[R.E.Lee]

This is my first post on the forum and I'm really looking forward to getting into a PowerStoke but was hoping you guys could help me out with the pricing and finding the right one. I've already posted on the powerstroke.org forum and am trying to get as many opinions as I can on what a good price would be.

I have found a local place that specializes in lifted trucks and they have quite the inventory. The truck I am thinking about is a '97 F250 7.3L Diesel with 100k miles that has been garaged all its life and it truly shows. I went over there today and although I didn't drive it, it was incredibly clean all over.

Here is the quick description from their site:

F-350 DANA 60 SOLID AXLE CONVERTED EXT CAB F-250... ONLY 101K MILES ON THIS 7.3 POWERSTROKE DIESEL, BANKS GAUGES, 4.56 GEARS FRONT AND REAR, 38 BOGGERS ON EAGLE ALLOY 12 INCH WIDE 16.5'S!!! XLT LOADED INTERIOR, BILSTEIN SHOCKS, APROX 8-9 INCHES OF SUSPENSION LIFT SHACKLE REVERSAL SYSTEM AND SPRINGS, CENTRIFUGAL BALANCE SYSTEM ON WHEELS SO THEY DONT RIDE LIKE BOGGERS AT ALL

Here are a few pictures:

Is this going to be a truck I hate after a few months? By that I mean is having a truck with a 9" lift going to be a constant headache with lots of little problems? Is this truck worth the negotiated $13.8k they will take for it. Is $13.8k a good price for a truck in this condition with the listed modifications? Blue Book seems to be between $8k-$9k

From the other input I am getting, people think a price closer to $12k might be more reasonable...your thoughts?

Also, would you 4x4 experts recommend I keep a daily driver car when buying this truck, even though my commute is only 8 miles round trip?

Thanks in advance!

Jack

 

[Patrick Feeley]

Welcome to the forum! The price seems a bit steep to me me, but it probably depends on what part of the country you live in. Personally, I wouldn't want a lifted with 38 X 16.5's truck (but many might disagree). I would be concerned with the maintenance (especially tranny if it's an E4OD), any engine mods, and who (and how) the suspension mods were done. Cheers!

 

[plowingdiesel]

It is a pretty looking truck and would turn a lot of heads but. Unless you really want a truck high in the sky i would not buy it. If you are buying it for a daily driver Those tire will rumble your head off, such big tires are very hard on wheel bearings, you will not get miles per gallon but gallons per mile.
and height can be a problem, i have a 1995 ford f-259 diesel stock 4x4 and it still give me height problems. So it will be fum for a while then you have to start fixing all those mods. this is just my opinion.

 

[R.E.Lee]

Welcome to the forum! The price seems a bit steep to me me, but it probably depends on what part of the country you live in. Personally, I wouldn't want a lifted with 38 X 16.5's truck (but many might disagree). I would be concerned with the maintenance (especially tranny if it's an E4OD), any engine mods, and who (and how) the suspension mods were done. Cheers!

Thanks for responding. I am in Virginia. I too think the price is a bit high...who knows if they will/would come down more. Its worth a shot. :icon_wink:

The lift components I am not worried about as this place is very well trusted and known in the community. That said, I think the tranny is original and I would using that as a bargaining chip.

Does the E40D always fail after 100k miles? Is it harder on the transmission to be running the 4.56 gears and monster tires?

It is a pretty looking truck and would turn a lot of heads but. Unless you really want a truck high in the sky i would not buy it. If you are buying it for a daily driver Those tire will rumble your head off, such big tires are very hard on wheel bearings, you will not get miles per gallon but gallons per mile.
and height can be a problem, i have a 1995 ford f-259 diesel stock 4x4 and it still give me height problems. So it will be fum for a while then you have to start fixing all those mods. this is just my opinion.

Thanks for your input!

I have read that with the gears and tires I might be lucky to see 8mpg on the highway and worse around town. That sucks, but its not a total deal-breaker for me.

I do want a high truck, and would be lifting any stock truck I bought, regardless. That said your points are well taken..the height does prevent me from parking garages among many other places.

All other input is welcome!

Jack

 

[Dollrider]

Does the E40D always fail after 100k miles? Is it harder on the transmission to be running the 4.56 gears and monster tires?

Will a E4OD automatically fail at 100k... no mine has 160k on it and my dads 4R100 has 170k. I think it all depends on how you take care of them. We work them hard, my dad probably has pulled a trailer at least 80k of those miles back and forth across the continental divide but we keep the temps down and flush them often.

