might have found the gas saver i've been looking for!! help with a few ?'s

[mike123]

http://valdosta.craigslist.org/cto/2152433545.html

I've been looking for another ranger ever since i sold my '93 and i think i found what i want for the weekdays.

I know its rough, and it needs some work but hey thats the fun of buying an older truck that will eventualy pay for its self isn't it?
Any way, i'm torn, i love the 73-79 150's, but it wouldnt hurt, AT ALL, to have something to sip gas for everyday use.
I have found a '77 f100 with the 300 straight 6 for $800 obo and this '85 for 700 obo.
the '77 is pretty much my dream truck to restore except in my dreams i have a 460 under the hood that gets 25 mpg LOL
and the ranger is 4x4, and its got the 4 banger with a 5 speed that has the capabilites of exelent mpg.
i can get the '77 and have a running driveing truck for 800 obo and just suffer with gas like i do now OR i can get the 4x4 (i want and sometimes need) gas sipper..

what do you guys think?
I was thinking just pull the 4 banger thats in it and get a good condition used one to drop in its place and get rid of the headace, but really i'm to torn by the choice to make a clear dission, i really could use your guys help here..
thanks!

 

[Bennybooster]

I would get the ranger

 

[racsan]

if i could.....id get both!

 

[strvger]

figure all the costs to make the ranger a dd.
now figure out how many gallons of gas that would be for the F100.
you'd be driving the F100 from the git-go with only routine maintenance (hopefully), and for probably quite a long time before you'd be totaling the cost of the ranger and the repairs.
just a thought.

 

[mike123]

Racsan: I was thinking the same thing! But its not an option right now. I already have a '96 and no more room for 2 more trucks here.
Strvger: very very good point.. I've never had a 300 so I don't know what kind of mileage to expect but some of the guys on one of the fullsize fourms I get on I've heard of some of the EFI 300's getting about 15-16 mpg but sice the 77 is carb'd I'd expect about 10-12 and I only drive a total of 16 miles on a avarage day and like I said, I have my 96 with the 5.0 that generally gets a solid 12... I just don't know...

 

[strvger]

if the 77 is truly your "dream truck", then that settles it. get it, drive it, save up for that 25mpg 460! you may well find yourself disappointed with all the work you'll have to do on the ranger and still not be driving the one you really want. you can probably expect about 12-15, maybe a little more depending on how you drive with the 300 six. if it has the manual with an od, maybe a little more, especially on the freeway. 3 spd auto and your kinda stuck.
good luck with your choice.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Hard to say, with $5/gal gas this summer like they are talking... but a underpowered 4x4 Ranger may not get all that great of milage either...

 

[Mac]

F-100 all the way! That little motor is a great one, all kinds of after market support for them.
Dave

 

[straycat]

Darn, Bro!! If you are going to worry about gas milage...just don't drive a truck and dive a gas sipping car. Gas is going up to $5.00 a gallon in the next 5 months!!!! The stupid Alaskan Pipeline that all Americans paid for and all Alaskans get a nice yearly bonus is repaired and only 12% of the oil goes to America and the rest goes overseas and these traders are trading commodities on the fact that the pipeline had an easy repair but it will hurt all of us in the long run so gas prices are going up once again. Don't get me started on this gas crap again!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! I hate crooks in high places......can't we Americans take them out of their positions???

 

[RustedRanger]

The main reason the price of gas is going up now is that our govt is "printing" more dollars. The more they print the less they are worth and the more gas goes up because the price of oil is based on US dollars. Also the growing demand in China is a big part of it. Still greed is a big part just like it has always been and Obama isn't helping with the restrictions on new drilling and the tree huggers make things worse by keeping new refineries from being built. Some of us need a truck and can't afford a car too.