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I am Ford man. I would opt for the F100. I love the 300 inline. I would look around for a 4 speed and get rid of the 3 speed. The 300 when tuned up and running great will be an economical engine to fuel and keep running.
Both would fit your needs that you mention just fine and the twin I beam in the 2wd Ford is one of the best, simple and reliable designs of any pickup and the manual steering in a little 6 cylinder 1/2 ton will work just fine as well. These inline 6 cylinder pickups are very simple which is great for someone with little experience with these.
I see plenty of old pickups there in Albuquerque on Craigslist.org so it might be a good idea to check some of them out like this one below.
1977 Ford F-250 (http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/1899234093.html - broken link)
The more original the better which that one looks to be.
As far as what to avoid, excessive rust on the cab mounts, frame and cross members though that may not be a problem in that area of the country. Check the level and color of the fluids, coolant should be green not brown. After driving it check the radiator for leaks and under the engine and transmission for puddles, a few drips after a while is not uncommon but a big puddle is bad. Basically test and inspect the same things you would with any used vehicle.
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up with the '72 Chevy C20. Needed nothing, even has new upholstery. I tested all the fluids and no leaks, checked the oil and it looked pretty clean, it had been sat for a while in the same spot in the previous owners driver and I could not see any big oil patches anywhere, just a couple of real small spots here and there.
Price ended up being less than $1000 so I am real happy.
they ran solid axle fronts till the re-vamped 1980 model then went to the front TTB. that's why 73-79 f-seies that came with the factory solid axle are so popular with off road enthusiasts.
The twin I-Beam, two wheel drive front end was used from '65 to the early 80's and was not a very good design. Once the coil springs started sagging the camber went negative and it would ruin a pair of tires in no time. The procedure for adjusting the camber consisted of bending the I-Beams with a hydraulic ram.
The twin I-Beam, two wheel drive front end was used from '65 to the early 80's and was not a very good design. Once the coil springs started sagging the camber went negative and it would ruin a pair of tires in no time. The procedure for adjusting the camber consisted of bending the I-Beams with a hydraulic ram.
I could of swore that Ford didn't start making TTB until 1980 but I could be wrong.
You really can't go wrong with either truck. Just be glad your in NM, around here both of those trucks would be rusted out pieces of junk.
I could of swore that Ford didn't start making TTB until 1980 but I could be wrong.
Twin I-Beam and TTB are two different types of suspension. I-Beams (w/king pins)have been around since the 60's. TTB (w/balljoints) came along about 80 or 81, I believe.
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