I have the opportunity to own a 1980 Ford F-350 Ranger. It has a 400 V8 with a C6 trans. It's showing 74k miles. (owner says it hasn't been rolled over, but I doubt it.) It has a 6 inch lift. Runs well and is in terrific shape for its age. But, I know next to nothing about these old Fords. If I'm not mistaken don't these old 400 motors have bad reputations?
Owner wants to trade for my 05 Impala with 85k miles.
Think this will be a decent truck, or a huge headache? Also, If I turn around and decide to list it for sale, what would be a fair asking price?

Here's a couple pics

 

You lookin' for old guys? Or guys that know something about old trucks?

The 400's from Ford were pretty stout. The C-6 was pretty much bulletproof. (albeit, only a three speed.) Gas mileage will suck....... If it gets even half what your impala does, I will be flat out stunned. But, that's not what you buy a one ton truck for in any event.

I am thinking the car is worth quite a bit more than the truck....... I would run both thru NADA, or KBB, and see what the numbers look like.

 

I had an 88 full size bronco with the 351/C6 combo. If I kept it under 60 MPH, I broke maybe 12 MPG. Anything over that speed and I was in the single digits. Unless I had a decent tailwind. It needed an OD bigtime.

 

I'd love to have that truck but agree on the value difference.

 

Yep my friend had the same combo, but not the same year.

I rode with him on the interstate once and that 351 was WHINING

 

Agreed, if that guy thinks he's gonna trade you straight up for your 05 impala then he must be out of his mind...that truck is 34 years old this year and has 34 year old technology. Not to mention that parts are going to be increasingly difficult to find. Tell him you'll take the truck plus cash on trade...

 

We used to have a 1982 (I think?) f-f150 straight 6 as a farm truck. I'm not much of a ford guy but that thing would not die. We even drove it to the scrap yard.

 

The old straight sixes were indestructible. They didn't even need to have oil in them.

 

The C6 without overdrive is gonna suck...

Otherwise the C6 is a good trans, as long as the vacuum modulator is kept up good. If that modulator goes bad it can destroy the transmission in about 5 minutes.... Keep that in mind.

Is it a 400 or a 435 series (435, 460, etc)?

 

I already knew the gas mileage would be atrocious, it's obviously not going to be my daily driver (although I believe the current owner is using it as one). I'm thinking the truck is just too clean for a 1980 to pass up. I'm trying to get into the car business, which is why I bought the Impala and my 4Runner in the first place, and I'm worried I'd be sitting on this F350 for a while. I have a 79 Firebird that's in damn good shape listed for $4,000 less than what NADA says it's worth, and I've had it longer than I ever thought I would.