New Purchase

[justincollier]

I am looking for some help. I have the opportunity to make a purchase and need some help on what kind of questions to ask and what to look for. Here are the specifics:
It is a 1996 F250 extended cab, long bed. It is a Powerstroke, 4X4, 5 speed manual, with about 250,000 miles.
That is all I know so far. I wanted to get some input on things I should ask about and look for, before I call the seller. I know that Diesels have better longevity when compared to gas engines, but with 250,000 miles, I want to make sure I am not jumping into an expensive money pit. Thanks for everyone's help in advance.
Justin

[ABOBB]

Welcome to Powerstroke.org

We have several folks here who are very familiar with the OBS powerstrokes. You should get lots of advice very soon.

[fordnut85]

When you get to that kind of mileage it gets a little sketchy, if it has been well maintained it will last for alot longer and would be an ok purchase, however if it has been neglected that is about the mileage where things start to show wear. Things your gonna want to look at are the steering system (about $1000 to replace everything), the clutch (about $1000 for the kit), ask what repairs have been done like maybe a Cam position sensor and the like. Take the thing for a drive and pay attention to any wierd noises or how it feels and post up what you found here and we can help ya.

BTW welcome to the org man!!!

[vitalidle]

Here ya go here is a link for you to click on and read What to look for when buying a used 94-98 PSD

[pipelayerjdh]

Welcome to the Forum, If you have any questions, just ask. Where are you from?

You could also get an Oasis report ran on it to see if it has had any major issues.

[vitalidle]

Pretty sure you can only go back 10 years with the oasis

[pipelayerjdh]

Probably so. I was able to run mine, might get lucky?

[vitalidle]

Heck yeah its always worth a shot

[justincollier]

I just talked with the seller. He following is some of what he had to say:

He said that he replaced the two-piece flywheel with the single-piece assembly. However, this makes the transmission noisier, and that is why Ford used a two-piece assembly in the first place. He also stated that this was done at about 75,000 miles. Even under gentle driving conditions, I would think that the clutch is almost toast.
The seller also stated that these trucks eat lower ball joints, and this truck would probably need them soon. He said the reason for frequent replacement is the front end weight.
The final things I asked about were the glow plugs, glow plug harness, and the camshaft position sensor. He said he replaced the glow plugs and harness about two years ago. He said he had never had any problems with the CPS. That seemed odd, because a lot of posts I have read, this part fails often.
That is what he had to say. I am thinking that for his asking price, $5000, I could spend a little more and find a newer truck with much fewer miles. I would like to hear what you guys think. Thanks, Justin.

[fordnut85]

It sounds like he is bieng straight with you, Depending on what brand clutch he used it might have alot more life left in it. He is right about the lowerball joints so factor that into your decision. The CPS isn't a big deal other than if you buy it you will want to pick one up. Sounds like a fair deal!!