Am I About to Make a Huge Mistake?

"Future Heap Owner" (aperiodic)
08/04/2018 at 15:35 • Filed to: unnecessary beater shopping

I went out to check out a 1985 F-150 that’s being sold at a price that made me think it didn’t run. It does! It runs rough, but these engines are supposed to be nigh-unkillable so it seems like a good place to start from, given that things like gasket replacement are something I want an excuse to do anyways. I’m thinking about offering $600 (price is $700 OBO), but I wanted y’all’s opinion before I do.

So, the bad parts:

Current owner bought it a couple months ago, put a good amount of work and parts into it, and is now unloading it for a fairly low price.

The oil has not been changed in a while and is dark, gritty, cloudy.

The owner started it up for me and let it run for a few minutes. It idles roughly, and after it was shut off, some kind of pale smoke came out of the carb and the oil filler cap. Blowby around the piston rings?

There’s some amount of liquid seeping out on the underside of the trans and the differentials. Not enough to drip, but enough to leave a sheen.

Here’s some pics of the engine bay & underneath:

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So, what do y’all think? Am I about to do something really dumb?

DISCUSSION (10)

LOREM IPSUM > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 15:58

Haven’t checked steel prices, but it may be worth more than asking in scrap value alone. Not that I’m suggesting that route, but if it’s accurate, you pretty much can’t lose anything but a bit of time and effort.

shop-teacher > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 15:59

It sounds like it needs a motor rebuild, but if it's as rust free as it looks in that pic, and you're up for that big of a project, I reckon you could get your money back out of it when you're ready to move on from it.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher
08/04/2018 at 16:01

It has a WA plate, it’s unsurprising that it seems to lack rust.

lone_liberal > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 16:02

Really, for $600 the fact that it runs is a bonus. If the body and structure are sound then I’d be ok with it and just assume that it will need the engine and maybe trans rebuilt. If they don’t, that’s a win.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 16:03

Seems like a decent project if you know what you’re getting into. I’d probably install a more modern engine in it and call it a day, unless you want to do every bit of the work yourself and you have the tools.

Future Heap Owner > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2018 at 16:25

I have a basic toolset and motivation to learn, but I’m not sure how much more I need for a rebuild. Do I just need a stand and use of a hoist, or are there more specialized tools involved?

RacinBob > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 16:47

It looks like a 300 6 engine. Very reliable. Rough running means either ignition, burned valves or bad pistons or rings. The fact you are getting blowby suggests pistons and rings and likely a worn out bore.

Its something that a shade tree mechanic should be able to repair. If it is the valves, a junkyard head is in order. If it is the pistons and rings, it looks like you can pull the pan without pulling the engine. If so pull the head, pull the rod bearing caps and push the pistons out and take it to a shop and have new pistons and rings installed on the rods.

sony1492 > LOREM IPSUM
08/04/2018 at 17:00

Scraps currently worthless

E92M3 > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 17:07

If the body is good. I would give $600 for that. You can find another 300 I-6 should you manage to kill that one for about $300 .

sony1492 > Future Heap Owner
08/04/2018 at 17:14

I think if your prepared for a motor replacement or rebuild then your doing just fine. The price for a project this cheap is usually a down payment.