Truck opinions sought...

[BIGdaddy]

1996 F250 Extended cab/460/auto/4x4. Not sure about long bed or short. Dual tanks, grey cloth interior, nice paint, etc.

What are your thoughts on this setup?I know the 460 is a large motor that will drink quite a bit of gas, but other than that, I'm new to these rigs.

It's a family truck, that has been well kept, and could be mine for the right price.

The best part? Only 75,000 miles.


So, what say you? Would you drive the crap out of this thing? load it with a 4wheelcamper? Are the 460's reliable motors?

What's the BEST tank I can expect? 15? (downhill, with a tailwind, right?..haha)



Thanks.

 

[shortbus4x4]

My dad bought a 96 F250 extended cab 4x4 with a 460/5 speed in 1998. Its still in the family and I drove it quite a bit in 1999 after he passed away. They are extemely thirsty. I think empty the best I got was about 9-10 mpg on CA gas. The one long trip he took in it he got about 12-13 on OR gas on I-5. Very dependable, never had any major issues with it and I took it too Baja in 1999 loaded with dirtbikes and gear. When you replace all the frontend bushings use polyurethane. The TTB frontend is the one thing I dont like about the 3/4 ton Fords, too many pivot points to wear. They also don't have the sharpest turning radius. Keep up on the trans fluid services, they are cheap compared to a new transmission. The back seat might be a little crowded when the kids get bigger but I used to haul three in the back of mine, ages 1.5-5. Personally I prefer a true four door with kids especially when they get older. The other thing is the cost of gas to drive it, it will be expensive to fill it up. But if you are only using it for a fun weekend trip truck and not a daily driver then its more affordable to run.

 

[BIGdaddy]

My dad bought a 96 F250 extended cab 4x4 with a 460/5 speed in 1998. Its still in the family and I drove it quite a bit in 1999 after he passed away. They are extemely thirsty. I think empty the best I got was about 9-10 mpg on CA gas. The one long trip he took in it he got about 12-13 on OR gas on I-5. Very dependable, never had any major issues with it and I took it too Baja in 1999 loaded with dirtbikes and gear. When you replace all the frontend bushings use polyurethane. The TTB frontend is the one thing I dont like about the 3/4 ton Fords, too many pivot points to wear. They also don't have the sharpest turning radius. Keep up on the trans fluid services, they are cheap compared to a new transmission. The back seat might be a little crowded when the kids get bigger but I used to haul three in the back of mine, ages 1.5-5. Personally I prefer a true four door with kids especially when they get older. The other thing is the cost of gas to drive it, it will be expensive to fill it up. But if you are only using it for a fun weekend trip truck and not a daily driver then its more affordable to run.

I know it's a while ago, but sorry to hear of your dad's passing.

Thank you for the info, though. I appreciate it. And yeah, this would likely be a rig my wife would drive on her 1-2 mile kid dropoff/commute to work, if used on a daily basis (she often has a need for a pickup bed being a theatre teacher, for set pieces, boxes of costumes, etc), and then otherwise would be a 3rd rig aside from my jeep and her Ford edge.

I think the front end bushings were recently done, actually. I'll have to check on that. So, the TTB was installed on f150's/f250's, but the 1 tons got the solid front axle, huh? I think I knew that, but it's a good reminder.

I've driven this truck, and it rides nice, but I'll have to do a bit of digging to see how that front end is doing. Otherwise, sounds like they're pretty solid, from the limited research I've done, and from what you say.

Also, I've come to know that when I'm out in the middle of nowhere, a reliable truck means more to me than mpgs. It's more a matter of, "if" this one fits our needs, or if we should wait for a crew cab like you mentioned. Our kids are young, too. (2-6yo) So for now, they'd fit, but I'm not sure for how long.

 

[ExpoMike]

Hey Brian, glad to see you are still out there. Haven't seen ya post up in a while.

As for your questions, the 460 is a solid engine but is definitely gas hungry. Given your description of how your wife is going to commute in it, I'll be surprise if you ever break 10 mpg. City/stop and go driving is going to kill any mileage. An easy foot on the pedal and all highway driving at about 60-65 mph, you might get to the teens. Start loading it up with a FWC or similar, don't expect any double digits.

Outside of general maintenence of worn parts, the overall rig is a fairly solid platform. Having a few die hard Ford friends, this era of truck seems to be a solid rig and I haven't heard them talk about any major issues. I think the biggest issue I have seen over the years with the TTB is tire wear problems. They all seem to wear the outer edge more than most of the rest of the tire.

Good luck and post up pics if you get it.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Hey Brian, glad to see you are still out there. Haven't seen ya post up in a while.

As for your questions, the 460 is a solid engine but is definitely gas hungry. Given your description of how your wife is going to commute in it, I'll be surprise if you ever break 10 mpg. City/stop and go driving is going to kill any mileage. An easy foot on the pedal and all highway driving at about 60-65 mph, you might get to the teens. Start loading it up with a FWC or similar, don't expect any double digits.

Outside of general maintenence of worn parts, the overall rig is a fairly solid platform. Having a few die hard Ford friends, this era of truck seems to be a solid rig and I haven't heard them talk about any major issues. I think the biggest issue I have seen over the years with the TTB is tire wear problems. They all seem to wear the outer edge more than most of the rest of the tire.

