TL's new winter DD

[torquelover]

Picking up a new winter DD this weekend. 1989 F250 4x4. Has the 7.3 diesel and auto trans. Long bed regular cab. Looks like hell, but has a lot of recent maintenance done. Rebuilt transfer case, all front end parts, newer motor. Needs some work, but runs as is. I'll post a pic later tonight. Anyone on here familiar with these?

[torquelover]

Need to pull off the pedo-topper.

[Lincolnmania]

the diesel specialist is in his camper next to my room

[packman]

Jealous of you Nice!


Packman

[P72Ford]

My Dad had a 6.9 IDI in a International 1600. Put alot of miles on it.

Does it have an OD transmission?

[torquelover]

Does it have an OD transmission?

It seems to a have a 3 speed of some sort. Shifts pretty well, but shifts seem late to me. It is geared really tall, something like 2800 RPM in 3rd at 50 MPH. I thought it was in 4 low when I first pulled out of the parking spot with it. Thankfully my commute is all city, with just a couple short bursts up to 45 for a mile or so. Got it titled, insured, and plates show up in about 2 weeks. I am in emissions hell here, and am super glad to report this thing is smog exempt! put new wipers on it while in line for emissions. The old wiper rubber was stuck to the windshield. Haven't seen that before.

I need to make it back out there this weekend to do some work on it before it comes home:

Pretty sure it needs new glows.
There is a fuel leak somewhere at the rear of the motor.
HVAC blower is dead, some wiring issues with it somewhere in the cab as well.
Turn signals inop, might just be the flasher and/or bulbs. Most folks have no idea of what hand signals are now, BTW.

Some minor issues once it gets home:

Lose the topper, wife thinks it'll scare the kids and our neighbors. Plus I can't see out of it.
Missing the bezel around the radio/hvac panel.
Pull the misc hubcaps/trim rings off.
Remove all the extra wiring added through the years for what looks like a cb, spot light, snowplow, add-on reverse lights, etc.
Put a radio and antenna in (not like I can hear it, the holes in the dash and fender bugs me).

[P72Ford]

With my Dad's old 6.9, he put a manually controlled circuit for the glow plugs. Originally there was some timer thing, but it doidn;t really work so well. He put a button on the dash that we'd hold on for 5 -10 seconds (can't really remember). It worked well, though.

I remember changing glow plugs in that truck, though. Some of them were pretty stubborn.

He got 350K out of the first engine. The truck currently has about 560K on it, so the second engine has held up as well.

2800 seems pretty revved up. I suppose it could be a C6, but even still, it shouldn't be all wound up at 50.

[torquelover]

With my Dad's old 6.9, he put a manually controlled circuit for the glow plugs. Originally there was some timer thing, but it doidn;t really work so well. He put a button on the dash that we'd hold on for 5 -10 seconds (can't really remember). It worked well, though.

I remember changing glow plugs in that truck, though. Some of them were pretty stubborn.

2800 seems pretty revved up. I suppose it could be a C6, but even still, it shouldn't be all wound up at 50.

Seems like a good idea on the glow plug wiring. Seems to be a lot of complexity with the relays and module/timer for those things. I imagine these will be a pain to get out as well, they look pretty old.

It was mentioned to me it was set up for low speed pulling/hauling. The plate on it expired in 1997 so it spent most of it's later life on private property. Most likely has been re-geared. Feels like a steep geared gas truck that just happens to have a low redline diesel in it.

[1987cp]

It's a diseasel!

[sutty2006]

looks like a cool old tub. I'd happily p1ss the neighbours off with one of those by parking it outside my house

[torquelover]

looks like a cool old tub. I'd happily p1ss the neighbours off with one of those by parking it outside my house

Yes, wife wants me to park it closer to the next door neighbor's house around the corner. I don't feel like running an extension cord that far though. You know it is cool to me for some reason. When I first saw it I was reminded of the first time I saw my old Crown Vic. Not sure what color it was, mismatched tires, wheels, hubcaps, various fluids leaking...

It's a diseasel!

So at some point when I yank the motor out, you don't want it for your '81?

[P72Ford]

Need to do a SAS. Get a swinging 60 under the front of that rig.

It may have 4.10s in it.

Alot of people dump on the IDI engines; my Dad never had anything but good luck with his, and he worked it hard. He always maintained it, but it was in a 25000 GVW truck that was often loaded up, and tugging a 10K pound trailer. I think his '83 6.9 was rated at 155hp; he had 7.3 injectors in it, and a modified pump, but that was it. The truck had a Clark 5 spd, and a 2 spd splitter in the rear.

They have a really unique exhaust note, too; naturally aspirated V8 diesel.

Couple pictures from back when it had les mileage.

[1987cp]

Yes, wife wants me to park it closer to the next door neighbor's house around the corner. I don't feel like running an extension cord that far though. You know it is cool to me for some reason. When I first saw it I was reminded of the first time I saw my old Crown Vic. Not sure what color it was, mismatched tires, wheels, hubcaps, various fluids leaking...



So at some point when I yank the motor out, you don't want it for your '81?

LOL. No, but I'll happily contribute a smallblock core or two if desired.

[1987cp]

Need to do a SAS. Get a swinging 60 under the front of that rig.

Stability Augmentation System? Solid Axle Swap? Synthetic Aperture Sonar? http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/SAS



And yeah, my former employer's '93 F-350 Super Duty longbed dually had 4.10s or 4.11s and a 7.3L turbodiesel. Seemed to pull his enclosed car trailer pretty easily. It had the amusing feature that the ignition lock was wonky so that it could be started without the key.

[torquelover]

Nate:
The truck has a solid front axle already, you're not suggesting a swap to the horrid "Twin I Beam" are you? Yes, the IDI gets a bad rap, but should run for a long time with normal maintenance.
Michael:
This is an N/A diesel as Nate said, no turbo(s) here. About as simple as you can get. The ignition cylinder and key look somewhat new, so no wonky ignition key antics here.

As an update, the truck is home now. The fuel leak is pretty bad. I am glad it was dropped off in the street, and not my driveway. I hope it's a simple fix. Hope to be driving it late this week/early next week.