by "Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
Published 11/13/2017 at 19:40
by "Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
Published 11/13/2017 at 19:40
Tags: decay's beaters
; Truck Yeah
; racecar hauler
STARS: 0
I’ve been toying with the idea of picking up a beater truck as a replacement for the BMW. Owning 3 cars when my primary mode of transportation is a motorcycle feels a little silly and the BMW doesn’t get driven all that much. I need something with a little more carrying capacity (for those that do not know, the E39 does not have fold down rear seats :/ ) for hauling awkward/dirty/heavy stuff to and from my house and towing the racecar (my Lemons team has been street driving the damn thing to events). As a bonus, and the reason I’m leaning a little more towards a truck than an SUV, I’d be able to move motorcycles without much extra effort. Don’t really care about features or fuel economy, just manual transmission (because I’m not a monster) and reliability
Right now I’m thinking the right move is a mid 90's F series. Both the 4.9 i6 and the early 7.3 Powerstrokes appear to be almost un-killable and both offer all the capability I’d require and more. Plus in some weird way, i kinda like the way they look.
Any other things I should be looking at? I know similar era Toyotas are about as bulletproof, but I’d worry they didn’t have the towing capacity for a racecar and trailer. Plus they command a pretty heavy price premium here in the northwest. I see old Nissan and Mitsubishi trucks around a lot, but they, like the Toyotas, would be a little strung out pulling a trailer. I do not really see a lot of other older domestics still running around, not sure if that’s indicative of poorer reliability, or simply selling less.
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Requirements are as follows:
1. Ability to transport motorcycles, I do this a couple times a month so renting has quickly become expensive
2. Manual Transmission
3. Ability to tow ~5000lbs
4. Reliable
5. Cheap, ideally less than $3k
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
11/13/2017 at 20:24, STARS: 2
If you were in the Northeast with the rust we have, I would laugh at your price range. But if you can get a 90's ford pickup for that kind of money, go for it. The 351 is a good engine, too. I might want the V8 or the diesel for towing 5,000 lbs on a regular basis, otherwise that I6 is a great engine.
"4kc" (4kc)
11/13/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
oops
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 0
That, high for the NE? or low?
"4kc" (4kc)
11/13/2017 at 20:28, STARS: 3
https://portland.craigslist.org/grg/cto/d/1976-ford-f350-cat-diesel/6312513820.html
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 20:31, STARS: 2
Oh man, that thing is sweet.
10.4 liters?!?!?!
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
11/13/2017 at 20:55, STARS: 1
Low!
Okay maybe I lied,
here’s a ‘96 F150
with the I6 and a 5-speed for $1,200 although 200+k. I think it’s the 2wd thing; no one wants a 2wd truck around here, so they’re not worth anything. There’s almost nothing on my local CL under $3k, and absolutely nothing 4wd under $3k that’s not rusty or broken.
I will say, I have a friend who buys and sells 90's Fords constantly, so he knows them in and out, and it always cobbling together good ones from the best parts of all the ones that pass through his yard. So from him, I might buy one for $4-5k. His girlfriend is currently driving a ~4wd 1995 4-door, 8' bed, 5 speed with a 460. It’s gigantic, and awesome. “Passes anything but a gas station” is the expression that applies here.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 21:06, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’m actually looking more for 2wd! Lower than the 4x4s so it makes motorcycle loading easier. We don’t really get snow here, and I don’t boat, so there is no need for the extra complexity. Plus with the lack of salt on the roads, stuff just doesn’t deteriorate leading to a pretty good, cheap second hand market (daily driver spec VW Bugs are less than $1k, I picked up my junker NA miata for $200)
My buddy in PA has both a 95 i-6 4x4 and a 96 F350 7.3, each of them have put up with more abuse than all the vehicles I’ve ever owned, combined. That’s what had kind of sold me on this gen, didn’t have any first hand experience with the v8 models, but I’ll take a look a those too
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
11/13/2017 at 21:12, STARS: 1
ugh, rust. Here’s a $1,500 beetle in New Hampshire. Sitting for 23 years.
But I love snow, so I guess I’ll have to take it.
I haven’t owned a truck with the 351, but it was THE standard engine for inboard ski boats from the late 70's up into the early 2000's (followed by the GM 350). They are basically bulletproof. And in that application, they work VERY hard.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 21:15, STARS: 0
Yep, I lived it for my whole childhood. Seeing cars turn to dust within 10 years of purchase :(
Sweet, thanks for the info, added to the list
"Tristan" (casselts)
11/13/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 1
I saw that thing on CL a while back when it was sitting in a big patch of weeds... It was tempting then, even more tempting now that it’s up and running/driving.