Good luck and post up pics if you get it.

Hey Mike, yeah, busy with life and all that...

Thanks for the info. Not sure if this is the right rig for us, but I've never really been a diesel guy, so the only thing I'd probably do different, is wait for crew-cab gasser, if I were going to choose. We're going to try to find one locally that we can all sit in and see if we like, as the last time Melissa and I drove this one was about a year ago when we were visiting family. (We liked it, though. )

 

[98dango]

I loved my 93 f259 460 x-cab long box. One i should have kept but it has a good loving home..

The best i ever pulled from the truck was 13 mpg. I also never got less than 9. My truck was lifted 6" 35s drove it every where. I used and abused that truck never had to do much but the usual oil brakes tune up.


and cuz we all like pictures

 

[Carlyle]

Sounds like you should buy it and see how it goes. Nice thing about older vehicles in good shape, it would sell for what you paid for it if it doesn't work out and you don't have too much into it.

 

[Rot Box]

Great solid trucks and a good motor imo :bike_rider:

The bad things off the top of my head: The auto's (A4OD) in stock form don't have the greatest reputation mostly due to the torque converter and smallish cooling lines. For what you're doing I think you'd be absolutely fine with a fluid change (no chemicals) and maybe a temp gauge/aftermarket cooler for safe measure.

I agree with everyone on the fuel mileage I'm betting 12mpg tops. They have a very restricting exhaust which opening it up with a higher flow system could help mpg's a bit, but other than that I don't think here's a whole lot you can do that's worthwhile

The Dana 50 TTB is strong enough, but they suffer from alignment issues depending on load--the FWC alone could be enough weight to throw it out of whack and wear your tires funny. D60's are a bolt in swap for the most part but a lot of people get by just fine with the D50. I don't view the TTB front end as a deal breaker by any means.

Agreed if you buy it post some pics! It will be great to have another square body Ford guy.

 

[Calplaya]

Man I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love these trucks! My uncle had one that i really really wanted, but he would never sell it. Eventually he was hit by a guy going through a red light in Sioux Falls and it is no longer with us. I loved that old rig, even thou it was only 2 wheel drive. It was a white F250 crew cab with the 460 and a 5 speed manual transmission. drove like a dream and quite honestly, yeah it got around 9 and ten miles to the gallon, but thats what my Suburban gets too and it only has a Chevy 350 under the hood. Id much rather have the bigger engine and be getting that kind of fuel economy in all honesty. But they are really great trucks. even thou it was only a 2 wheel drive beast (I forgot to mention it was RUST FREE!) he put a camper in the bed and used it as his fishing truck and never got out in the woods. pretty darn good for a heavy 2 wheel drive long wheelbase truck like that I think. All in all, one of my favorite trucks, for whatever thats worth lol

 

[Buliwyf]

Are the 460's reliable motors?

Thanks.

Bwaw, Hahaha!

Yeah they're reliable. Give them air/fuel/spark and they run. Can't say I've ever seen a 460 fail, at least not the engine.

Replace the ignition module and coil, keep the originals as spares. All the 460's I've wrenched on are old school carb'd, or Natural Gas. So I can't comment on whatever fuel system that truck runs. But the engine, is extremely stout, most likely the strongest part on that truck short of the rear axle.

I just finsihed working on one 10 minutes ago with over 400 hours of use and over 12 years old. OG belts, hoses, coolant, tstat, plugs, cap , rotor. Oil was road tar. I got it fixed up and running well in no time at all.

 

[redthies]

I agree with all of the above. I have owned a 96 F250 super cab long box with a 5 speed, and a 92 F350 cc longbox auto. The 5 speed was capable of low - mid teens if I idled it around. The auto was more like 10-12. 285s on the stick, 315s on the auto. Never had to do a thing to either engine. I called about a gorgeous 250 with 5 speed in Oregon yesterday, but it was a short call as it has a 351. I far prefer the 460. Seeing as you are in SoCal, I would watch Craigslist for inlandempire. There are always a ton of nice F250/350s in that area. You can get a very well set up truck for $3-4,000. E4OD autos will be the weak link. Look for one that has been rebuilt if you want an auto. These are my truck of choice for a used, reliable platform.

 

[topofpalomar]

I had a '96 F-250 standard cab long bed, 3/4 ton 4x4 and loved it. Still miss it, too. It had the 460 with auto and did me fine until I sold it and bought a new Chevy (yeah, I know, but I like the Chevy, too). That Ford was reliable, but as mentioned by everyone else, a very thirsty rig. It hauled our Apache popup truck camper just fine and could pass everything on the road except a gas station. I did have some issues with the electric locks on the doors and just after I got rid of it I received a recall notice from Ford about the cruise control issue (prone to catch fire under the hood). I would expect if that vehicle has been cared for it's probably been corrected, if it falls under the recall. Might be good to ask the seller. It sounds like a nice rig. I'd buy it.

Yours in Safety

Cliff

 

[BIGdaddy]

Made a move on this today. i'll update as updates come...

 

[shortbus4x4]

Cool. Very good engines and drivetrains, just a little thirsty and the front TTB has its quirks. I love the 92-97 body styling.

 

[BIGdaddy]

Cool. Very good engines and drivetrains, just a little thirsty and the front TTB has its quirks. I love the 92-97 body styling.

So do I. love the rounded square front end.