 

[BlackBeauty96]

mine had 218 on it and then it took a crap after i had jiffy lube do one of there suck and runs

 

[R.E.Lee]

Will a E4OD automatically fail at 100k... no mine has 160k on it and my dads 4R100 has 170k. I think it all depends on how you take care of them. We work them hard, my dad probably has pulled a trailer at least 80k of those miles back and forth across the continental divide but we keep the temps down and flush them often.

mine had 218 on it and then it took a crap after i had jiffy lube do one of there suck and runs

Thanks for the feedback guys!

How much harder does the lift and boggers work the trans if at all? Could I still expect 160k miles out of it given the lift, etc?

Also, how expensive would it be to swap from 4.56 gears to 4.10 gears if I wanted to go that route in the future?

Thanks!

 

[R.E.Lee]

I spoke with the dealership again today and he referenced a power steering modification. Is there a common PS modification when going to a D60 or when lifting an F250?

 

[ScottFraser2]

For that price, in my opinion, i'd start looking into the newer superdutys which could be had for a little more coin, if not the same. Personally i would not pay more then $8,000 for an OBS. Face it, the newest (1997) OBS is already 12 years old. And without knowing the history of the truck, go into it thinking worst case scenario.

 

[R.E.Lee]

For that price, in my opinion, i'd start looking into the newer superdutys which could be had for a little more coin, if not the same. Personally i would not pay more then $8,000 for an OBS. Face it, the newest (1997) OBS is already 12 years old. And without knowing the history of the truck, go into it thinking worst case scenario.

Thanks Scott.

I am leaning that way, though my mind isn't made up yet. I like the OBS as there just aren't as many on the roads anymore, especially in such great cosmetic shape. Ony my way to and from work today (8 miles of main drag) there were 3 seperate '01-'06 F250/F350.

That and I like the OBS styling and then the '04+ styling...not as much the trucks in the middle. I know the '01s can be updated, but just saying

 

[ScottFraser2]

Last summer, just over the border from me in Minnesota, there was a red and white 250 supercab 4x4 with 109,000 miles on it. It was in on trade at the Ford dealer. Extremely spotless truck. I asked how much- $16,9 the salesman said, but make an offer. So, on the spot I said 12. He goes back in to talk to the manager, comes back out and says 14. I told him nah, too much. A few months later i happen to check out the Two Harbors Ford website for that truck. I Find it, and to my surprise The ad says "Reduced Price $12,000". I just chuckle to myself. The next time I went to the states I took another quick look as I was driving past, it was gone. They must have sold it. Six months later i was on the website again and its back...and listed for $9,000 and the mileage had jumped up to 124,000. By this time, i'm not too interested, someone had put on 15,000 miles on in 6 or 7 months fiberglass colour matched tauno cover is missing, tailgate missing. So I told myself forget it, something fishy here. My advice if you want an OBS, think of a good price you wanna spend and just keep looking. There is one out there with the price and condition that you want. Don't rush it.

 

[R.E.Lee]

Update!

Thanks Scott. I think the "don't rush it advice is good. That said, its hard when you get so excited about something and then take it out for a spin. :icon_wink:

Went and drove it and man those boggers aren't meant for the highway. He said this truck drives better than most on boggers on account of the centrifugal balancing device on the front wheels, but it still wasn't great.

Aside from that, I really liked it. The steering feel is a bit vague with play in it left to right on the highway, and at one point on the highway, I had the wheel cranked about 70 degrees right to keep the truck going straight. Is that proper or correct for a truck this large with boggers?

It has a boost gauge and held a pretty constant 10psi while cruising at 65 (70 mph = 2500rpms) and jumped up to 19-20psi under heavy acceleration.

Truck sounded great (obviously loud as some pointed out that the PSDs are) but seemed good. After the drive (about 30 minutes) I got underneath the truck and noticed there was a drop of oil accumulated on the oil filter, yet it never actually dropped. Kind of like when sweat beads on the tip of your nose, forms a droplet, but never falls. I went back 10 minutes later and there were no signs of oil on the ground. The area under the rear main seal looked to be a little bit moist..almost like a drop of oil were released and spread around to give it a sheen. Normal?

No other leaks or noises to be found/heard.

The front driveshaft was lengthened, the tranny was level and not clocked down or up, and the rear driveshaft is a 2-piece unit.

