Well I have a 1986 F150 4x4 with a 302. Its really been nothing but a problem to me. As much as I hate to say it. It recently sprung a huge transmission fluid leak. So I can't drive it. The engine has a noise to it, the oil pressure is constantly low, the transmission was already a little jacked up before. And it still has a bad vibration I can't figure out. About the only thing good about this truck is the frame and body. I swear there isnt a speck of rust on her. My buddies here all think i should just get rid of her. But I've been reluctant. What do y'all think?

 

The hardest part of a vehicle to fix is the body. Mechanical stuff is cake compared to that.

 

dude, if you have the 3k in your pocket, rebuild. if not, sell and get maybe 2 or 3k

 

That is a good way to look at it. You need to decide if you want to spend the money and keep it, or sell it and invest the money into something else.

You also have to consider that it is a 20+ year old truck.

 

Also consider they don't make 'em like they used to. I don't know where you're at, but you likely won't get very much for it if it's not running right or driveable. I can get them here for $500 driveable.

 

And thats the thing. I wont get anything for this truck if I sell it. Its really complicated because im stationed in groton, ct and I have no place in which i can park the truck and spend the time to work on it. But if I can manage to get it back home I have an uncle who is a master mechanic and will do all of the work for free. I just have to buy parts. So thats what ive been leaning towards. This truck has a lot of potential if I can just fix it up right

 

if your base has an auto hobby shop you can work on it there for cheap and most have a place to store them i would build or buy a motor and tranny and just swap it in

 

You can always trailer it to your uncles shop. I brought my LeMans from New Jersey to Florida by trailer because I didn't want to chance it driving it. Probably cost me about $350 in gas, roughly. That's about 1800 miles.