Lowering expectations

Kinja'd!!! "Birddog" (maintmgt)
10/16/2017 at 21:00 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 14
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I was hoping to push it to 200,000 but I’ll take 175,000.

Breaking this thing down makes me want another OBS Ford.

Purchased in 2014 for $800 at 133,xxx.

One set of used 31x10.50 tires/wheels. $200

Rebuild of front suspension. Including spring towers, springs and shocks. $350ish (I lost a few receipts here.) I’ll call it $400.

Replace rear transmission seal and trans to transfer case gasket. $35

New brakes, metal lines and master cylinder. $150

New battery. $65

New radio. $55

(I’m not including fluids, filters, wiper blades, any labor or duct tape and spray paint.)

$1705 is totally acceptable for 40,000 or so miles of reliable service.

I’m going to buy Crusty’s replacement this week. (With a little luck) Hopefully it will be at least half as good.


DISCUSSION (14)


Kinja'd!!! Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 21:07

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Whatchu getting?!?!?


Kinja'd!!! Birddog > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/16/2017 at 21:12

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Nothing fancy. I found a slightly less crusty 01 F150 on FB.


Kinja'd!!! hillrat > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 21:12

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40K miles over how many years, 2-3? That’s math that adds up to me!


Kinja'd!!! Dogapult > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 21:15

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What’s wrong with it now?


Kinja'd!!! Birddog > Dogapult
10/16/2017 at 21:23

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A lot. The 4r70 trans is just about dead (blows fluid out of the fill tube and vent), needs a windshield, needs tires, needs a new rear tank.. The entire lower body and rear wheel arches are metal tape and spray paint.

The A/C blows ice cold though.


Kinja'd!!! someassemblyrequired > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 22:20

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We have a beat-to-you-know what ‘04 F150 with almost 300,000 miles on it at our Montreal office. We compete to see how far you can get from the office before the Trans Fault message comes up. That thing will not die.


Kinja'd!!! Birddog > someassemblyrequired
10/16/2017 at 22:30

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I think that has the same trans as Crusty. 4R70w. The O/D light starts flashing and it shudders at cruise?

Give it time. Mine starts blowing fluid out onto the exhaust manifold and igniting.


Kinja'd!!! someassemblyrequired > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 22:35

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Yep that sounds familiar. I think the powers that be are beginning to catch on to the low single digit MPG figures though, so its days may be numbered even without catching fire.


Kinja'd!!! Tohru > Birddog
10/16/2017 at 23:49

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why the hell are you considering a Ford from the 97-03 generation?

what’s wrong with you?

those are garbage

do you really want to change out Ford Triton multi-piece sparkplugs?

get a 1980-1996 Ford, or a 2004-newer Ford. Nothing in between.


Kinja'd!!! Birddog > Tohru
10/17/2017 at 00:24

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Do you know what they want for an 04+ Ford? Clean ones (rusty as my OBS) are $3k or more! That just isn’t right.


Kinja'd!!! Pickup_man > Tohru
10/17/2017 at 09:34

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The 97-03s are fine, it’s the 04-09 you want to avoid. Cam phaser failures are a guarantee and there’s a solid chance they’ll take the whole engine with it when they go. 201,000 on my ‘99, one plug blowout at 185k, 5k after a plug change (most common problem is improper spark plug torque), zero issues otherwise. Dad’s ‘09 with the 3V 5.4, full replacement engine at 80,000, cam phaser failure led to a sloppy timing chain which led to aluminum throughout the entire engine. Don’t by a 3 valve, just don’t.


Kinja'd!!! Tohru > Pickup_man
10/17/2017 at 22:23

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My dad’s got an ‘04 with the 3V. When he bought it he did the cam phaser delete and he’s up to 177k on it with no engine issues.


Kinja'd!!! Tohru > Birddog
10/17/2017 at 22:24

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I’m aware, I work at a dealership.


Kinja'd!!! Pickup_man > Tohru
10/18/2017 at 10:27

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That’s great, and while that does work it negates any advantage of having variable cam timing in the first place. The 3V can be a fine engine, I just prefer not having to spend a bunch of money to ensure my engine isn’t a time bomb. The fact that all of the 3V trucks are old now and it’s rare to find one with less than 100k you just never know what you’re gonna get, or when it’s going to fail. I put the 3V right up there with the 6.0 diesel for engines to avoid, unless previous owners can provide solid documentation proving a phaser lockout was done at an early mileage.