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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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Ford F150 beater truck?
I want a beater truck to haul crap around. The Toyota's and Nissan trucks are just plan silly for what owners want for them used. Around here anything older than 10 years has the wheel wheels eaten away and some people still think they can get $2000+ for it because it's a Toyota or Nissan...
..So I started looking for an F150. I saw a '94 today and the kid trying to selling is a machanic out of work. He's got new suspension bits and brakes on it, new water pump, new radiator. It's got a leaking rear gas tank thought, and the rear wheel wells are eaten up good. Rear fender rocker area is gone too, but the drivetrain feels solid at $125K miles. I should be able to get it for $900. What should I know about Ford F150's? Are there cheap replacement panels for these? Or do they just find a used bed and drop it on? Last edited by MotoSook; 12-05-2009 at 02:07 PM.. |
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12-03-2009, 11:04 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 3,469
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Id up my price to $2k and find a rust free truck. The hassle of putting on rear skins or finding a decent bed isnt worth $1000. Pre 2000 gas V8's are still cheap at auction.
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12-03-2009, 11:10 AM
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Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
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Up until 1995, the F150 had a half I-beam front suspension with worm-gear steering. What this means to you is that no adjustment is possible in the front or rear suspensions. I've driven one of them and they scared the crap out of me, but I suppose they are okay at around-town speeds. (You didn't steer the truck as much as try to influence its direction.)
The F150 got a proper double-control arm front suspension in 1995. It still feels like a truck, but now you feel like you are steering a large yacht instead of the Titanic. I had a '97 from '05 to '07 when a main bearing went. There was another redesign in 2005 and again in 2008, but you don't care about those... As for body panels, go to a junk yard for what you need. These trucks are common and you should be able to find what you need for cheap.
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Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." Last edited by legion; 12-03-2009 at 11:37 AM.. |
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12-03-2009, 11:14 AM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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Terry,
I don't want to spend more than $1500 for this beater. I have six 4-wheel vehicles already, and I just want something to take to the lumber store or out to a muddy job site for work. I can weld so I could fix the rust, but I'm not sure there are new replacement parts for something like that. Chris, Good to know about the steering. I drove that '94 and it didn't seem odd up to 40 mph. I don't anticipate going more than 70 mph in that thing...still scare at 70? Last edited by MotoSook; 12-03-2009 at 11:51 AM.. |
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12-03-2009, 11:34 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Valencia Pa.
Posts: 8,859
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Cheap, easy reliable work vehilces. But if you are buying a rusty one, you have to look out for rusted oil pans, rear leaf spring frame hangers, and shackles, rusted out fuel tanks, and fuel and brake lines. The front spring brackets also rust through, and that is a PIA job to replace. They are pretty cheap, and easy to work on, but I seem to replace the same stuff on them on a regular basis. The 300 6 is near bullet proof, and the v 8's seem to go the long haul as well, transmissions are pretty robust. Replacement panels are fairly cheap, and if you are not interested in apperance, you can just use self tapping screws to attach them , not pretty , but functional.
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No left turn un stoned |
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12-03-2009, 12:01 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of You
Posts: 9,160
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I had a 6 cylinder F-150. Totally reliable. I loved it.
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12-03-2009, 12:06 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Naples,FL
Posts: 3,469
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12-03-2009, 12:11 PM
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,190
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I have a 1996 F-150. 300ci inline 6 with a 3 on the tree. Looks like hell, 238k on the clock. But it always starts, and gets me to the dump/lumber yard just fine. I paid $1000, and that was 3-4 years ago. I'll drive it until something big goes and buy another.
Great trucks. The 300ci 6 is one of the best engines ever made in my humble opinion.
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor. 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. 2014 Cayman S, PDK. Mercedes E350 family truckster. |
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12-03-2009, 12:19 PM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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I'm a big fan of straight-6 engines, and this one I'm looking at isn't a I-6, but the 5.0 V-8.
