Columbo detective work on 1996 F150?

Gents,

I realize this isn't a Bullnose question, but it is a similar truck (1996 F150), and the question is a generic one that would pertain to all old pickup trucks.

I want to buy a transmission from a 1996 F150 that is being parted out. The truck is hundreds of miles away so I cannot go look at it. There are lots of pictures anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

The eye catcher is that the truck is advertised as only having 18,393.5 kms (11,429 miles). Pictures of the truck certainly don't look like a truck with 11k original miles...



But as I was scrolling through the pictures, I noticed the interior...and it shows almost no wear at all.








It was obviously a work truck of some kind...plain white with black plastic grill and mirrors, no A/C, no tach, and not even a CD or taper player, just a plain radio.

What would you think? 11k original miles or cluster swap? Do the clusters fail in these things? Would there be a reason to swap it? 11k is unusually low obviously, and my assumption (if it is a work truck) would be that it probably has 300k on it lol, but the interior doesn't look like it.

Maybe it was at an airport or somewhere like that, where it was only driven back and forth on the same property.

What do the pictures tell you?

Cory, is there a photo available showing the brake and gas pedals? If so, look at the amount of wear. Yes, I realize they could have been replaced, but often times are not.

1986F150Six wrote

Cory, is there a photo available showing the brake and gas pedals? If so, look at the amount of wear. Yes, I realize they could have been replaced, but often times are not.

Ha! Great minds think alike David! I looked for the pedals also, and the only view is of the brake pedal in the same picture as the steering wheel. It doesn't look particularly worn.

Does the seller have some maintenance bills, with dates and mileage, about oil change, winter tires swap or that kind?

Windshield, windows, bezels:  Should look new, no wear, since no road debris or particles impacts.

One could think that this truck did 90% of its low mileage in a salt mine...

Oh, just one more thing…


If very far from home, there could be a member who lives close and who could go see it for you?

The community college where I went to college still has a 1974 Datsun pickup with 35,000 on it.

It's done landscaping duty it's whole life and has only driven from one end of the college to the other, to the dump and to the gas station. The interior is trashed, and the paint is extremely faded due to the California sun, but it's a low mileage vehicle.

The county here still owns a 1948 International truck fitted with a snow blower/thrower with low miles etc, due to it not being used much.

There is a stipulation because these vehicles are government owned, that they have to reach 100,000 miles before they can be traded in. Unless there is some severe defect.



From the look of this truck, I'd say it's possibly the same way. A low mileage truck being parted out due to extreme rust making it fail inspection. Would have to see it in person to get any better ideas,

May be worth running a carfax report.

BigBrother-84 wrote

If very far from home, there could be a member who lives close and who could go see it for you?

It's actually in Quebec...sort of. The truck no longer exists...it has already been parted out. The transmission in question is sitting on a warehouse shelf.

Gsmblue wrote

May be worth running a carfax report.

Now that's a good idea...I just don't want to pay for it lol. I must ask around and see if I know anybody with access.

Thanks for the replies guys. Much appreciated!

81-F150-Explorer wrote

From the look of this truck, I'd say it's possibly the same way. A low mileage truck being parted out due to extreme rust making it fail inspection.

I am assuming the same, especially with it being such a plain Jane example. I just wish I could confirm.

I am thinking on that Carfax...

Rembrant wrote

It's actually in Quebec...sort of. The truck no longer exists...it has already been parted out. The transmission in question is sitting on a warehouse shelf.

That's a bummer that the truck is already parted out.  If not too far from Montreal, I could have go there for you.

Frankly, I don't understand how a truck can be so dented with so low mileage, even here in the Quebec Salt Kingdom.  I suspect there is a missing Zero at the end...

There is no pictures of the under frame?  If we admit (which is difficult) that the body panels were somehow much more "rust sensitive", a 11400 miles frame (and muffler, and exhaust pipe, and suspension, and brakes, and wheels) should be in relatively good shape.

I admit that the interior looks very clean.  But from the exterior, for my part, something fishy is going on with the mileage.

BigBrother-84 wrote

I admit that the interior looks very clean.  But from the exterior, for my part, something fishy is going on with the mileage.

I checked Carfax and it looks like the truck was "retired from use" in 2020 with a reported 217,000 miles on it (350,000 kms). Where the low km odometer came from, I do not know. I think I'll pass on this one. The seller has been very responsive, but I asked him if he knew why the kms were so low and he has not replied. I don't like being out the cost of the Carfax, but I'll take that over paying a premium for for what was supposed to be a low mileage transmission. Thanks all for your help.

BigBrother-84 wrote

That's a bummer that the truck is already parted out.  If not too far from Montreal, I could have go there for you.

According to Car-Part, there are only two of these specific 1996 transmissions available east of Calgary, Alberta and they are both in Quebec! The first one I looked at in Marieville southeast of Montreal, but the second one is in Saint Jerome! Do you know this company below?



I'm going to keep searching around and see what else I can find, but this one in Saint Jerome might be my next best option. There's nothing out here on the east coast.

My brother in law lives near Marieville, and St-Jerome is close from here.

I do not know Miron, they look to have a good yard.


If we can help you, it will be a pleasure.

I ended up finding a transmission locally...well, here in NS at least (and hour away).

What the heck is with the prices of automatic transmissions these days? I'm obviously living in the past. In my mind, a trans out of a junked truck should be worth $200-$250 (Canadian). I mean, they usually have at least 200,000 kms on them (120k miles) and the trucks rust out before they wear out (usually). A used transmission is now $500-$600 bucks.
I figured I'd bypass everybody and order one from car-part on the USA side, assuming they'd be way cheaper, like things usually are, and no sir...still $500-$700 bucks. Then you have to ship them...another couple hundred bucks, and then at the very least they need all new seals and gaskets, etc.

What a racket! lol. Anyway, I'm just ranting...but maybe it's an issue that is specific to the 4R70W transmission.

So I bought this one locally, and paid a fortune for it, but at least I have backup now. Thanks all for looking, reading, and helping along.

Rembrant wrote

I'm obviously living in the past.

You're not alone Cory.
We're at least two.


Happy for you to having found a decent one.
Sorry for your wallet...

Oh, just one more thing…

Ah, I see why the interior looked so good.

Really low miles on it until after 2012. Then raked the miles on it in the past 5 years or so.

I will admit, that truck fooled me. Possibly a lot of highway miles.

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As for living in the past. It still shocks me what stuff is going for nowadays.

One Cent Candy anyone? Three for one penny?