So after driving my truck for about 8 months I have not gotten used to the lack of power. I guess I may have expected too much, my last truck was a 2001 dodge Cummins. I knew this one would be less powerful but I used to own a 1990 F250 w/302 M5R2 and this 460 is just not that much more powerful than my old 302 was. Really I could deal with the lack of power if it got really good gas mileage but we know that isn't the case, I get the standard 10mpg.

Now i'm planning on owning this truck a good long time, that's how we roll where i'm from (MT/WY) my folks have owned a 1996 F250 PSD for 8yrs now, they've driven it from 68k to 250k and dad still plans to own it for years, in fact he's still upgrading it and he drives it every day. I have a soft spot for the bricknose trucks and the plan is to own this truck for many years.

I'm a member of cumminsforum and this forum and i'm hoping between the two I can get an unbiased response to this question, .

If I were to swap out the engine what would be the pros/cons of the IDI PSD vs. the Cummins 12v? Obviously the IDI should be an easier swap since it was an option in my truck but I know almost nothing about them other than you guys seem to really like them. Or would the mid 90's 7.3 PSD be a better option? Other than glow plug relays that engine has been trouble free for my dad and since he drives around like a grandpa everywhere he gets 20mpg consistently, always has for the 200k he's owned it, it's ridiculous really.

 

the IDI is not a PSD....the cummins 12v when properly used....is a overall....outperformer of the IDI 7.3 and 6.9....but with an IDI, you dont have to turbo it to get the power off the line liek your looking for....the IDI(my 84 for example, got 24 once and when i say once...i mean once!) They get great mileage on the freeway, and I consistantly get 18-20 mpg on the freeway going 70 with my 1990 6.9 bored to 7.3...its non-turbo, if i added a turbo into the equation...it would be better.

 

IMO I don't think an idi would be any better then your 460...

 

I would have to agree, a NA IDI has a bit more low end torque, but with that manual five speed, the 460 is superior as it has more of a RPM range to get over the wide gaps between the gears.

I have not found any NA IDI that when towing does not need either a automatic or 6 speed or more manual. And if you want a crawler first, then make that a 7 speed manual minimum!

Just personal preference, I hate to have to wind the crap out of a engine, way past its torque and horsepower peaks just so it does not drop below the usable torque and horsepower curves on the next gear selection, or worse yet, not be able to pull the next gear, when I could pull a slightly lower next gear, if the manual transmission had the proper amount of gears needed. This is where a automatic really shines.

Of course one area where the diesel will shine over the 460, is in fuel economy, at least 10% better towing (diesel fuel has approx 10% more BTU's) and up to 1/3-1/2 more unloaded.

David