1993 F-350, 135,000 mi., 7.3l Diesel, Crew Cab, Long Bed 4x4 with Canopy

1993 F350 - 135,000 miles, 7.3l Non-Turbo Diesel, 4x4, Automatic with Overdrive, Crew Cab (4-door), 8' Bed

Background

I bought this truck in 2011 for $8,000 plus tax and license, and as of now have a total of $37,820.64 into it, excluding insurance, fuel and storage. I was looking for a much newer model, but I saw this sitting in the far corner of the lot, and had to have it. I bought it for the occasional trip out to my buddy's ranch and to have a pickup when needed, which turns out to be not very often.

This old school truck gets more positive attention than any vehicle I have owned. If it seems slightly crazy to spend nearly $30,000 fixing up a $8,000 pickup truck, well, consider it a love story.

It had 127,717 miles when I bought it. It has just under 135,000 miles today, so I have driven only about 1,200 miles a year. It is kept in a secure storage unit, unless I take it out for a weekend spin. These days I only do that once every other month or so, so it's time to sell it.

According to what motor vehicle records I could find, it appears to have had only one owner before the used car lot I bought it from. It was registered in east Texas and I would bet it was a farm or ranch truck, pulling livestock or horse trailers (it has a fold-away fifth wheel hitch in the bed). It looks like a lot of highway miles.

I sent away to Ford for the history of the truck. It was built on March 9, 1993 in at the Ontario, Canada Truck Plant. See the photo of the letter Ford sent me.

Repairs, Maintenance and Accessories

The truck started and ran when I got it, but not reliably. I invested, and it runs reasonably well today. Here is the repair and maintenance history. I have the receipts for the work done and accessories added.

• 2011 and 2012

  • <Ford dealer name withheld>: I had all rubber, belts, filters, fluids, pads, lube, etc., replaced. Also tighten door hinges to enable doors to open and shut properly. Repair interior trim. Repair fuel system problems. Power steering pump. Valve cover gasket. Install DeeZee LED-lighted, aluminum, full-length running boards. $8,409.00.

  • <Retailer/installer name withheld>: Leer canopy installed, custom ordered, painted correct factory color to match truck. $2,218.91.

• 2013

  • Drove it from time to time.

• 2014

  • <Offroad equipment retailer/installer name withheld>: Underbody ARB twin air compressor for filling tires (female connector mounted in rear bumper), air horn, bed liner, tie downs in bed, K/C Apollo Pro driving lights, Smittybilt switchable jumper cable extension (female connector mounted in rear bumper), rifle rack in cab. $3,577.22.

  • <Mechanic name withheld>: After the Ford dealer couldn't fix the fuel system (starting and running) problems, I tried this mechanic. They put in new fuel lines, filter and pump as well as new injectors. These helped but didn't cure the problems completely. $1,760.72.

• 2015

  • Drove it from time to time.

• 2016

  • <Mechanic name withheld>: I finally found a good mechanic who immediately knew how to solve the fuel system problems: diesel fuel attracts water vapor, which condenses in the bottom of the fuel tanks. The fuel tanks start to rust. Flakes of rust clog the fuel injectors. Solution: replace the old, rusted fuel tanks with new fuel tanks. Problem finally solved! Replace dashboard bezel. Install HID bulbs in headlights. Recharge air conditioning. Fix emergency brake. Fix driver-side power window. $10,945.72.

  • Coverking Custom Seat Covers: the original seat upholstery is quite good, only one small hole. I wanted to protect it, so I installed Coverking camo seat covers front and back. These have molle webbing on the back of each seat, so you can hold gear there. $760.68.

  • <Automotive accessories retailer/installer name withheld>: Install Viper 5806V Security System. Install Garmin dezl 770LMTHD 7" color GPS with Bluetooth and wireless backup camera. Install Kenwood KDC-X700 Sirius XM and Bluetooth Stereo. $3,882.04.

• 2017 and 2018

  • Drove it from time to time.

All of this, including purchase of the truck, tax, license and a few incidentals, comes to $37,820.64. I have the receipts. (That doesn't include gas, insurance and storage.)

It starts and runs well now, except occasionally after it has been running for an hour or so, then turned off, it cranks but doesn't want to start again until it rests for a while. I haven't taken the time to resolve that. The current mechanic (a good one, btw) feels he can resolve it.

It runs along at freeway speeds up to 85 mph with no problem. Keeps up with traffic just fine and is good around town once you get used to maneuvering an aircraft carrier.

Four-wheel drive and four-wheel low, both work fine, as do the locking hubs. I only used them once, however.

All door handles inside and out work. All windows and door locks work. Power door locks with Viper remote (keyfob and smartphone). Rear seat slides and folds forward. Front seat slides. Power steering, tilt steering, leather aftermarket steering wheel cover. 12v powerport in dash and three of them just inside the canopy liftgate.

