I am considering purchase of a 1978 Ford LN8000 that was an old beverage truck that was converted into a car hauler with some living quarters. I don't know a lot about these trucks, but I am trying to find out what kind of fuel mileage this truck might be capable of. The owner is telling me that it has a Detroit Diesel 8.2L Turbo diesel with a 5 speed transmission, and a 2 speed rear end. He told me that the gearing in the rear end is ridiculously low, and will only go 55mph, but Im more concerned about what kind of mileage it could get with a decent highway gear in it. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

You can expect between 5 and 11 mpg, depending on load, driving conditions, and gearing.. probably could squeeze more out of it, but since the tuck is so old its hard to expect the engine is in top running shape. I didnt know those 8.2L's were built back in the 70's. Is it a transplant?

Just FYI, those 8.2L detroits aren't really known for their reliability.

 

Yeah it is a trans-plant they have been around since mid '80's and are a boat anchor to boot run it till it drops and put in real detroit "6v53 or some thing like it" or some other engine. Those 8.2 are real pricey come rebuild time if it can be that is very thin cylinder walls, and they blow head gaskets like nothing, have any one ever heard of the vega free standing cylinder engines? It is based on this same design flawed very flawed!

 

I actually have looked at another truck that I believe has the 6v53 Detroit in it. I'm not very knowledgeable about these trucks, but they said it was a detroit series 53 v-6 turbo diesel so Im assuming that is a 6v53. Anyways, I was also informed that this is a 2 stroke diesel, is this true? Also, what kind of fuel economy could be expected from a 6v53? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

I am converting a F-700 from work truck to Jeep transport/RV. Mine is also geared very low. Loaded completly mine will only weigh 65% of its GVWR when finished. So I am about to re-gear mine for more MPG.

 

Yep two stroke, only valves are exhaust as for mileage that will depend on your foot, the load you haul and your tech that keeps it up for you I.E. tuning but you should expect around 5-12, nothing that is heavy and hauls a load gets good mileage. As for the 6v53 term yes v-6 53 cubic inches per cylinder or 318 cu.in. it sounds small but it is pretty perky engine that's the two stroke for ya. if at all possible get a manual trans autos suck-my opinion but they do drink a bit more fuel than manual do say 2-6% depending on load and health of the unit-trans. If you go with a truck that has the detroit make sure you find a good tech that knows what he is doing, old detroits are easy to run off if the governor is miss adjusted, also check your air box-intake charge box drain hole 1/4" tube near the back bottom of the block, if it get's clogged she will go off on ya.

 

The original engine of all the "8000" group Ford mediums, in the 1975-86 period, (whether F, FT, C, CT, L, LT, LN or LNT) was the 175-hp Cat 3208 (aka Ford V636) diesel.

There were Ford 8000-line mediums with the Detroit 6V53 engine (N40 170 hp, N45 195 hp or N50 216 hp; 195 hp is most common), which ranged from the years 1967 to 1972. They encompassed those in the F, T, C, CT, L, LT, LN and LNT groups. From 1973 to 1978, the Cummins "Triple Nickel" V555 replaced the 6V53. 1979-1983 saw the VT225 (essentially a turbocharged V555) cataloged alongside the 3208, but very few, if any, were sold.

~Ben (FordMan1981)