He said that this is an all-spring lift. The blocks in the back are factory...but they look awfully big to be factory, unless the factory springs were tiny and used those blocks to get the factory clearance. Pics are below.

We didn't talk much more about price, though in talking with both salesman they don't see to be willing to budge any past the $13.5K with extra muffler and servicing thrown in. I asked about fixing the little things (the diamond plate bed rails are warped) and he said they would have no trouble fixing that prior to delivery.

A few pics I snapped:

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[R.E.Lee]

[/IMG]

 

[ScottFraser2]

Looks to be in very nice clean shape. I know that feeling of finally getting into a truck that you've been looking for...your heart just races LOL. When I took my truck for its first spin in October just before i purchased it, i had to roll down the windows just to hear that motor pull through the gears as I shifted it...owner was just shaking his head because it was cold enough to see your breath. As for the truck you are looking at, having to turn the wheel that much to keep it straight can get very tiring. I used to hate driving my dads '83 F-250 with the 4.9 six. If it wasn't loaded it wander all over the road because empty it'd have too much positive camber (just rides on the insides of the front tires) and having the light weight 4.9 was no help either. You would spend more time correcting yourself and just get fatigued. The blocks on the truck you are looking at isn't stock to a 4x4 F-250, they nromally have a 2 inch block. Those are from a 4x4 F-350 which has the 4 inch blocks. Now that i think about it, the D60 front axle is not a cheap conversion either. To find one used and not even rebuilt or know the condition you'd be paying $1000-1500 for it. The oil weaping on the filter is, at least for me, common on the 7.3 IDI and the PSD. Just take a very close look to make sure its not the oil cooler o-rings leaking, if it is tell them to knock 500 ticks off of the bill. You might want to get an extension ladder to get up into the engine compartment and look down into the Vee of the engine to make sure there are no fluids pooling up in there. When they pool up in there they drain out a hole at the back of the motor and down between the block and the tranny that gives you an illusion of a main seal leak. If it isnt leaving puddles I wouldn't woory too much about it but you could try and use it as leverage to get the price down. As for the driveshaft, most of the 155"+ wheel bases are normally 2 piece. Hope some of that helps. Check "powerstrokehelp""How to buy a used powerstroke" on youtube, the guy has a good checklist on other things to look for when purchasing a used PSD. Have Fun !

 

[R.E.Lee]

Looks to be in very nice clean shape. I know that feeling of finally getting into a truck that you've been looking for...your heart just races LOL. When I took my truck for its first spin in October just before i purchased it, i had to roll down the windows just to hear that motor pull through the gears as I shifted it...owner was just shaking his head because it was cold enough to see your breath.

Have Fun !

Yeah, it was in the 40s today and I had the windows down to hear the motor, though the boggers drowned out some of that noise. :no:

Thank you for all of the info you posted! I greatly appreciate it and will absolutely do those things you suggest with popping the hood to have a look, etc.

Its not exactly what I'm used to (my last car was a turbo BMW), but Im really excited about this truck.

 

[fixithud]

I am also in Va. and have seen a lot of their ads. I know NOTHING for sure about them, but I don't like fresh painted chassis and lifted trucks that have been 'babied'. Much less 'bed rail caps that need to be straightened'.

Saw a nice Crew Cab Short Bed 250 on another diesel site that was 9950.00. Stock height, nice looking truck. IT is in Ohio but could be worth the trouble. Tried to post the link but no dice. Email me if you like [email protected]
I know nothing about this truck but I like the fact that it is stock height and crewcab beats extended cab ALL DAY LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know it isn't around the corner, but could very well worth the effort.

Hud

 

[BEECHBM69]

One thing I noticed right off the bat was someone's liberal application of rattle can paint on the undercarriage. Where as I hit mine every spring with a wire wheel where needed and paint anything that doesn't move also, I would pay close attention to whatever is under all that paint.

As to the price, I paid that for my truck 7 years ago. It's way high, but if it's what you want, it's what you want.

I've driven and maintained lifted trucks and will NEVER have another one. The extra unsprung weight is hard on everything. If you're gonna sport around on the weekends picking up tail, it's great. If you're planning on driving it everyday I would do what you inquired about earlier and buy a beater daily driver. If for no other reason than to keep the BS miles off your truck. Unless I'm going to drive 20 miles or more I don't even turn the key on mine.

Good luck to you whatever you do.

Dan