...

 

I would rather buy a stock truck and lift it myself than buy a truck someone else lifted. If you're good at looking over a vehicle yourself, or have a knowledgable mechanic do it for you, then that's a non-issue.

This is just me, but I hate cars that have rebuilt transmissions and engines. It makes me wonder why those parts failed while I'm sitting with a running drivetrain at 174,000 miles.

But potential problems on an '01 with 200k?

Everything.

 

My 01 is in the shop right now. Coolant leak from a pipe coming from the lower intake. I'll know more of whats going on tomorrow. Mine has low miles but just like anything time takes its toll.

 

your gonna need a new intake manifold. Those plastic ones dont last..
op
I would look at stock ones myself. If you want stuff thats not going to have problems look for the trucks that are/were owned by old dudes who didnt change it from original at all. No way I buy a lifted 12 year old truck..

 

It'll be as reliable as a 1988 would have been back in 2001.
Seriously, I have treated my '99 well, bought it new. However, it's now 15 years old and needs constant attention. It runs well, but weather has taken it's toll on the untreated metal. Stuff wears out.
It's been a very good truck, but......
Buy a new or fairly new truck, save yourself lots of aggrivation.

 

actually I think the 97-03 trucks are way better then earlier ones. Agreed it is an old truck though. Thats why when your buying one selection is everything..

 

If you are in Southern CA, you should be able to find one with a non-rusted body. Mechanical things can be repaired easier than rusted out everything from the frozen north. Me, I'd look for a truck with low miles and good condition. And, I'm like a previous poster, I like to buy unmolested used vehicles. I learned the hard way early in my life that it is better to pay retail for a vehicle in great condition than to pay wholesale or less for one that is not.

 

Yea that's an upper manifold coolant crack/break, bad one. You need to replace with an 99, 03 or Dorman Composite manifold. Your 3 choices lol.

 

Man that ones had a hard life. No maintenance most likely.

 

Look for a bone stock one and lift it yourself, same as others have said. Lifted usually equals more stress and abuse, or there's at least a much higher % chance of it

 

Yeah, this is a tough one for me. I really wanted to get into a lifted vehicle for cheap and F150s around ~2001 which are already lifted don't cost much more than the lift itself. IIRC I spent ~$4k on my lift back in 2001 after everything was done (6" susp, 3" body, regear, LSD & labor) and lifted F150s in this model year range are asking between $5-6k. I can easily find a bunch <$6k but they are all over 100k.

I did check out that 200k truck yesterday:
* Some cosmetic issues (dents, chipped paint)
* SoCal truck so not much rust (visible rust on the wheel hub centers, only light surface rust on the frame, no rust signs from within the body panels or doors)
* Owner works at a dealership and is able to get everything done there and was pretty forthcoming on all the things he has done (2 coils, F/R bearings, rear end, had the spark plug problem in a couple holes and he had to fix that, new headliner, probably a bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting).
* Current owner installed the lift (not the original owner), stated about 2 years/30k miles on lift and claims never off-roaded because they have a Jeep for that.
* Truck steering wanders more than my original lifted 2001 supercab did though. No steering stabilizer.

On one hand, it is good to know that he has thoroughly gone through and fixed stuff but on the other hand with a truck this age who knows what else will go and how soon. The price is what is really tempting to me.

I think you guys are right though, I should probably bite the bullet and wait until I can afford something within 5 years old. 12 year old truck, even cheap, is kind of a gamble not matter what. Plus I have heard the 2008+ F150s don't have plug issues anymore.

 

How much is the truck? I think 12 years old is fine, but it not having been yours for those 12 years is the issue, the not knowing. But really, anything that breaks can be fixed. Only thing with that mileage is that the motor and trans are gonna be on their way out before too long, even with a ~100k rebuild of both (which wasn't good and is a bit premature to start with).

 

You are right about a 12 year old truck being a gamble. If its that old even with low miles things are gonna break.


jethat and jbrew,

They told me the upper is good, but I need to replace the lower. Water pump too. Not a cheap venture...

Also I have a thread started about it here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/19...er-things.html

 

He was originally asking $6k (which seems to be the going asking price for 2001-2002 Screws) but admitted to me he'd take $5k if I took care of smog and he didn't have to address any of the cosmetic issues. Not sure if it is cheap enough to be worth the gamble.

The mileage and not knowing how much more time I have on the engine and trans is what really bothers me.

Of course, I started looking at newer trucks 2008+ yesterday and most of the private party sellers are over 100k too (a bunch in the ~140k range) and the lower mileage ones are asking high enough that I may as well look into buying a new truck at that point...

 

Yeah, the used F150 market is awesome (terrible) right now. One's within 3 and 4 years old have nearly non-existant depreciation, with the only reduction in value coming from mileage. An 09 or 10 with higher mileage are the only late-model ones that could make financial sense to get, otherwise brand new is best. We've actually been talking about that a lot.

You'll get everything sorted out though!