im stuck...i have a 83 ford f350 single wheel w/a 460 4spd,355s..this was gonna be my tow rig...but now im thinking about buying some thing newer...this truck needs some work but i have been working on it as much as possible....oh yeah i will be hauling 10k about once a month...here are some pics...any suggestions for this will be much appreciated!!should i keep it????
how far will you be hauling 10k? how many people? how much work is needed? a bed obviously, maybe even a gear change to some 3.73 or 3.92. that 4 speed has the low to get ya moving, but 4.10 will keep you going on the hills. MPG.. yeah, thats a joke. it wont have any... depends on how much time and money you have to go how far. im sure you could part that truck out for more than you can sell it for, to get a nice down payment or pay off on something a bit newer.. but is that worth your hastle as well? lots of choices here...
well i was told it had 410s till i pulled the cover on the 70 and read the gear pattern which was 355s ....i have a class 5 10k reece hitch for it and i was gonna build a wood flatbed...the truck will be going on trips like 200 to 300 miles one way...it has a strong running 460 and i only paid 1200 for it...it had a bed but it was so badly rotted i took it off....i was gonna build a wood flat bed but have since lost motivation for it...im kinda stuck...do you think this truck will be capable for 10k pulls??
Your question is fairly broad man, what exactly are you asking? YOU have to decide if you want a newer rig or not, not us. It being able to pull 10K or not is out of the question, as it will handle that load from coast to coast as long as the truck is in mechanical shape to handle it. I don't have Fords, but I've got three 454 chevies in the same vintage. My K30 can tow 10K without much problem, it's just thirsty and a little slow getting going and holding hills. Obviously, the cheapest route would be to go find a factory bed for the truck, throw on a cheap paint job so it doesn't have the Baskin Robbins color scheme going on, and do this and that to make it sound and reliable. If all you use it for is pulling once or twice a month it will be by far your cheapest route, even at 6mpg or so. Fuel isn't that expensive overall if you don't drive the mileage. A newer diesel would be great, but cost a LOT more money. Again, making the jump to something newer because it would tow "faster" and give you more comfort to get the same job done is your decision and yours alone. It's just a matter of how bad you want heated leather seats, diesel power, better egonomics, and if you can justify the higher cost of that over your 1983 F350 that will get the same job done.
Maybe you could find a 1st gen 12 valve Cummins for a swap. If you go that route you may not need to change gears.
best suggestion Dump that antique for whatever you can get for it and step up with a few more pesos and get yourself something you deserve. You can afford it, you will like it, people will envy your initative, but most of all, you can go farther faster more comfortably. :stir:
Stick with the older ford, If a newer diesel breaks down your stuck waiting for someone to help you six it. If you built the ford you shouldnt have any troubles with roadside repairs. Just my $.02
