I got an offering today from a friend who owns an '02 F250 PS 7.3l Reg cab 4x4 8' bed automatic for my Dakota... no cash... just my Dakota.

While I am totally against doing it... I sooo want a diesel.

However, it is an automatic, and I hate automatics.

But it is soooo cool... I drove it around today and it was like a whole 'nother world for me. So for kicks I let him take me for a spin in my Dakota. He fell in love with it in like 1 minute of driving it.

I wanna do it so badly. IT would be tight if I had a diesel... but my Dak goes like way faster... and it is much more fun to drive. But the diesel is fun to drive because of the noise, 4x4, and power.

It's got 172,XXX on it... has all the service paper work... but the truck is kind of gross.

What should I do?

 

get the diesel.. it is just getting broke in. get used to the auto.. you may end up liking it. I felt the same until I got the edge on my 5.4 and firmed up the shift points. Plus you can get a tuner to add 100 hp and 200 ft lbs. of torque to that 7.3 and it will smoke the dakota.

 

I agree, those PSD's should be good for at least 300k when they're maintained. And there's a TON of stuff out there to kick up the performance.

The only problem I can see is trying to park that beast; be prepared to walk some in parking lots.. lol

I guess the only other factor would be just how "gross" it looks. Is it rusted, pretty beat-up?

 

My F150 is longer than that F250! So no issue there...

Well, you see... thing is... let me get to the point of "gross"...



It has some rust, needs some new seats as they are stained and look like someone lost control and used it as a toilet... vinyl floor which is a plus, which is the only thing that looks to be in good condition. The dash isn't too bad... needs some cleaning. Bed didn't have a bed liner... and is totally scratched up and dented to beyond belief (I even think it has a hole in it, where he threw a pick-axe)... it has some door dings and such. Never been in an accident though. The engine compartment looks like he mistaked it for his bed and filled it with dirt. The underbody is all rust.

I dunno... 4x4 works though...

However, my Dakota is equal to if it came directly from the factory. NO RUST. NO dents, dings, scratches... interior is perfect, engine compartment is so clean you can eat off of it... everything works as it should... and it's got the horsees.

 

for me it would be a no brainer.
I'd swap in a heart beat.

I'd love for someone ot offer me that for my F150.... If you dont take it... I dont know what he's looking for but send him my way, we may swap.

I need an F250, and diesel woud be saweeeet!!!
I do work my trucks so the bed isnt an issue for me at all.
I can get seats at a salvage yard for probably $300 or less. Or just slap some seat covers on it.

 

sounds like a great deal to me, besides a fixer up project can be alot of fun too

 

The question really is - what do you NEED? If you need a work truck that you can beat to death or a heavy duty tow vehicle, the PSD is the way to go. If you just need a daily driver to get you from point A to point B, keep the Dakota.

You may be able to convert the PSD to a stick shift............a 6-speed was a factory option in 02 with the PSD.

 

Yeah, some new-to-me seats, a drop-in bedliner (call around to a rhinoliner or lineX dealer, some of them have stacks of discarded liners), steam clean that engine compartment (diesels are ALWAYS gonna collect grime), and there ya go..

Gotta say I'd go for it. Torque out the ***, decent mileage, 4x4, a drivetrain that won't quit.

Besides, sounds like you already got your '07 fiddy..

 

I dunno... I love my Dak... and I already got my "work" truck... to me... my Dak is like my "personal" vehicle... and my F150 is my "work" vehicle.

I still have a lot of thinkin'... and he's in no rush.

 

Well basically it depends on whether you want a diesel 4x4 or not. I'd say do it. You can swap in a 6 speed when the automatic goes out.... Like I'm planning on doing. Anybody want to buy a 4r100?

 

Just do it.