Truck question

[Bruno of NH]

The truck has a t-19 4 speed transmission in it if that changes anything 

[moodnacreek]

The truck has a t-19 4 speed transmission in it if that changes anything

Before the German ZF then, much cheaper to repair. The ZF's don't just come apart as the gears are heat shrunk on the shafts.

[C5C Tree Farmer]

I suspected as much. I'm thinking the ZF 5 speeds were available when the 7.3 IDI's came on the market.
Before you stick any money in the 4 spd try driving it. It may be that this rig has 4.10 gears in it and may be more forgiving with the fast 1st gear under load. My 87 F250 had 3.54's in it and it didn't work well starting out under load with the Borg Warner. My T19 transmission needed work and I chose instead to put in a 435 New Process which for me was a big improvement.

[chevytaHOE5674]

It must be an early 1987 model. Later 1987 still had the 6.9 with the ZF5 (I've owned 3 of them lol). 

T-19 im going to say worn syncros or bent shift forks, both common. Parts are still expensive for a rebuild but they are much easier to rebuild. A gas engine trans will swap but the ratios are vastly different. 

I still say an old project truck isn't for somebody who isn't doing the wrenching themselves.

[nativewolf]

It must be an early 1987 model. Later 1987 still had the 6.9 with the ZF5 (I've owned 3 of them lol).

T-19 im going to say worn syncros or bent shift forks, both common. Parts are still expensive for a rebuild but they are much easier to rebuild. A gas engine trans will swap but the ratios are vastly different.

I still say an old project truck isn't for somebody who isn't doing the wrenching themselves.

My wannabe non-wrenching self agrees.  Sadly I wrench more than I like.  Got some downtime this coming week and I have 20 deferred little odds and ends on the machines to do.  I'd rather carry a saw up the mountain in a 33 degree rain.   Instead...a great day and I'll be fixing stuff.  Sigh.

[Bruno of NH]

My transmission shop can repair the transmission 
And I will get a high tork starter for it 

[Hilltop366]

I still say an old project truck isn't for somebody who isn't doing the wrenching themselves.

True to a point however when you look at a the price of new to lightly used trucks and figure out your cost per year the "solid but needs a few things" don't seem so bad.

I use a 95 dodge gas for my work truck for property maintenance including snow plowing and get almost all of my repairs done at a repair shop. Paid $6000 for the truck 10 years ago and if I had to guess I would say probably average $1000 to $1500 per year in repairs so for $1600 to $2100 per year its still cheap ownership. Diesel trucks can be a bit up there in repair bills so I try to avoid them as I don't put near enough miles on them to justify the extra cost.

[mudfarmer]

Can't speak to repair shop prices but every time I see the price even on a 10yr old dually for sale it doesn't hurt at all to toss 500bux at my old rust bucket

[chevytaHOE5674]

I still say an old project truck isn't for somebody who isn't doing the wrenching themselves.

True to a point however when you look at a the price of new to lightly used trucks and figure out your cost per year the "solid but needs a few things" don't seem so bad.

I use a 95 dodge gas for my work truck for property maintenance including snow plowing and get almost all of my repairs done at a repair shop. Paid $6000 for the truck 10 years ago and if I had to guess I would say probably average $1000 to $1500 per year in repairs so for $1600 to $2100 per year its still cheap ownership. Diesel trucks can be a bit up there in repair bills so I try to avoid them as I don't put near enough miles on them to justify the extra cost.

So you spent 6000 plus call it another 12,500 (1250 per year average for 10 years) or 18,500 to drive a truck for 10 years.
Flip the coin I paid 16k for a truck 11 years ago and haven't spend probably 2500 bucks keeping it on the road.
So we both spent the same total cost. Mine has spent little time in the shop and just guessing here based on purchase price 10 years ago the truck I paid 16k for was nicer than your 6k truck and still probably is 10 year later.
2 ways to arrive at the same-ish outcome.

[Hilltop366]

Yes, both are way cheaper than a new or like new then or now.