::P72Ford's 1997 Ford F-250HD XL::

[sly]

+1 clean trucks are hard to find.

Beaters are a dime a dozen.

[Grand Marquis GT]

Tom, you are a bad influence! No short throw shifters for this truck; learned my lesson in the Dodge. When the gear spacing is wide, you can only shift it so fast. With the engine all wound up, you shift it "slow" leaving time for the rpms to drop. Slamming it in with a short throw and shock loading the driveline results in broken things. I had a short throw NV3500 in the Ram, and then a NP435 in my last truck. The ZF5 in stock form is much closer to the NV., so I can't complain.

Ok, just change the stick and the knob. That will do

[P72Ford]

Ok, just change the stick and the knob. That will do

With a matching transfer case stick. Not high on the list, but its there.

[Bobcat]

It's nearly identical to my old one. Other than, that mine was a 351/E4OD combo. Also not nearly as clean as yours. Good buy, good looking truck.

WISH THIS GUY WOULD SEND ME A TEXT ONCE IN AWHILE.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

As a diesel it would definitely bring 15-20, especially at 65K. Diesels are nice and all, and certainly hold their value, but its not something I'd ever need. And why spend another 7-12 thousand dollars for something I'll never need? 460, standard transmission, and 4.10 gears have got to be able to handle anything I need to do. I think its just a good fundamental truck; everything you need and nothing you don't.

The truck you have is capable of pulling just as much as a stock diesel of the same vintage can. I love diesels, but I'd never recommend one to someone who is not "into diesels", and the reason is one that I rarely see brought up - with any electronic diesel you simply don't know how hard it was run before you. Stupid amounts of power that can result in all sorts of bad things for the engine are available at the push of a button, and it's hard to not push said button and enjoy the rocketship it turns the truck into. Then when it's time to sell just go back to stock tune or even unplug the aftermarket brainbox altogether and pull it out - the prostective buyer will generally be none the wiser, or in some cases if you do decide to leave the tuner in they will even be overjoyed they get a free tuner with the truck... Basically while any time you buy something that you don't know the history of you're taking a chance, with diesels the risk is noticeably higher, and IMHO not really worth it unless you get it for a screaming deal OR you plan to put lots and lots and lots of miles on the thing where the better fuel economy will pay for itself... FWIW you did the right call IMHO.

Ok, just change the stick and the knob. That will do

They make aftermarket shifters for these things? My Google-fu must have failed me once again...

[P72Ford]

I really want to document what I am doing with this truck. I didn't do that so well with my '75, so I need to get better this time around.

So far, the stockpiled parts are:
*Tune up; plugs, FRPP wires, cap/ rotor, air filter, fuel filter, belts, oil/ filter, and I think that's about it. Total on this stuff: ~$125
*Rear Bumper, chrome $125 (my 9th gen connection)
*NOS Ford chrome headlight doors $100 (Tasca Ford)
*NOS Ford grille with new emblem $175 (Tasca Ford)
*NOS L/R Mirror heads $140 (eBay)
*New headlights/ clear bumper lights $73 (eBay)

That last item is an interesting discussion point. A lot of the young guys that hot rod their Powerstrokes like aftermarket headlights that look better suited for space craft. Being me, I do not. However, my truck has the amber bumper lights (under the headlight and corner light), as do all '92-'97 Ford F series/ Bronco. I do not like amber lenses; not on my box panthers, and not on my trucks. I swapped them on my Ram, and it made a huge difference. The issue I was finding was that the aftermarket rarely makes clear bumper lights that are diffused like the factory lens. The only ones I was finding were the aforementioned space craft versions, which look hideously mismatched with stock headlights and corner lights (even worse than just swapping on all the spacecraft lights). There are some guys on FTE (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) that have the diffused lenses, though. The issue is they are uncommon on eBay, and the production lots are small and infrequent. I found them the other day, and bought them (they also came with corner lights and headlights. My headlights, etc are mint, but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity. Not sure if I will even use them, but its nice to have the option.

As soon as spring hits, I'm going to steam clean under the truck and kick this project off. For now I'm stacking parts, and doing garage projects .

[pantera77]

*New headlights/ clear bumper lights $73 (eBay)

That last item is an interesting discussion point. A lot of the young guys that hot rod their Powerstrokes like aftermarket headlights that look better suited for space craft. Being me, I do not. However, my truck has the amber bumper lights (under the headlight and corner light), as do all '92-'97 Ford F series/ Bronco. I do not like amber lenses; not on my box panthers, and not on my trucks. I swapped them on my Ram, and it made a huge difference. The issue I was finding was that the aftermarket rarely makes clear bumper lights that are diffused like the factory lens. The only ones I was finding were the aforementioned space craft versions, which look hideously mismatched with stock headlights and corner lights (even worse than just swapping on all the spacecraft lights). There are some guys on FTE (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) that have the diffused lenses, though. The issue is they are uncommon on eBay, and the production lots are small and infrequent. I found them the other day, and bought them (they also came with corner lights and headlights. My headlights, etc are mint, but I wasn't going to miss the opportunity. Not sure if I will even use them, but its nice to have the option.

As soon as spring hits, I'm going to steam clean under the truck and kick this project off. For now I'm stacking parts, and doing garage projects .

