible but well see !

 

[pbgbottle]

Nice thats what i am looking for also

 

[toynut]

I looked at at least a dozen trucks either they were modified in such a way I didn't like or they had too much rust or a 460 or the owner thought he had a prom queen when he had a pig with lip stick on it. This truck sort of fell into my lap I've found the key for me was to be patient realizing I would eventually find something. I originally passed up on the this truck but the guy came back to me a few days after I had seen it with an offer to me I couldn't say no to. I did a few counts customs moves and knocked on doors that had trucks I was interested in I even left a note on a guys window , and chased another guy down in a parking lot !

 

[natecher]

May I ask why you sought out this rig?

 

[AJAEbj42]

Also, why the preference of gas over diesel? Just curious?

 

[toynut]

well i sought out this particular truck because , I need a pickup for around the house hauling stuff to the dump picking up building supplies ect. , Pulling our travel trailer i personally like to be just a little different I could of bought a newer silverado or ram or F series. but I like old school the 90's Fords have a classic look and aren't that old that parts are hard to come by , they are relatively easy to work on and rock solid especially the Dana 60 solid front axle , In fact most guys into fords that I know find the 1988 thru 1997 the last year they made these to be favourites (fuel injection in 1988)
I drive a Diesel every day at work, Ive owned 5 diesels there is no significant savings in my opinion the cost of ownership/maintenance is higher unless you are a heavy duty mechanic . I have several co-workers with newish diesels and the maintenance costs are pretty high compared to the reasonable in my mind costs to run a 5.8l V8 conventional engine it won't be so NOISY when i start it up at 4:30 am that i get neighbours putting notes on my window like when I had my 1993 F250 with the 7.3L IDI.

I have a relatively short 7km commute and on the weekend we always use my wife car .

 

[Tmax]

not all diesels are equal. i'm a mercedes guy but in the domestic market, there is only one option unless you like bringing your own lube.

ie: i have a 03 ram. original owner. out of my own pucket besides oil changes and gas......., maybe $800 for coolant change, brake pads, and a water pump. still runs on original batteries after 12 years. (ok i didnt mention that the front end was done under waranty). i hate domestics and dissed this poor thing from day one every chance i could but honestly, probably the most dependibale rig that i have ever had by far. heck if i live long enogh, it may go for another 12 years with minimal work. never got the ford thing but then again i'm not into S&M either so good luck man. nice rig.