"Tristan" (casselts)
11/13/2017 at 21:20, STARS: 0
Hot take: The 4.9 is garbage. It’s reliable, but so is the 5.0 and the 5.8. With the 5.0 you get 180 HP, iirc, the 5.8 gives 190, and the 4.9? 130. It has okay towing power, and might even give you double digit MPG if you’re really lucky. I’ve seen plenty with awful rod knocks and windowed blocks.... It’s just like the jeep 4.0- a mostly okay engine that somehow, mysteriously gained legendary status.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 21:27, STARS: 0
Me and the 5.0 have a strained relationship, the one in our racecar keeps eating bottom ends. Might be nice to have a spare on site during race weekends in the tow vehicle though lol
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
11/13/2017 at 21:56, STARS: 2
Unless you have a specific and very lightweight trailer in mind, I would advise shooting for higher than a 5000lb tow capacity. My FSAE team, with tools and spare parts, couldn’t ever get a trailer loaded with under 4000lbs of stuff, and our car only weighed 450lbs. 5000 isn’t all that much. But if that the absolute limit to what you’ll be, my recommendation is a Jeep Comanche. Long-bed Metric Tonne package was rated for 2200lb payload and 5000lb towing. Plus the 4.0 out-performs the entry level v8's of the era.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
11/13/2017 at 21:58, STARS: 0
When the 4.0 came out it was putting V8's to shame. And considering it replaced the GM 2.8, frankly it could’ve had conrods made out of bamboo and still looked reliable in comparison.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 22:35, STARS: 0
Good to know, 5000 was kind of the low limit, hence why I’m also looking at diesels.
"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
11/13/2017 at 22:43, STARS: 0
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
11/13/2017 at 23:52, STARS: 1
You’ll get a little more than 5k out of a 90's half-ton but not much more. 3/4 ton will easily handle it you’ll want a 1-ton if you plan on an enclosed trailer and long hauls. Manual 90's 3/4 tons aren’t exactly a dime a dozen but there’s still more than a few around.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
11/14/2017 at 00:27, STARS: 1
A 1/2 ton truck for pulling a racecar on an open trailer is a good way to go. Cars on a double axle trailer end up with a lot of weight on the hitch. Pay attention to the tow ratings on 1/2 ton trucks from the 90's with manual transmissions. Those were usually light duty boxes often only available on the 6 and small V8 engines, and they tended to have pretty low tow ratings.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/14/2017 at 01:14, STARS: 0
Around here 3/4 tons can still be had pretty cheap, no on the enclosed trailer and trips will be in the 3-4 hour range depending on the track.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/14/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 0
Good to know, also looking at 3/4 tons, they’re all about the same price around here
"Tristan" (casselts)
11/14/2017 at 01:51, STARS: 2
Oh, god... I forgot about the abomination that was the 2.8 XJ. Yeah, true- 177 HP was mighty for 1987. When you look at the 4.0 alone, it’s pretty unimpressive, but if you compare it to Ford’s 4.0 and GM’s 4.3, it looks a helluva lot better.
I still want to swap a 4.8 LR4 GM V8 into my XJ, though. It’ll never happen, but I want it!
"Tristan" (casselts)
11/14/2017 at 01:54, STARS: 0
Hmmmmm.... I’ve had a 5.8 eat its rod bearings once, but other than that, no bottom end issues on SBFs for me. Though I’ve never subjected one to the rigors of regular racing! I did once own a 1988 Mustang GT with 428,000 miles on the untouched original engine. It was owned by a lady who worked in sales and traveled a LOT. It was her only car from 1989 until I bought it in 2002. Didn’t use a drop of oil, had great oil pressure, and still did massive, smoky burnouts.
"VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated." (vonbootwilly)
11/14/2017 at 05:44, STARS: 1
My dad had an I6 F150 5-speed from the early 90's (similar to the one you posted but burgundy) It towed cars on a decent sized double axle trailer no problem. I picked up a 1990 Toyota Cressida (3300lb~ish + trailer) 6 hours away once and drove back the same day without any problem at all, wasn’t even bad on the highway at speed all day.
I believe the transmission in the I6 F150 was a Japanese Aisin or something similar. It shifted like a sports car to be honest (if a sports car had a long shifter lol, really nice to put into gear though). Those are the best driving F150 I’ve ever experienced, they drive really well when in good shape. This is saying a lot since I’m not a Ford guy at all. At the price you are looking for I won’t even bring up the topic of safety ratings, but for me it’s a real factor. It’s why I won’t buy beaters anymore that won’t save my life when it counts. I live in an area where mild offset and side impact are really important.
"adamftw" (adamftw)
11/14/2017 at 07:39, STARS: 1
If you’re going to tow, get a 7.3. The I6 is great but its a dog with a load.