I bought the same lights from most likely the same seller (same price) after I saw your post on FTE a few days ago.

I hate the aftermarket crystal clear lenses, but the diffused ones look really nice. Plus my headlights were kinda yellowed so it worked out great.

Interestingly there's a few different sellers with them currently, but the one guy was a good $15 less than the rest.

[P72Ford]

Couple updates on my truck:

**Alcoa wheels have been stripped, polished, and new 285 75 16 Firestone Destination A/Ts installed.
**Chrome headlight doors and grille (OEM Ford NOS), as well as mirror heads have been installed
**Clear bumper lights (diffused) installed
**Tune up, minus oil/ filter, and fuel filter are done

Registration will be this coming week. Then I'll toss on the chrome rear bumper, wash the undercarriage and engine, and have some paintless dent repair done. Then the spray in liner, and somewhere amongst all of that, I'll do the exhaust that blew apart last night.

A picture:

[sly]

ooo shiny!

[gadget73]

I've never seen those wheels actually shiny before. usually its more of a brushed sort of finish, either that or its just 20 years of neglect and abuse.

[87gtVIC]

Couple updates on my truck:

**Alcoa wheels have been stripped, polished, and new 285 75 16 Firestone Destination A/Ts installed.
**Chrome headlight doors and grille (OEM Ford NOS), as well as mirror heads have been installed
**Clear bumper lights (diffused) installed
**Tune up, minus oil/ filter, and fuel filter are done

Registration will be this coming week. Then I'll toss on the chrome rear bumper, wash the undercarriage and engine, and have some paintless dent repair done. Then the spray in liner, and somewhere amongst all of that, I'll do the exhaust that blew apart last night. Then I will sell it and start over again.

A picture:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]44675[/ATTACH]

Fixed that for you.

[His Royal Ghostliness]

Darn that thing is all shiny like and stuff! Looks great, and sounds like it will only get better! Any plans for better seats? IIRC this had the base vinyl bench, right? Soft and all, but very slippery, which may be a good thing when the girls is in the truck, but maybe not so much when you're doing somewhat spirited driving without her company...

[Tiggie]

The wheels are awesome. Make the truck. I want some. I never see these for sale anywhere.

[johnunit]

this thing is so nicely optioned. And I'm not sure I've seen one that clean up here in a decade.

[P72Ford]

Thanks to all for the compliments. Its not a panther, but its a Ford!

I've never seen those wheels actually shiny before. usually its more of a brushed sort of finish, either that or its just 20 years of neglect and abuse.

These would have originally been polished, and the brightness/ shine was only slightly dimmed/ dulled by the clear coating. Starting in '99, there were two varieties of Alcoas; they had an 8x170 bolt pattern, and the inset where the holes are was dished. These style were available either polished, or with a brushed finished. The brushed ones were beat as hell, and nowhere near as common. I think that went away by 2001 or so. In 2003 there was another version of that style wheel that had only 6 holes in it. Fairly uncommon, and I believe that was just during '03-'04. What I really wanted were the late model Econoline wheels that look like '99-'04 Lariat Super Duty wheels. These have the Lariat styling, but they use the 8x6.5" bolt circle because they were on a van. These wheels are like hen's teeth, but I am still looking. They're 500+/ wheel as the only people that really have them are the dealer. Who buys a loaded van and upgrades the already nice wheels???

Fixed that for you.

I never say never... and everything is for sale. I've already been offered ~3K over what I have invested here. Flipping cars used to treat me really well back a few years ago. I've flipped a couple clean trucks and done really well; plus I get a better feeling about the sale because I know I sold something really nice/ good (as opposed to something I bought planning to sell). The writing is not on the wall for this one, but if someone shows up with the right number I'd sell it. Only guarantee is I'd have another Ford truck shortly thereafter. . I am a real sucker for the 6th and 9th gens. I really like the lines of this truck, and clean 9th gens are hard to find so I would probably hunt out another of these, or a '92-'96 Bronco (which I'm already looking for a white driver).

Darn that thing is all shiny like and stuff! Looks great, and sounds like it will only get better! Any plans for better seats? IIRC this had the base vinyl bench, right? Soft and all, but very slippery, which may be a good thing when the girls is in the truck, but maybe not so much when you're doing somewhat spirited driving without her company...

Mine has a cloth bench. It is 'like new' in every sense. I had the opportunity to upgrade to a 40-20-40 set up that was allegedly "mint". Ha. I guess I just have higher standards. Guy wanted $500, which I would be fine with if the seat was mint. Good seats bring $$$ for these trucks.

The wheels are awesome. Make the truck. I want some. I never see these for sale anywhere.

I bought the truck on eBay., and it came with the wheels on it. 90% sure they would not have come on a base model truck. I have all the original sale stuff, maintenance records, owners manual, etc, but no window sticker. I occasionally see these wheels for sale on CL; there is a set semi local to me now for $300 that I am considering snatching and polishing for resale. Alcoa makes the wheels still, but not with the notches to run the Ford center caps, which means exposed lug nuts, and the shitty Alcoa push through tin caps... The kicker is when I first got my '75 I found a set of NOS wheels and center caps on my local CL for $750; the caps alone in the boxes new will bring $300 for a 4WD set all day long. The wheels probably $1000. I should have just bought them to have. Live and learn.