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My 2nd kid is almost 16 and has had his drivers permit for a while.

A few days ago he called me at work. He was so excited he could. not. speak. in complete. sentences.

He's been saving some $ from lawn mowing and found a truck for sale that he could almost afford.

He was in the Safeway parking lot, and the truck had a "For Sale" sign on it. I went through a couple questions, certain that the answers would reveal to his 15 year old brain that he does not want a broken down turd.

What year, make and model? 1980 Ford F150 Ranger Package. Standard cab short box.
Engine? 300 straight six
Trans? Manual 4 speed
Body? Nice
Interior? Like new Dad!
Miles? 76k, supposedly original
4x4? Yes

Hmmmm.....sounds too good to be true. Walk away son.

He started talking painful gibberish, so I agreed to come down and take a look.

I was surprised. Original owner. All records. Inside was really nice. It drove straight and true. Everything works, even the A/C.

It has rust behind the wheel well and in the bed (rubber bed mat).

Through a little negotiating, my son and I own a new to us Ford. I've been driving it. It's boringly reliable so far. It makes me wonder why I'm making payments on my Tundra....

The magic of youth and a nice 4x4!
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Love those old fords with two tanks. The 300 I6 is a very good motor but they like gas. When it gets a lot of miles on it it will start backfiring when you decelerate. I have enjoyed that aspect of the old 300 for many years. My dad had 3 or 4 of them and I drove a company truck with the 300. So fun when you can time it with someone walking close to the road. Many fun times were had by me and my cousin in dads old blue ford. My God how we laughed. I miss those fold out side windows something fierce!


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He will have some great memories in that fine, affordable truck!


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Great find! Cheap truck can equal a lot of gas. Then again it's a 4x pickup so gas mileage isn't really expected.


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That's awesome!

sounds like and looks like a great truck!


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That would be at least $3K here any day of the week.

If you can drive it off the lot is worth $1500.00. Good deal.


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that was a smoking deal. i mean red hot.


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He will always remember his first truck. I had a 1964 ford 2wd with a 3 on the tree. That truck taught me how to do drum brakes, plugs/points/condenser, timing, carb rebuilds, generator and regulator work, etc. Great memories. I wish it was 4wd, but I was smart enough to keep it out of places it should not be. It also engendered a DEEP appreciation of fuel injection, air conditioning, power string, disc brakes, etc.

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This thread has me wheeling and dealing on a very similar truck...a 91 F150 SWB 4x4..but with a 351 and an suto. Hopefully I can get the guy talked down to where I can't say no. A SWB 4x4 1/2 ton is about the perfect hunting rig on earth, in my opinion.

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That was truly a great find. Always pays to be on the lookout.

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Great starter truck for a young kid just starting out behind the wheel. A young kid does not need anything with lots of power.

I started out driving a 1969 C-10 2 wheel Chevrolet pick up with the 250 CI In-Line 6 and three on the tree. Before my Dad traded the truck he had it tuned up and I swear it seemed that it gained 30 horsepower. I accused him of having it detuned all those years so I would not get hurt in it.


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I had that same truck and put 200k on it. Best truck I ever owned and I'd still have it if a drunk in a Mustang hadn't decided to pull out in front of me. The drunk and his wife fatally regretted it. I rolled the truck and walked away with not a single scratch. I had done a bunch of performance work to the I6 and it would outpull any 5.0 and some 5.8's. I drove it like I stole it and it never let me down.

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Is first gear "granny low"? I had a 1995 version of the truck and loved it except for the five speed. Buddy of mine had the four speed with "granny" and it was a much better set up. Your son will enjoy his first truck for sure.

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Nice!

That'll be a great truck!

I had a 150 with the 300-6 and the 4 speed. I beat the hell outta that truck and it kept chuggin.


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Originally Posted by oznog
Is first gear "granny low"? I had a 1995 version of the truck and loved it except for the five speed. Buddy of mine had the four speed with "granny" and it was a much better set up. Your son will enjoy his first truck for sure.


Yes, first gear crawls. When it's in 4 Low, 1st gear, it'll climb a tree at idle.

It gets wound up tight at 60 mph +, but it's for sure a bargain.

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$600?! Your son is a winner.


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Northern Dave will fix that rust up for you right quick.


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Nice score there! He's stoked!! smile

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Not a ford fan but that there is a great old truck... The 300 ford 6 Is arguably the best engine ever made. They are tough as nails....we all know ford make good tranny and rear ends. If the boy takes care and doesn't use it as a wheeler... He could drive that thing for years and years...

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Originally Posted by horse1
Northern Dave will fix that rust up for you right quick.


Northern Dave will laugh at you for calling that "rust." grin


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