The rear left springs and front springs were replaced + all shocks. So I'm hoping the underpinning is OK. I'm concerned about the fuel tank leak. I do hate living in the rust belt! Anyone in Arizona or New Mexico had an F150 for sale? I have some free flights and vacation time I can flyin and drive hom e 
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12-03-2009, 12:37 PM
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best truck to get would be a 95-98 silverado z71 if u look u can find a ext cab for 1500 to 2 grand, honestly best workhorse truck around parts are plentiful and they take alot of abuse i regret selling my 98 more than most of my sports cars which says alot , i would never buy a ford horrible and i mean HORRIBLE transmissions
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1981 911sc Coupe "Valerie" Widebody 2001 Audi S4 Avant, "The Daily Booster!" 2001 Ducati 748 Biposto "The Torture Rack" 71 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster " The Moth Ball" |
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12-03-2009, 12:42 PM
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if youre going to get a pickup always get a v8 ,there is always a friend you have who needs help moving and its alot easier having the power to tow than to do damage when youre forced to use the truck
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1981 911sc Coupe "Valerie" Widebody 2001 Audi S4 Avant, "The Daily Booster!" 2001 Ducati 748 Biposto "The Torture Rack" 71 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster " The Moth Ball" |
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12-03-2009, 12:44 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North of You
Posts: 9,160
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12-03-2009, 01:41 PM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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12-03-2009, 01:52 PM
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hahah yea my truck was a burnout mobile but a good one at that i just wish i trailed with it like intended ,im looking for another one like a fiend ,the best truck i ever owned
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1981 911sc Coupe "Valerie" Widebody 2001 Audi S4 Avant, "The Daily Booster!" 2001 Ducati 748 Biposto "The Torture Rack" 71 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster " The Moth Ball" |
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12-03-2009, 01:57 PM
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Cogito Ergo Sum
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Oh when I said abuse... He had a 1500 loaded down with tools... and then he would pull an 8k trailer at close to 80..
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12-03-2009, 02:01 PM
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well my buddy has a 98 sierra 2500 198k original everything driven everday and pulls a trailer easily 5 k pounds ,and uses it for plowing and lumber loads ,unbreakable
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1981 911sc Coupe "Valerie" Widebody 2001 Audi S4 Avant, "The Daily Booster!" 2001 Ducati 748 Biposto "The Torture Rack" 71 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster " The Moth Ball" |
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12-03-2009, 02:06 PM
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Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
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Quote:
I'm not a fan of GM trucks. I might consider a GMC that's built in the 70's and older...but that's not really a beater truck. Do the frames rust out on the F150's in the midwest? I see a lot of old ones around so I'm hoping not... For a Ford truck, the thing actually felt pretty good. The guy had all new suspension parts on it...and it actually felt better than my Jeep Cherokee  during the very short test drive I took over my lunch break.
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12-03-2009, 02:11 PM
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Seldom Seen Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 3,584
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I have a '95 F-150. Easy to work on and seems to be reliable. It's a five speed with the straight six. I think the clutch is about toast.
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Why do things that happen to white trash always happen to me? Got nachos? |
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12-03-2009, 02:14 PM
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Habitual User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ventura, Ca
Posts: 490
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Quote:
 Should you really judge all pre '95 Ford trucks by ONE you drove? And lastly, If you think '95 trucks drive "like trucks"....well, you're too young to remember real trucks.
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 '80 911 Targa |
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12-03-2009, 02:45 PM
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honestly more importantly than make is to shop around the newer the better trucks are designed to be abused and last a long time personally after driving 70s 80s and 90s up until tonight i drove a rental dodge , chevy has treated me great , also 00 and up f250s are great i had an 02 crew cab 8 ft bed awesome truck worst turning radius on the planet, the perks of american trucks are they have a horrible resale many are on the road and the driveline parts are easy to come by , a ford 6 would not be my choice by anymeans though sorry my best friends shop has 3 of them in for work
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1981 911sc Coupe "Valerie" Widebody 2001 Audi S4 Avant, "The Daily Booster!" 2001 Ducati 748 Biposto "The Torture Rack" 71 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster " The Moth Ball" |
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12-03-2009, 03:02 PM
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Valerie
1971 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster
The Duc
2000 gmc yukon
1986 Porsche 944 2.5l
