93 F250 question

[gutsnthegrass]

I have an opportunity to pick up a 93 F250 with the 460 big block in it for a great price from a friend. The pickup only has 114,000 miles on it. The main issue with the pickup is it needs the head gaskets replaced per my friend. I know this can turn into a mess if the heads are pulled and found to be cracked. Is there any reason to think this could get messy with only 114k miles on the engine?
The engine runs (a little rough) and everything seems to work at this point. This would be for my kids first rig.

[Iveexcaped3]

114k is irrelevant. If the gasket blew at 400k or 20k there’s a risk of the heads being cracked. I don’t know this specific engine (Chevy guy) but the principal is the same. If it is cracked what’s the availability of the heads, can you get a head from summit/jegs. Or are heads hard to find and not readily available or cost more than the value of the truck. That’s how I would approach it

[gutsnthegrass]

With the cost of used rigs these days, I could put $10k into repairs and still be ahead.
@jackelope any info on this? I believe he is a Ford service advisor.

[johnbmyersii]

you'll probably go broke just putting gas in the thing with the outlook of fuel prices right not. It sounds like a good truck, but I'd just swap the engine for a 351 if you're not planning on towing big loads with it.

[jackelope]

7 mpg. That's all I can think about.

10.8 hours to replace both head gaskets at my shop would be $2k in labor. Looks like aftermarket heads run anywhere from $300-$1200.00 a piece. I'd throw in another $500.00 for random miscellaneous stuff you might need...seals and gaskets, fluids, maybe a belt or something like that. I usually don't price out every little part on a job like this. If you can get it cheap and don't mind paying a crap ton of $$ in gas, maybe it's worth it.

[dutchmanaz]

How handy are you?  If you go in with the thought that the heads are cracked, and know where to get replacements (hint hint - find a good junkyard that stand behinds their stuff and have a machine shop true the replacements up or at least check them), I'd go for it.  Yeah - you'll spend a lot in gas, but if this is something you and your kid can work on together, why not?

[gutsnthegrass]

Thanks for the info guys

[LDennis24]

The answer is yes, it's still better than buying a brand new Chevy. Like Jackelope said, mine was bored over to about 500ci and I got a good 6-8 mph depending on if I was racing little Honda fart cans at stop lights or driving down the freeway at cruising speed. They couldn't believe I could beat a little Honda with that flatbed pickup either! Go for it! Many options to build on an older rig like that.

[Sandberm]

With no skin in the game i vote you buy it and fix it 

I have a fleet of pickups with my 95 F250 being the oldest. Its an old forest service truck that only has 104,000 miles on it. I told the wife the other day that I think its the most reliable vehicle we own. Why? Because there is no electronic, limp mode weirdo crap on it. Its a manual transmission. It'll get me from here to there. Its relatively simple to work on and theres tons of youtube vids to help me if it does break.

Its got the 351 and i get 12.5 to 13 mpg.

With the average cost of a new vehicle over $40,000, it sure makes these older vehicles more attractive. 

[rainshadow1]

7 mpg. That's all I can think about.

I had an 89 with the 460. Great old truck. Could pull anything legally pullable... But yeah... single digits mpg!

[gutsnthegrass]

Hell, for $1500, I figure I can fix it for $2000 and still be way ahead. The body and paint are really straight and the interior is good. I could always turn around and sell it for more than I would have into it if I had to.

[dutchmanaz]

That is a great deal in my opinion.  Especially if you're handy.  That year is pretty easy all things considered. You never know, - replace the head gaskets and try it, but if it were me, I'd have the heads checked just in case.  Not a hard fix at all.  This will go against the grain, but as a poor man, I'd do just that, replace the gaskets where necessary, and drive the darned thing. Not much ancillary things can go wrong.  Water pump and all that crap are easy enough to replace.  Good luck and please post back on your plans/outcome.  Another great resource is ford-trucks.com. 

[gutsnthegrass]

I bought the pickup and I'm going to put a rebuilt motor in it. Obviously not the steal I though it was going to be, but in the end, it should be a solid pickup. While I have the engine out, I would like to put a new torque converter in it. Ford is telling me they no longer make this torque converter. Do any of you know a of place to get a decent stock TC?
Thanks

[Skillet]

Any junkyard or trans shop should be able to set you up, those C6 truck converters must be a dime a dozen. If you really want new, I'd order it from Summit or Jegs.

 I'd think a torque converter with 114K on it wouldn't need replaced though? They're one of the more durable items.

[gutsnthegrass]

Any junkyard or trans shop should be able to set you up, those C6 truck converters must be a dime a dozen. If you really want new, I'd order it from Summit or Jegs.

 I'd think a torque converter with 114K on it wouldn't need replaced though? They're one of the more durable items.

I was just thinking cheap insurance while the engine and transmission were apart.