Howdy folks... finally gave up on finding a good pre-'98 Powerstroke around here (every one I looked at had some issue... engine fine, transmission shot, that sort of thing) ... and wound up with a 1991 F350 crew cab dually with the 460 gas engine. Nominally 235k miles (gently used) but engine was rebuilt at about 200k miles ...and it responds like a race car (tromp on the gas and it about puts you through the seat). Kinda suspect transmission was rebuilt too, no clutch stain in the fluid. Lariat XLT package, automatic. My mechanic groped it pretty good before I bought it and gave it a 100% thumbs up.

Anyway, it runs at pretty low RPMs -- 1600 to 1700 at 55mph, 600 at idle. Wondering if this is normal? Getting about 12mpg, if that's related.

And there's this red rocker switch on the dash next to the overdrive switch, anyone know what it's for? or is it not stock? doesn't seem to do anything, not mentioned in the manual that I could find. Maybe for the bed light? (which doesn't work.)

Anything in particular I need to watch out for on this model??

 

12 Mpg is pretty good for that truck. Sounds like it might only have 3.73 gears out back(instead of 4.10).

Red rocker switch is an add on by someone. Bed light usually comes on when you open door or rotate headlight switch for interior lights. Burnt out bulb?

 

Does it have fog lights (aftermarket)?

 

My mechanic checked, the diff is labeled 4L10, so it has 4.10 gearing. I didn't believe the guy I got it from, he claimed it got about 12mpg but looks like no lie, and so far I've been doing largely stop-and-go and towing in town with it so hardly ideal conditions. Got it as a tow rig, tho. That dually sure kills the trailer sway.

Oh, THAT's how you turn on the bed light? Too durn newfangled for me, didn't occur to me it was tied to the dome light and you can't see it from inside. Okay, that works, thanks! Tho it's a mite dim, prolly needs a new cover. (Dome light is the same way. But some nice person has recently replaced the headlight plastic.)

Nope, no fog lights, nor anything like that (tho it could use some, the dims don't light the near ground so well, tho the brights do!) It did have a 5th-wheel hitch at some point but that's gone. I'm its 7th owner so kinda surprising it hasn't been more customized along the way.

Is the stock radiator in two pieces, one in front of the other? cuz it has that, plus two aftermarket coolers in front of that. One for transmission, not sure what the other is for but has a very large coil for an add-on cooler.

Doesn't look bad for an ol' boy either.
http://home.earthlink.net/~rividh/truck/100_0985_sm.jpg

Hey, anyone got any good ideas on what to do with the spare? I had mechanic pull it out from underneath, cuz I'd never get it loose if I had a flat, and good thing cuz it took two strapping lads and an air wrench to get it loose. (Well, better'n the old truck's spare, which required a cutting torch! ) Don't want it taking up bed space, wondering if there's some way to hang it on that rack where it's not in my line of sight. Over the cab came to mind but that'd be a nuisance when I go to use the rack, and just loads of fun to get to if I need it.

 

Sounds like your talking about the condensor for the a/c. Looks similiar to a radiator but should have hoses connecting it to the rest of the a/c system. As for the spare i would just get one of those universal spare holder deals and bolt it up under the bed where the factory would have gone

 

Mechanics had an argument about what the bigger one was, condenser for AC or something else. Hoses (or rather, metal tubes) ran back into the engine alongside the tranny cooler's tubes, leading to silly questions on forums. Runs pretty cool regardless (tranny gauge never gets over 150F or so).

I just took the spare OUT of the standard place under the bed, cuz it would have been hell to get to under there (nothing wrong with the carrier doodad; it's the owner who's a "nine-stone weakling with knobbly knees" ). Been carrying the old F100's spare tied up inside the shell for 34 years and it's never had a flat, so I've gotten superstitious about it.

 

I don't have OD on my 460 and I run about 2300 at 55mph with 3.55:1 gears though I put a slightly larger size tire on so I could be off a couple MPH. I think it idles about 800. If I keep my rpm below 2500 I can get about 12-13. Once, running empty with a strong tailwind at 50mph I got 15.

 

This'un usually shifts when it gets close to 2200, but I'm generally a lightfoot (used to never making the old F100 do anything faster than it wants to, with its little engine that barely could). With a load, the RPMs go a little higher before it shifts, then it runs about 100 lower than when empty. It also wants to go faster with a load -- empty it likes 55 just fine, but towing it wants to go 60. [scratching head]

Hey burnout, love that sig

 

Thanks. Years ago A new guy at work told me he heard I was a gun collector from some of the other guys. I said collectors usually have some kind of theme or discernment whereas I buy whatever and then use it. So I more accumulate than collect. So I used that line as my sig on all the gun boards I'm on and when I started joining car and truck boards I realized I kinda do the same thing with cars. I'm single so if something interests me and I have the cash I'll buy it. One I impulse-bought a '74 pontiac catalina for $400 that didn't need anything done to it. Maybe I'll keep it, maybe I'll eventually sell it. I usually regret the latter more often than the former.

 

Heh, I grok that... single too, so somethin' just has to please me, and if it seems weird to the rest of the world and doesn't match another blessed thing, oh well!!

Pretty good deal on that Catalina... want a '79 LeBaron to go with it? I used to have not one but TWO 1963 Olds F-85 four-door... guess what can't be found now for love nor money, seems to be one of the rarest of all modern classics. You can find the 2-door and the wagon but not the 4-door. Gettin' folks trying to buy the '78 F100 off me now that it's nearing "classic" status... nope, no way, I love that truck!

 

Addendum... probably the mystery switch goes to an anti-theft device, which is still under the hood but may or may not be hooked up, and probably has something to do with the ever-glowing LED next to the radio, too.

And under ideal conditions, the big beast gets up to 14mpg! And I love driving it... except when confronted with nose-in parking spaces. Can't make that turn to save its life.