WTB older prep truck, advise please

[InHisName]

Didn't want to hijack that vehicle thread-
Here's the situation- our 80's Dodge truck is down- so we want to purchase a different truck. What is your ultimate prep truck - has to be 4x4 with no electronic ignition (points and condensers, says dh) . Any suggestions?- please delete, duplicate question! Just need 4x4

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

F 100
simple, easy to fix and millions of them in breakers yards for spare parts .

[pyrobear]

Originally Posted by Hip_Shot_Hanna

F 100
simple, easy to fix and millions of them in breakers yards for spare parts .

and it wood not be a bad thot to have a cap to keep things dry

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by Hip_Shot_Hanna

F 100
simple, easy to fix and millions of them in breakers yards for spare parts .

I'll second that I own a 77 F-100, so cheap for parts it is ridiculous. I would get a 76 F-100 if I were you with a 300 six, manual steering and brakes, and it has points (77 was first year for electronic ignition). Mine is easy on gas, usually low 20s for mpg but then my truck is only a 2wd.

[Win07_351]

I owned an old 1970 F-100. When it finally died, I used it for a dumpster.

[Ross]

I won't argue with an F100, I've always liked Ford trucks. I'd like to find a Dodge power wagon. It'd be interestign to retrofit a diesel into one. Something out of an older Deere Ford tractor or even a new Belarus engine.

[InHisName]

Going to look at 77 F100 right now- 4x4, 3/4 ton, runs great, new tires, asking $1000- it's a 351- auto.

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Going to look at 77 F100 right now- 4x4, 3/4 ton, runs great, new tires, asking $1000- it's a 351- auto.

Probably has a 351M. I had a 400 V-8 in a 79 Ford F-250 which is the same block. Had plenty of zip. Once when my milk truck broke down I used it to haul milk cans in the bed. Handled it great, there was over 2500 pounds of weight in the bed and it got 14.7 mpg. My only beef with it was that it wasn't nearly as easy to work on as my 77 with the 300 six.

[Homesteadwi5]

Originally Posted by PhilJohnson

Probably has a 351M. I had a 400 V-8 in a 79 Ford F-250 which is the same block. Had plenty of zip. Once when my milk truck broke down I used it to haul milk cans in the bed. Handled it great, there was over 2500 pounds of weight in the bed and it got 14.7 mpg. My only beef with it was that it wasn't nearly as easy to work on as my 77 with the 300 six.

The f100's had the 351W in 77,the f150's had the 351M.

[Aintlifegrand]

I just got a 1988 ford f-150...is that agood one for the purposes we are talking.. is it old enough? Easy to repair etc?

[Homesteadwi5]

Originally Posted by Aintlifegrand

I just got a 1988 ford f-150...is that agood one for the purposes we are talking.. is it old enough? Easy to repair etc?

It's easier to work on than some.But it has the efi engine,not carburated,it also doesn't have the solid front axle.But overall it's a good truck.I currently have an 87 and a 93 as well as the 79.

[InHisName]

Well, bought that 77 F100 for $750- the tires alone were worth about 600. Had a shimmey problem, a rod of some sort under front tires. Tried to get the part, but no go, so we tried to slowly drive it home 3 hours, got only 1 1/2 hours out, had to leave in in a tiny shop to get that rod fixed. (they didn't have an auto parts store, nearest one about 3 hours away, so the guy is going to weld it)- made for an interesting day! It is not eye appealing in any way, but for a hay and wood truck, and simple to work on, it will suit our purposes.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Well, bought that 77 F100 for $750- the tires alone were worth about 600. Had a shimmey problem, a rod of some sort under front tires. Tried to get the part, but no go, so we tried to slowly drive it home 3 hours, got only 1 1/2 hours out, had to leave in in a tiny shop to get that rod fixed. (they didn't have an auto parts store, nearest one about 3 hours away, so the guy is going to weld it)- made for an interesting day! It is not eye appealing in any way, but for a hay and wood truck, and simple to work on, it will suit our purposes.

.............http:\\www.lmctruckparts.com/

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by Homesteadwi5

The f100's had the 351W in 77,the f150's had the 351M.

Did not know that Should be easier to work on I would think since the block is smaller.

