I Bought a Truck

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
03/14/2016 at 18:32 • Filed to: None

This morning I posted about an ‘89 F350, but I didn’t end up going that route...I just really wanted this badge right here:

I looked at this truck yesterday and the price was okay, but then the seller called me after and offered it to me for $3000, which I couldn’t pass up.

It’s an ‘01 F250 XLT 4x4 with one of my all time favorite engines: a 7.3L Powerstroke diesel. It also only has 150k on it, so it’s barely broken in.

It has what I’ve learned is universally called ‘typical Ford rot’: both rear wheel wells and a cab corner are gone, but it’s super solid otherwise. Frame is great, and even the supports and structure of the bed are (with one exception) excellent.

The interior is excellent, it’s going to clean up great. It’s got an ABS light on, which I’m hoping is just a sensor, and might have a small manifold leak...but again, $3000 for a 7.3 Powerstroke that isn’t completely full of holes.

On top of that, I think a friend of mine is buying my 2000 F150, which I’m happy about. That truck used to belong to my brother, who passed away a few years ago, and this friend who’s buying the truck was basically my brother’s best friend. So I’m fairly stoked he’s getting my brother’s truck.

This will not become a Bro Dozer, by the way. I’m short, I have enough trouble getting in the fucking thing now, forget if I lifted it.

DISCUSSION (51)

EL_ULY > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:36

BEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!

7.3L !!!!!!!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:37

Flat Bed time!

Somethin' 'bout a truck > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:41

This is a great choice! You can’t beat that price!

Are you going to try to fix the rot? What other plans do you have for it?

Twism > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:42

So you say it’s hard to get in...

Maybe it should be lower?

(yes it defeats the point of a work truck, but look at it... )

Kinja'd!!!

RallyWrench > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:42

Hard to kill, right there. The 7.3 is a great, great engine. These are still $10k trucks out here.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Twism
03/14/2016 at 18:43

That is pretty sick. It's not tough to get into, it's just kind of a weird height...like if it was 3 inches taller the side steps would feel good, if it was an inch shorter I'd just get into the seat. I'll get used to it though.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Somethin' 'bout a truck
03/14/2016 at 18:45

I'm going to fix the cab corner, on the bed I'm just going to cut back the rot, seal it, and get some of those plastic fender flares for now...at least until I can find a good used bed for it. After that, I'd love to do a cold air intake and a Banks Stinger kit, maybe an intercooler. I mean I sold a Fox-body Mustang to get it, so I have to do some power mods, right?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > RallyWrench
03/14/2016 at 18:46

I definitely wanted a 7.3 rather than a 6.0...the 6 liter makes great power, but I felt a little safer with the 7.3 since I’m a relative diesel newbie.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/14/2016 at 18:46

Not a bad idea at all.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > EL_ULY
03/14/2016 at 18:48

Yuuuup. Tied for the lead in most displacement I've ever had in an engine with, uh, the last 7.3 Powerstroke I had back in like 2007. I foresee my P71 getting a lot less drive time.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:52

I can’t wait to see it when it’s done, I love these trucks! You got a steal!

Twism > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:53

Yeah I know what you mean, we had a set of fiberglass steps on our Duramax and it was super awkward to get into the truck. You can probably find some other side steps with the right height.

Congrats on the buy. Any plans for it?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Somethin' 'bout a truck
03/14/2016 at 18:55

Thanks. I think I did pretty well...I looked at a ‘96 extended cab for the same money, but it needed way more stuff. This truck is driveable, and I know my lack of patience, I need a project to be driveable, haha.

EL_ULY > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:56

unleeeeeeeessssssssssss....... you power stroke swap the Panther!!!!!

RallyWrench > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 18:58

The 6.0 & 6.4 have all kinds of problems, and just about all of them require taking the cab off, even to replace the turbo. The 7.3 doesn’t.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Twism
03/14/2016 at 19:00

Right now, just mild stuff...cut back the rot on the wheel wells, cover it with plastic fender flares. Maybe throw an intake and exhaust at it. It already goes pretty well, so I'll probably take care of the cosmetic stuff first.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > EL_ULY
03/14/2016 at 19:00

...my god.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > RallyWrench
03/14/2016 at 19:02

The 7.3 is hilarious, you open the hood and the turbo is just sitting there on top like a hat. I've got no use for the 6.0 or 6.4...I'd take a 6.7 though.

Matt Nichelson > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 19:08

My stepdad has a ‘99 with a bullydog setup. His is somewhere north of 200k iirc and still runs great. For what you paid, nice buy in my book. 7.3 ftw!

whoarder is tellurium > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 19:24

Worth it all just for that 7.3.

Grats on the truck!

TheRealBicycleBuck > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 19:28

Why does the bed not align properly with the cab?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TheRealBicycleBuck
03/14/2016 at 19:35

There’s a bad support on that side, not a difficult fix. Other side is fine.

