Should I buy a 97 F350 Crew Cab LB, would love your advice

[Paul B.]

Best of luck. They should have some room to move, price wise.

 

[Paul B.]

Just checking local Craigslist. I don't know how to post the link. Look under Orange County, California. There's a '89 F-350, 4 door, 4x4, gas, automatic, 60,000 miles. Wants $1500.

Not everyone's type of project, but thought someone here might take a look.

 

[R3D2]

I just bought a 95 F350 CCLB about 2 months back. It had 205k on it and I got it for 12. It's not perfect but it is pretty clean. No rust and that's all I really cared about. I'm very happy with my purchase. Slowly modding it for my needs. That price isn't outrageous I looked at a lot of them. Even saw a few go for upper teens on eBay so if it is as clean as it looks then it's not far off.


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[okiebindernut]

Everyones advice is spot on here. I am a mechanic overseeing a fleet of Ford diesels. The owner won't replace a truck until its a few years overdue. We generally don't get rid of one until they have over 300K miles. After a HARD 300K our 7.3L trucks still run great but the trucks are too beat to keep. Keep good batteries, glow plugs, starter, and oil in them and they will have no problem starting in the cold weater. Like someone else said though, if one of those things is weak, starting in the cold will be a problem.

 

[Jigidy]

Thanks again everyone. I haven't bit the bullet yet, but may make the drive to look at this week. They did say over the phone they would come down $1000 on the price so that will help.

 

[bftank]

these guys have the big glow plug relay thats been mentioned and most orings to seal up leaky fluids.

http://www.dieselorings.com/


my 94 7.3l had 260k miles and still running good when it was sold.

my 99 7.3l is an oil change away from 280k, no major complaints.

our 7.3l excursion had 198k when purchased and now is coming up on 221k with no issues.

sub 200k is still young for the diesel. just make sure the rest of the truck has been taken care of and you will be fine.

 

[Jigidy]

Update for everyone who helped me out...I didn't buy the f-350 : ( I just couldn't bring myself to buy such an old vehicle when I was able to find much newer trucks with less mileage....plus I don't need a big diesel for my needs...and most importantly my wife didn't want a truck that old either. It's still available if you want to go check it out. http://boise.craigslist.org/ctd/5017637961.html

I ended up buying this 2007 Chevy 2500 CCLB, and found a shell on C.L. for $500...bring on the summer family camping trips! Only has 96,000 and got it for less than the big Ford. Hope it will be a good rig, next step is to find a pop up camper to throw in it. Need to save up some money first though.

Thanks again guys. Jigidy

 

[Paul B.]

I firmly believe that you did the right thing. Paying that much for a truck with that many miles? Not my kind of play.

 

[Seabass]

You did good. It takes dedication and a confident and competent set of mechanical skills to drive a twenty year old truck. There's nothing wrong with them- it's what I chose to do. I live in Kentucky and am planning to drive my old F-350 to Montana and Wyoming next summer. Don't think it's not on my mind how old my truck is. But, I know most every nut and bolt on it. I kinda re-conditioned it when I bought it. Now it's half new and the problem causing and old rotted pieces have been replaced. I'm learning more about it all the time. So I'm sure I'll have some kind of issue, but I'm equally sure I'll get it back together and on the road when it happens. Enough about me....I really like your new rig. What engine? 6.0 or 8.1? Those chevy's are great trucks, and around my neck of the woods usually good buys so long as they aren't diesels. I'd probably look at one for me if the F-350 and I ever part company. Keep us posted on what all you do to it. And congrats on a good buy!