Originally Posted by InHisName

Well, bought that 77 F100 for $750- the tires alone were worth about 600. Had a shimmey problem, a rod of some sort under front tires. Tried to get the part, but no go, so we tried to slowly drive it home 3 hours, got only 1 1/2 hours out, had to leave in in a tiny shop to get that rod fixed. (they didn't have an auto parts store, nearest one about 3 hours away, so the guy is going to weld it)- made for an interesting day! It is not eye appealing in any way, but for a hay and wood truck, and simple to work on, it will suit our purposes.

Congrats. Hope you get it fixed. I haven't found a single part yet I couldn't get from the parts store or LMC truck.

[Wayne02]

Engine wise, what would be the GM equivalent to the Ford 300 inline 6? In terms of the easy to work on, good torque, longevity attributes of the famous 300?

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by Wayne02

Engine wise, what would be the GM equivalent to the Ford 300 inline 6? In terms of the easy to work on, good torque, longevity attributes of the famous 300?

Nothing Muhahahahaha

But more seriously speaking from personal experience I don't think either the 250 Chevrolet six or the 292 Chevy six are built as well as the 300 six. I would have to say the Chevrolet Small block or the 4.3 V-6. I have seen plenty of those older small blocks get up to 300,000 miles before giving up the ghost. Chevrolet engine compartments are a bit roomier than the the 73-79 Ford and having worked on a few Chevies with the SB I would say they are almost as easy to work on as a 300 six. A small block Chevy will survive longer at higher revs than the 300 will but the 300 is more of a lugger.

[Wayne02]

Well that was kind of depressing. Surfed a few craigslists (one large city/metropolitan and a couple of rural) for the desired aged Ford and GM pickups. Very slim pickings and the ones that actually run are priced pretty high. Lots of rust buckets, especially ones that have the bottom of the bed rusted out. I can do my own repair but would rather not get into a massive restoration project. A number of sellers have these things priced as "classic trucks" ready to be restored for the show circuit... LOL

[Drizler]

Boy you guys better start looking to the South to buy anything that old. The way things rust in the northern regions you will find much older than say roughly 93 with rusted out frames which makes em pretty much useless. Try to get the 3/4 ton models like the F250 or k2500 chev ect. They have a thicker frame than the 150 and 1500 models so they hold up way better over time when dealing with salt. FWIW they love to pack up with crud where the rails dip right under your foot and they rust out and crack there. Whatever you look for try to get it from some place where they haven't experienced snow if you can. It saves you so so much headache down the road.

[InHisName]

Finally got the pick up home- after having it towed almost 100 miles! The first place it broke down, (last week) the guy who owned the machine shop did an excellent job of fixing steering-Now the problem is this- engine runs excellent, but when it gets hot, begins acting like it has a fuel problem and dies. We could drive it say 15 miles, died- cooled for 1/2 hour, drive 15 miles, and so on. Any ideas? Again, this is a 77 Ford f150 (thought it was 100, but not) with a 351 engine. What is the difference between the 351W and M? Wayne 02, check the Spokane area craigslist- much drier on this side of the state, so little rust- got ours in Moses Lake, which is about 3 hours from W WA.

[fordy]

Originally Posted by InHisName

Finally got the pick up home- after having it towed almost 100 miles! The first place it broke down, (last week) the guy who owned the machine shop did an excellent job of fixing steering-Now the problem is this- engine runs excellent, but when it gets hot, begins acting like it has a fuel problem and dies. We could drive it say 15 miles, died- cooled for 1/2 hour, drive 15 miles, and so on. Any ideas? Again, this is a 77 Ford f150 (thought it was 100, but not) with a 351 engine. What is the difference between the 351W and M? Wayne 02, check the Spokane area craigslist- much drier on this side of the state, so little rust- got ours in Moses Lake, which is about 3 hours from W WA.

.............Excessive engine heat can overheat the fuel beFore it enters the carb , causing problems , .......if you have a section of metal fuel line running up to the carb , replace it with fuel hose ! Also , IF the engine has been run too hot , the gaskets between the heads to the block and the intake manifold too the heads will expand and you'll loose vacuum and\or start getting antifreeze into the oil , Everytime you run the truck and it comes up too operating temp this will occur . The 351M and 400 are both Known to have problems of this nature . And so , your education begins ! , fordy