Might buy a non-running 1980 F150 sight unseen. Am I an idiot?

[futon]

1980 F150 w/300 i6. Manual transmission.

Frame and cab are "excellent" according to seller. Bed has some holes around the wheel wells and is missing tailgate. Body is relatively clean and straight but lots of small impact dents. Mileage unknown.

Engine turns over but truck doesn't run. Has been parked for about five years. Seller says it "made a noise" so he pulled over and immediately had it towed. Hasn't looked at it since. Says the motor is fine (I'd believe him, given the track record of the 300). No actual theories as to what's wrong with it.

Truck looks good in photos, albeit well used.

Truck cannot be viewed in its current location (steward is unfriendly).

Truck is listed at $2500 CAD, and seller is willing to deliver it to me two hours away.

Frankly, I like that it doesn't run. It's a project truck and will be my first time reviving something like this. I plan to take my time and do it right. I also want to learn basic body work so it's a good candidate for that.

If the 1980 "swiss cheese" frame is good, and the motor turns at the crank, is it a good buy?

Thanks

 

[futon]

1980 F150 w/300 i6. Manual transmission.

Frame and cab are "excellent" according to seller. Bed has some holes around the wheel wells and is missing tailgate. Body is relatively clean and straight but lots of small impact dents. Mileage unknown.

Engine turns over but truck doesn't run. Has been parked for about five years. Seller says it "made a noise" so he pulled over and immediately had it towed. Hasn't looked at it since. Says the motor is fine (I'd believe him, given the track record of the 300). No actual theories as to what's wrong with it.

Truck looks good in photos, albeit well used.

Truck cannot be viewed in its current location (steward is unfriendly).

Truck is listed at $2500 CAD, and seller is willing to deliver it to me two hours away.

Frankly, I like that it doesn't run. It's a project truck and will be my first time reviving something like this. I plan to take my time and do it right. I also want to learn basic body work so it's a good candidate for that.

If the 1980 "swiss cheese" frame is good, and the motor turns at the crank, is it a good buy?

Thanks

Sigh. Nevermind. Just went to pull up the marketplace listing to share here and the seller has pulled it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Sigh. Nevermind. Just went to pull up the marketplace listing to share here and the seller has pulled it.

Keep on looking.

Ive revived a few....its satisfying as hell first time you hear it run...even more so first time you go down the road.

Personally...id stay away though from 80-81 F100s/150s....they had a swiss cheese frame from the factory...google it. They just make me nervous

 

[Shran]

Probably for the best. Sounds like a lot of money for a lot of unknowns, even for a project truck. The frames on those don't bother me a whole lot, I had an '80 and the frame was fine but the body just disintegrated around it. I like bull nose trucks a lot but my personal preference is 84-86, things seemed to be a tiny bit more standardized. 80-83 seemed like they were using up leftover stuff from the 70's and experimenting with things.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The swiss cheese frame never bothered dad's '80 F-350, it was used harder than most.

 

[Shran]

The swiss cheese frame never bothered dad's '80 F-350, it was used harder than most.

Did the big trucks have that? I was thinking it was just F100's and 150's.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The 300 doesn’t do anything fast, and it’s not exactly fuel efficient, but it’s a great motor.

The EFI variants supposedly have exhaust manifolds that rival headers for flow efficiency.

Personally I like the brick nose and aero nose flavors the best behind the ‘79 and older styles. I don’t mind a brick nose though. Not really a fan of the Jellybean and newer stuff.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Did the big trucks have that? I was thinking it was just F100's and 150's.

Dad's did

 

[Shran]

Dad's did

Good to know, I never had much experience with anything other than half tons in those years.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Good to know, I never had much experience with anything other than half tons in those years.

It didn't have an easy life. 400, 4spd, TTB D40 D60 std cab longbox.

Farmer we got it from used to race his buddies with a 454 K30 and a 1st gen Cummins 2500 hauling cattle/hogs to Omaha. According to the Dodge guy it was a pretty close match every time.

Dad got it in the early 90's and used it as a service truck/tow pig until the mid 2010's.

That 400 would absolutely sing when we were pulling our two tractors to tractor pulls...

 

[futon]

Bought a '73 F100...