I have a 2000 F-150 that was t-boned 3 years ago with 95,000 miles. It was totaled, I bought it back, and it now has 114,000 miles. I'm getting sick of climbing in/out of the passenger side, the A/C doesn't work, both exhaust manifolds leak, and the bed, doors and panels are very rusty. I'm trying to find a decent 1997-2003 F150 (most have my same rust issues) for a potential engine swap, and replacing the exhaust manifolds when out. Unfortunately, I am not able to do the work myself. I'm hoping that depending on what I pay for the other F150 and mechanical costs, to keep it around $5000? I'm not able to buy much in used trucks for $5000. I only use the truck for snow storms, light landscaping, and occasional trips up north. I know the truck won't be the best, but hopefully ok. Unrealistic? Not worth the hassle? Too much to have to pay someone else? Let me know what you think I should do. Thanks

 

What engine and transmission does your truck have?

I'd almost have to say that the best thing you could do is sell your truck for parts, and buy another truck that's roadworthy the way it sits. Paying someone to do a powertrain swap isn't going to be cheap, and may require modifications.

 

If you do it, buy a southern truck where there isn't any salt on the roads. They usally don't rust down here.

 

What Roadie said.
How do I know?? Wisconsin!
You have heard the expression "rust never sleeps". There is a reason they call it cancer. You do the cab corners & swap on a better bed & next the fuel lines & then the brake lines rust out. Then the diff cover rusts through! The body mounts collapse. Life is just too short. If you think salt is bad, Calcium Chloride is worse.
Take a long weekend or a week long trip and buy a used truck in Portland. Or Little Rock. Or Tulsa. Maybe it will need some mechanical work but the body will give you most of another decade.
Happy Hunting!
P.S. There are few 5-15 year old trucks for sale within 500ish miles of the California fires or the Southern floods.Those markets have sucked all the bargains up to fill the void.

 

 

I'd sell it for parts...

 

What they said. It really doesn't sound like it's worth fixing up, especially if you have to pay a mechanic to do all the work.

 

I'm not sure if I was exactly clear on my original post. I was going to pull the motor from the t-boned F150 and put it in to another one. Anyways, it sounds like the consensus is to drive it until I can't, or sell the motor now. I guess I'm going to go this route and hope I can find a reasonable F150 in the $5000-$6000 range some day. I read somewhere that if I look in the next generation F150"s, 04-08, the 4.6L is the better bet versus the 5.4 due to a timing chain issue? Is this true? And is there any way to tell if 5.4 is having these issues? I know to also look for the known exhaust manifold issues also. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

The 5.4 3 valve has variable cam timing, which can be troublesome. If you hear any ticking other than injector pulses, it's best to take a pass unless you want to dump 1500 bucks into the engine for proper repairs.

 

Chances are you are not going to find a rust free Wisconsin truck within your budget and then have enough to do a drive line swap to make it worth it??

Dunno.. I don't live in the "rust belt", but have seen a lot of U tube vids that show the stuff that goes on with those rigs and you could not PAY me to take one of those rigs from that area..

Why they put that stuff on the roads knowing it'll rot the hell out of any vehicle I have no idea??

Anyway, sorry for no advice.. Just good luck in whatever you have to do..

Mitch

 

 

sell the truck for scrap metal and rent a Uhaul and move to the South and get rid of the rust problems all together