Interior dome and reading lights work. Good headliner with a few small tears. Good original seats with one small hole. All seat belts front and rear work. Power front windows, crank rear. XLT trim level.

The air conditioner blows cool (I wouldn't say "cold" but the mechanic did). The heater works but when they installed the new dash bezel, the temperature dial somehow got disconnected, so it's stuck on "cold”, though the air conditioner still turns on and off ok. Probably an easy fix.

The headlights stopped working a few months ago, shortly after the last state inspection. They are HID bulbs less than two years old, so probably a loose wire. The K/C driving lights work. Wipers work. All other lights work. Horn works, as does air horn and air compressor. Wipers work.

I never had bodywork done. The truck has the dents and dings you would expect on a farm truck, but I like the way it looks and I like being anonymous. Well, as anonymous as you can be in a truck this big, anyway.

Everything pretty much works.

Features and Specs

This is what is listed on the Ford build sheet:

• F-350 (4x4) SRW, Crew cab Pickup

• Hydraulic Brake System, GVWR Class H
  

• 7.3L D 445 CID V8 Diesel Engine
  

• XLT Trim Series
  

• 168" Wheelbase
  

• Tachometer
  

• Front License Plate Bracket
  

• Chrome Grille
  

• Auto Locking Hubs
  

• Skid Plates
  

• Sliding Rear Window
  

• 4-Speed Automatic Transmission — E40D
  

• 4.10 Limited Slip Rear Axle Ratio
  

• LT235/85R-16E BSW All Terrain Tires
  

• Spare Wheel and Tire
  

• Speed Control
  

• Tilt Steering Wheel
  

• Camper Package
  

• Insulation Package
  

• Dual Low Mount Bright Mirror
  

• Manual Air Conditioner
  

• Electronic AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Player and Clock
  

• Visibility Light Group
  

• Super Engine Cooling Package
  

• Auxiliary Fuel Tank
  

• Handling Package
  

• Medium Mocha Metallic Exterior Paint Color — (Paint Code: PNDAJ)
  

• Cloth Interior Trim Scheme
  

• Full Bench Seating
  

• Medium Mocha Interior Trim Color
  

• Power Windows and Door Locks
  

• Convenience Group
  

• Lower Body-Side and Wheel Molding
  

According to Ford, only 23,371 of this model were made.

A standard trailer hitch is mounted on the back. There appears to be some sort of trailer brake control unit under the dash. At some point a fifth wheel hitch was added in the bed of the truck, but it folds down out of the way so the bed is fully usable.

Accessories and Equipment Added by Current Owner

• Safety and Security

  • Viper 5806V Security System controls door locks by key fob and smartphone, security system sets by keyfob and smartphone, security system reports GPS location to smartphone and "fences" can be set for speed and location. Glass breakage sensor. https://www.viper.com/car/securityremotestart/product/5806v/viper-led-2-way-security-and-remote-start-system

  • Interior, hidden lockable pistol safe, single pistol capacity

  • Interior, lockable rifle rack, two rifle capacity

  • Switchable air horn

  • HID headlight bulbs

  • K/C driving lights

• Cargo Protection

  • Leer canopy with cab passthrough window, rear and side opening, full-length windows, lockable and with interior lighting, painted body color, three 12v Powerportshttp://www.leer.com/

  • Spray-in Bed liner

  • Tie downs

• Navigation and Sound

  • Garmin dezl 770LMTHD 7" color GPS with Bluetooth, wireless backup camera and live traffic module (traffic subscription required) https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/162982 and https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/501486

  • Kenwood KDC-X700 Sirius XM and Bluetooth Stereo (Sirius subscription required), on-dash microphone for Bluetooth smartphonehttps://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/kdc-x700/

• Comfort and Appearance

  • Coverking custom-fitted camo seat covers with molle webbing on the front and rear seat backs https://www.coverking.com/

  • DeeZee full length "armor plate" aluminum lighted running boards https://www.deezee.com/product/brite-tread-running-boards/

  • Weathertech rubber floor mats

  • Aftermarket center cup holder and tray

Rescue

• • Smittybilt Jumper cable plug on back bumper, long cables https://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/160.htm

  • ARB Twin Air Compressor with air outlet on back bumper https://www.arb.com.au/air-compressors-tyre-accessories/air-compressors/

• Original Ford Owner Manual and manuals for all accessories.

I have the receipts for the work done and accessories added.

So now you know the whole story. Time to sell this wonderful beast. Whoever wins this truck, will probably love it.

(Note: The items shown in the bed of the pickup, do not come with the truck and are not available for purchase.)