So I have a decision to make... input welcome!

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well, the time has come where dad has decided to part with his dump trucks. His physical condition has gotten to the point where he can no longer operate a manual transmission truck, so he's been out looking at automatic F-250 diesels for himself, and intends to hang a for sale sign on both dump trucks.

As much as I'd like to keep both in the family (they've been well maintained), I don't think I could afford to keep both along with all my other trucks, so I'm forced to pick one and the other will be sold. I'm being pushed for a decision and I'm just not sure, they both have good and bad points. So I'm looking for some input.



1989 F-350 xl: Has a good trac-lok rear, dually, 460 factory rebuilt at 30k miles by Ford, HD manual 5-speed trans, 4.10 gears, 2wd, dark blue.

Pros: current inspection, new tires all the way around, new rear leaf spring hangers/shackles, new tie rod sleeves, new hoist hydro lines, new brakes all around, new rear brake cylinders and hard lines on the axle.

Cons: bed will likely last another year at best (it's got patches on patches and held together with a lot of luck and construction adhesive), there's a problem with the firewall flexing when you operate the clutch, I think the master cyl might be going bad, cab corners are starting to rot, radius arm frame mounts need replaced, 102k miles on truck, has an odd backfire issue (it'll randomly backfire, usually happens letting off the gas but not always, and sometimes will backfire under a load).




1994 F-350 xl: Dually, (I think it has a trac-lok rear), 460, HD 5-speed manual, 4.10 gears, 2wd, dark blue

Pros: Newer truck, bed has some holes, but has never been patched and likely could be easily repaired, tires in decent shape but not new (I'd say about 70% tread, maybe a lil better)

Cons: It's been sitting for 3-4 years now because the motor died (it'll need all new brake lines, new clutch line, new rear fuel tank skid plate, probably need new shocks and brakes, hydro lines never been replaced), front fenders are rotted through, truck never ran as good as the '89




Additional Info: I have a line on a rebuilt, never started 460 that was built to performance specs (around 512 ci, IIRC) for around $800-1,000. Both trucks have good interiors and the cabs are largely in excellent shape.

 

[zukirider21]

my votes for truck #1

 

[zukirider21]

WOW haha i posted that before i realized there was a poll feature lmao

 

[rngr4x4beast]

i say take both make 1 helluva truck and part the rest of the other out

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Both trucks need work, my main concerns with keeping the 89 is that it'll need a new bed and that I don't know how long the motor will stick around, the 94 did good till the motor got close to 100k, then it started sucking down oil almost as fast as gas...

If I keep the 94, it needs more work now, but it'd have a new motor...

 

[RedneckSTX]

Tell your Dad you want the 89 but you want to swap the beds and tires. If the rims are the same style on both trucks just swap the whole rim/tires, if the rims are different keep the ones you like most and just swap the tires.

 

[wrecking-crew]

what is happening with the other truck you dont take?

 

[countryboy]

i say the 89 put a bed and goe 94 motor and a punch small headaches seems easy to choose

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Tell your Dad you want the 89 but you want to swap the beds and tires. If the rims are the same style on both trucks just swap the whole rim/tires, if the rims are different keep the ones you like most and just swap the tires.

Rims do not interchange, oddly enough... and I don't have my own tire machine yet, to have a shop around here swap the tires over I'd be looking at over $150 to mount an balance all 6.

what is happening with the other truck you dont take?

Whichever one I don't take, gets sold to someone else or scrapped.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Rims do not interchange, oddly enough... and I don't have my own tire machine yet, to have a shop around here swap the tires over I'd be looking at over $150 to mount an balance all 6.

What is the difference?

It isn't a dually, but we have 3 rims off of a '96 F-250 and one off of a 1980's F250/350 (it was off of a Ford and is narrower than the other three) on our '70 Dodge, even the stock hubcaps fit perfect.

If it helps any duals do not get balanced.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

What is the difference?

It isn't a dually, but we have 3 rims off of a '96 F-250 and one off of a 1980's F250/350 (it was off of a Ford and is narrower than the other three) on our '70 Dodge, even the stock hubcaps fit perfect.

If it helps any duals do not get balanced.

Believe it or not, the bolt pattern is slightly different on both trucks. When you stand there and just look at it, it looks identical. But we got a flat on the '94 once and figured that since we didn't need the '89 the next day, we'd just borrow a rim an tire off it instead of having to unload the '94 and load the '89 (we don't have a spare tire for either truck). We got a rude suprise when we tried fitting the other rim an tire on though... it would not line up at all.

I believe the '89 was bought when Ford was having a problem getting dually rears for their trucks, so it's possible that the two trucks have different rear axles (I'm thinking one probably has a Sterling and the other has a Dana). Would anyone know how I could ID both axles an find out if there is a difference in rear axles?

 

[1badexplorer]

Both the 89 and the 94 should have the same wheels and rears. Ford used the exact same dually wheels from 84-97 as long as both trucks are what you say they are and are both factory duallys everything should swap. If not, you either have an f450 (also called a superduty) it should have a solid front axle and 10 bolt wheels or someone else played some funny games either by swapping the wrong wheels or the wrong rear before you got the trucks.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Both the 89 and the 94 should have the same wheels and rears. Ford used the exact same dually wheels from 84-97 as long as both trucks are what you say they are and are both factory duallys everything should swap. If not, you either have an f450 (also called a superduty) it should have a solid front axle and 10 bolt wheels or someone else played some funny games either by swapping the wrong wheels or the wrong rear before you got the trucks.

Both trucks were bought as brand new cab and chassis F-350s from Ford. I understand that they should be the same, but feel free to come out here an try swapping rims one time.... it just doesn't work...

Both have TIB fronts.

 

[1badexplorer]

Both trucks were bought as brand new cab and chassis F-350s from Ford. I understand that they should be the same, but feel free to come out here an try swapping rims one time.... it just doesn't work...

Both have TIB fronts.

Well I don't know then. The only rear that was available in a dually those years was the Sterling 10.25.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Well I don't know then. The only rear that was available in a dually those years was the Sterling 10.25.

Interesting... I'm gonna have to check the axle tags on both now, lol.