OT Can i get some input on a couple trucks i'm looking at

[FordTruck]

http://springfield.craigslist.org/ctd/2078289488.html

It's a 97 F350 powerstroke 5spd 4x4. I was just wondering is there anything I need to becareful of when buying a used diesel. My friend had a truck exactlly like this but it was a 96 and i drove it and liked it pretty well but it didn't seem to have the power a diesel should so he traded it for a 1st gen cummins but im diehard ford and can't drive a dodge but are there any major problems i need to look for with thease year of strokers and what kind of milage as far as life left in the motor/drivetrain and gas can i expect out of it? Just need some honest input about thease trucks cause all my dad and brother have to say is why and that's not helping me Thanks in advance guys!

[FordTruck]

Thanks for the input dustin i went and looked at it few weeks ago. I did think the heavy black on the bed was werid but from crawling around under it everything looks nice. Im thinking about taking it for a test drive but i'm still looking around. By the looks of the place almost all the trucks were fleet trucks and so was my 95 and its been this best truck ive ever owned. I'll take a closer look at it this weekend. What kind of problems did those PSD's have?

[Ranchero50]

That's a weird one. It's in too nice of a shape for the mileage. The floor mat should have a hole in it, the armrests should be soft or falling off, much less the seats condition unless it had a really good seat cover on it. It just doesn't jive. My friend had an '96 king cab 350 4x4 and it was a dog, then the turbo started leaking oil and it sucked to work on.

I would be very wary on the test drive, even concider taking it for a checkup at your friendly independant inspection station. Like Dustin, that front in is going to need work unless it was a fleet truck and very well maintained.

Jamie

[AlleyCat]

I'm with Jamie on the not jiving. Interior is way too nice for the mileage but then again I've seen big trucks with 1,000,000 + that looked like they had 50k or so on them. Here's another possibility though. Maybe the flat bed is a recent installation. It could have had something else that was transferred to another truck.

[Mancar1]

Probably had a lot of sprucing up to sell. Be careful, lotta miles for the looks. If you just gotta have it offer a bunch under the asking price. I would look elswhere, Just my

[Jarred Hodges]

seems way high for so many miles. I was thinking around $3500

[fireguywtc]

I am with everyone on this, and Dustin is right on it being a gamble. It totally depends on its maintance history. You could end up with a good truck that will run without problems for another 100k miles or more before reparis. I had a 97 I sold with 183k. It was well maintained and ran great. But when it broke it was expensive. I ended up losing the high pressure oil pump (hpop) and it was around $1100 to have it fixed. If buying the truck will max out your budget then you may end up staring at the pretty truck in the driveway if something ends up breaking.

[Joshpow]

Lotta miles but hey thats what diesels are all about. Look at how it starts. How well it seems to have been maintained. Looks awful nice for the miles but maybe a sign of great maintenance. Look at how it handles. Firm believer in taking it to a trustworthy mechanic for an opinion from a professional. Good luck.

[FordTruck]

Thanks for the input guys. The more I read what you guys are saying I'm starting to maby consider a different choice but I might go out there and take it for a test drive and see how it runs. I'm starting to look into a cummins instead of a stroker

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/2051944992.html

[green68250]

I daily drive a 2001 F-250 7.3L with over 225,000 in the clock and wouldn't trade it for anything. The power, the mileage, did I mention the power? I got a good deal on it and I have put a boat load of money in to it but it has never let me down. Just dont buy a 6.0L and you will be fine.

[rjewkes]

You'd be better off buying something in the same condition at the auction over off of James river the one thats close to the wally world. atleast you would wind up paying less if noone else wants it.

[averagef250]

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/2051944992.html

The main selling points are that it belches smoke and has stacks.

If that's the type of truck you want then there you go. I'm not going to give input on that truck.

[DuckRyder]

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/2051944992.html

I stopped reading at:

I have done alot to this truck

I find you usually need a comprehensive list of everything they have touched so you can go back and do it right...

[ford4x4fun]

http://joplin.craigslist.org/cto/2051944992.html

I stopped reading at:

I have done alot to this truck

I find you usually need a comprehensive list of everything they have touched so you can go back and do it right...

I wouldn't rush into a truck, I kinda did when I bought mine and it ended up having about 2000 dollars worth of problems. The good thing about mine is it was left completely stock, so I new the PO, didn't spend a lot of time with a tuned chipped set to smoke mode blazing RPM's just to look cool. The 7.3L is the way to go, the late 99's and 2000's models actually had Forged Internal's stock with there motors so if you want one the best 7.3L that is the year to find. This is all my but I would be patient!

[Jarred Hodges]

I think an older cummins truck would be a great idea but I would want one that is stock. a truck with stacks has more than likely had the heck ran out of it