1997 F-350

[Bill645]

Going to look at a 1997 F350 tomorrow... Has 90,000mi., 4x4, bed liner, 351, looks to be in excellent condition... told it was never plowed with, asking price is $10,800. Its at a used car dealer. Does $10,800 sound to high? Is 90k miles to high?

Your thoughts...

[lw4259]

sounds like a good deal, the mileage it really not all that high. My question does the dealer really know the past owner. If all is right i would say buy it. You didnt say if it was a 4 x 4 i assume it was since you mentioned plowing.

[lw4259]

just re-read

sorry i see you did have the 4 x 4 mentioned. Let me know how you make out.

Lee

[Bill645]

When I talked to the dealer on the phone, he said it was one owner... I'm gonna see if they will get the CARFAX on it... if not, I'll make note of the VIN number and do it myself. I hope this is the truck to buy... I'm getting tired of loking. I was gonna buy a new F-250, but for about $28000, I think I'm much better off gettting a previously owned truck. A freind of mine bought a new F350, very nice...but, what I'm using it for, (leaves, brush etc,) I would hate to scratch a new truck!

I'll let ya know how I make out with this one.

[Bill645]

Well, went and looked at it today.... Has 92250 mi. automatic, looks great. One problem... had trouble getting it in 4wd High... really hard to move the shifter.... wouldn't go into 4wd low at all.... Dealer says he's going to find out why its not working, and get back to me...says he'll get the CARFAX on it also. Did drive it, sounds good, runs good. I'll post more when I find out more.

[Woody]

Bill:

I know this is going to sound stupid..... And I mean no offense by it either.... But.... Did you look on the visor for the correct way to shift the transfer case into and out of 4 wheel drive? Or in the manual?

Here's an example..... My older Chevy pickup I had years back, you had to shift the transfer case while at a full stop. My newer 1998 Chevy, if you try shifting it at a full stop, either will not shift, or will GRIND LIKE A MOTHER! I tried putting it in 4 wheel drive low once at a standstill. WRONG! GRRRIIINNNDDDD!!!!! LOL! That will give you a red face real quick! It needs to be shifted at a slow roll (into or out of 4WD low..... And the manual says do it in a QUICK and forceful way, or it will GRIND!), and can be shifted between 2WD high and 4WD high at any speed (I think they recommend under 55 though). Anyhow, you have to be moving for it to shift smoothly. I know that they are not the same procedure between manufacturers and between model years, so I always check the manual, or usually on one of the visors, for the right way to do it.

Woody

[Seascape]

A bronco i had ,, you had to roll into it also. Like a creep roll than it would fall right in. Somebody once told me to back up 15' also before i locked it in. So sometimes i would. That was a sweet truck !!! I once pulled a semi truck out of mud w/ that truck. The driver of the truck was speechless.

Mike

[Bill645]

I would have read the manual if it was in the truck, and there wasn't anything on the visor on how to put it in 4wd... Well, even the dealer/mechanic didn't get it in 4wd, then the shifter got stuck, and couldn't get it to move at all! More than likely a transmission or transfer case problem...

Maybe I can talk him down more now! buy it, get the transmission rebuilt by a friend of mine..........

[imograss]

The truck has to be in neutral before you put it in 4x4 low. You can pull it back on the fly for 4x4 high. I have the same truck.
Tim

[Bill645]

Talked to the dealer... said that the linage was not moving... needed to be cleaned up... anyway, I have him dropping it off at my mechanic Wed. I hope this works out for me... I'm getting sick of looking for a new truck! There is a lot of junk out there!

I'll post what I find out about it...

[Bill645]

here it is... Saturday, and didn't get the truck looked at... Dealer never dropped it off at my mechanic.... Was supposed to drop off on wed. but we had snow.... maybe that is why, but if he wanted to sell the truck, you would think he would call me and tell me he wouldn't get it there, and want to re schedule...

As of today, I havn't heard from him... oh well, there's more trucks out there to look at!

[lw4259]

not a good sign

doesnt sound like a reliable dealer if you have to chase him down. This would raise a red flag to me, and I wonder if after the sale he stands behind the deal. Or just help sme push it out of the lot.

Keep truckin
Lee

[amwlawncare]

backing up is help full AFTER being in 4H or 4L before dosent do a thing except put you 15ft behind where you started

after being in 4h or low backing up usualy will help with disconecting the front hubs/half shafts/ whatever you may have

Before your in 4wheel anything their is NO need to back up before shifting into 4h/4L

[Bill645]

Update....

FINALLY got the truck up to my mechanic on 3/15.... basicly, he says there's about $2000 worth of work that needs to be done.... Needs new tires, Shakes badly on the highway, Needs new calipers and brake hoses on the front... Spark plugs are rusted, he didn't want to take a chance of breaking them so he wasn't able to pull them out and do a compression check... oil pan has rust... I did my research on the truck... Kelly Blue Book comes up with a price around $7500 for the condition its in... I went and talked to the dealer. He was asking $10800. I could only get him down to $10200. Says he'll fix all the things my mechanic found wrong with it for that price. Add tax, regestration etc. and I'm back to $10800 or more!

sounds like this isn't the truck I'm looking for... I hate having to put up with the crap from dealers!!!!!
There's gotta be a truck out there for me! I'm still looking!

[lw4259]

review

Never been plowed with
dealer to fix everything


Seems like a good deal Bill am i missing something.

Lee