Frenchlicker > Twism
03/14/2016 at 19:39

I think that is lowered a bit much. However I do love a lowered dually. I see them being more useable for work than the jacked up monsters.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 19:42

Be warned, if you decide to tune it, the later 7.3's had weaker pistons and con rods. The pre-2001's had forged internals, the later did not.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/14/2016 at 19:49

Good to know! Thanks for the heads up.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 20:00

AFAIK the long term reliability isn’t really affected, so long as you don’t put a bad boxed tune on it. There are a few decent places that will do custom tunes, specifically for things like this.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/14/2016 at 20:12

Yeah, they say at stock power there's no damage to longevity with the powdered metal pistons, you wouldn't really have an issue until you're over 400hp...which I probably won't get to anyway, haha.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 20:15

A tune will barely get you there lol.

TFen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 20:21

Well done, sir.

I have a loaded 6.4psd I’m trying to sell right now. I really wish I went with a well sorted 7.3 stripper, instead.

Doesn’t get much more reliable than those.

Saracen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 20:34

Holy crap man, that is amazing. That would be a $10k-$12k truck easily, in my neck of the woods.

Nibbles > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 20:35

Three grand for that truck?! I’m jealous

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TFen
03/14/2016 at 21:02

Sometimes it seems like people would rather just have a bare bones truck with the good engine, which I can't fault them for. I need at least an XLT, I can't do vinyl seats anymore...too much time sticking to seats while driving for AAA.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Nibbles
03/14/2016 at 21:03

It's quite a lot of truck for the money. And the engine will go at least another 150k, so long as I can make the body last that long, haha.

bryan40oop > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 21:04

3k? Holy shit.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > EL_ULY
03/14/2016 at 21:40

This needs to happen. Seriously.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 21:44

Yeah, that’s what makes this so nice! 96's are great looking trucks, but if you can daily this while you work on it you really can’t go wrong.

Somethin' 'bout a truck > Saracen
03/14/2016 at 21:46

That’s what I thought. Clean these things go for almost 20k! The thing that I always laugh at is the guy selling one with 300k on the clock for 18K.. it’s like they gain value becasue of the miles on them!

TFen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 22:35

I guess stripper was the wrong choice of words. XLT sounds like what I meant. Just a truck without the leather, nav, sunroof, etc.

Cloth seats, power windows and cruise control work for me.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TFen
03/14/2016 at 22:56

Yup. It’s funny how what we call a stripper now would be loaded in the 90s. Loaded used to be power windows, locks, and steering (pw/pl/ps in your local newspaper classifieds section)...now it’s leather, sat nav, and a heated steering wheel.

shop-teacher > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/14/2016 at 23:57

That is most definitely a price that’s too good to pass up. Nice price!

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/15/2016 at 01:16

holy fucking shit! that is a steal!!! Looks same as mine but mine has way more rust and I paid lots more. Also abs light commonly comes on when the rear abs wheel speed sensor on the diff becomes dirty or fails. $20 parts to replace.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > TFen
03/15/2016 at 01:17

hmmm I want a newer PSD but don’t think I could afford a 6.4 and some of the horror stories I have heard about them

gawdzillla > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/15/2016 at 09:34

whats the mpg like on these 7.3 ?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > gawdzillla
03/15/2016 at 10:10

I had a ‘96 that sometimes got 16-17mpg, 14-15 around town. That also had a Banks Stinger kit on it, made something like 350hp and 700 ft lbs.

gawdzillla > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
03/15/2016 at 10:31

thats not bad at all

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > gawdzillla
03/15/2016 at 11:06

Yeah really, and compared to the 8mpg I'd get with a 460 in an older truck it's downright economical.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
04/15/2016 at 21:24

I’m late as hell, but how the fuck did you get that for $3,000? Haha

I'm in the market for a diesel truck and most of the ones on that price range are astronomically high in price.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
04/15/2016 at 22:48

Good luck I guess. When I got it, if I’m honest, I thought it may be a bit of a scow...it’s got a lot of rust in the normal spots, but I figured it would need some mechanical work as well for what I paid. But now that I’ve been living with it for a month and got some new tires on it, I’m forced to conclude that it’s just a nice truck and I got a good deal.

The bed is junk, it needs cab corners, and it has an exhaust manifold leak. But it runs great, drives great, the interior is fantastic, all the glass is good, the brakes are staggeringly good. All in all, I'm still really pleased with my purchase a month later.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
04/17/2016 at 09:38

Tis a very nice truck!

I’m looking for one as they’re a lot cheaper than most other diesel trucks from what I’ve seen. Lots of them are complete rustbuckets though, even southern trucks.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
04/17/2016 at 15:32

Yeah, Ford seemed to have made them out of compressed rust. Basically every one out where I live needs cab corners and rear fender flares. The frame on mine is great though, so the rest of the rust didn’t bug me.

If you go Ford and you get a 6.0, make sure it's been bulletproofed...the 6.0 tended to overheat and stretch its head bolts. The cure was to add ARP studs. Personally I'd just get a 7.3, the 7.3 Powerstroke is as good a Diesel engine as has ever existed.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
04/17/2016 at 20:01

Yup, that’s what fender flares are for haha. :)

I’d probably go for the 7.3 because I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about it.

You should do an Oppo review of it!