I know, I know. This is the question for the ages, but it's also one that hits home for me right now.

I have a half ton (other make) truck that I use as my daily driver, but it's time for a second big boy truck for my construction business. I'm looking at pulling a 14,000# dump trailer behind a F-350 dually that will be a flatbed when I'm done with it.

The truck I'm looking at is an '89 F-350 with a 7.3 idi motor. It was an old U-haul truck and it's in excellent shape. I can't confirm yet, but I'm assuming it's 11,000# GVW. Since it's a former moving truck I'm also assuming it's geared more for highway use behind the automatic transmission. Mostly the truck would be empty while pulling so the total weight might be 21,000 pounds with the trailer fully loaded.

Would you consider this particular truck? Would you consider a 7.3 idi at all? Would you consider putting a turbo on it (I can get a complete used kit for $600)? Would you consider the *gasp* 460 over the 7.3 for mostly pulling? I'm wanting to make a purchase soon, but there's too many great choices out there and I'm struggling with which one I want.

The truck would be used maybe once a week or so, but almost every time it would be used it would be doing A LOT of work. I need something reliable, strong, relatively easy on gas, and relatively inexpensive considering it might get a couple hundred miles a month. The terrain around here is flat with some both rolling and monster-ly steep hills thrown in. No mountains, but a mile or two of some really steep, windy grades. I would rarely need to go above 55 since I'm hardly ever on the interstate. Speed isn't an issue - pulling power is.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated and taken into consideration! Thanks!

 

460- Never above single digit mileage. 7.3- Very rarely below double digit economy. The 460 makes slightly more torque and horsepower, but if you're running a turbo on the 7.3 that advantage is gone. Gas also goes stale with time, diesel does not.
Plus, I don't think anyone in this forum would pick a 460 over the 7.3.

 

If you are towing and want something easy on gas, the 460 is not the way to go. I can't say from experience, but I would think the IDI would be a fair bit better - but then you have to factor in the price difference in fuels.

 

What he said.

With a bit of love, these trucks will do most anything you ask of them. Will they be the fastest things on 4 (or 6) wheels? No. Will they be one of the most reliable and easy-to-maintain vehicles? I'd have to say yes.

 

Thanks guys. I think if this ice and snow clears tomorrow I might go see it and see if we can't work a deal. Of course it has the aluminum uhaul body on it, but it'll come off and we'll be finding a flatbed to put on 'er. I just have to make sure it's going to do what I need it to do!

 

I would say its going to depend on who drives it, and the level of maintainence given your vehicles. Ive worked for a few shops and some take meticulus care other zero (doesnt seem to be any midlde ground) If you want something that a peon can jump in fire the key and abuse, the 460. If you take decent care of your fleet vehicles, address common problems before they become catastrophies etc. im sure the 7.3 would be the choice. They do have some quirks and with a little care theyre great, if you dont have the time and patience to keep up on the glow plugs and the fuel system im sure you will find it a hard starting pig.

 

I actually ripped the 460 out of my 97 when i wore it out and swapped in the 7.3. While empty i was able to milk almost 15mpg out of the 460 when it was new. Towing was 10 or below depending on weight. The 7.3 is usually over 20 empty and 18 or so loaded. I'll usually put 120 bales of hay on the trailer for typical loads.

 

Read my sig.
I have had both in the same truck, Diesel all the way. You need a torque cam if towing heavy all the time. But I am biased as I market the cam.lol

 

If it is a E4OD with 3.55's, then with proper tuning and turbo install, you should be able to get in the high teens for MPG's with little invested work. If you eco-modded it (biggest LRR tires, Aux Overdrive, Alum Driveshaft, hi-flow exhaust, synthetic gear old, hi efficiency TC, e-fan, etc etc) you could get 21-24mpg with the 7.3.

The 460 is a dead end. 7.3 all the way. [honestly, you came to the wrong forum if you wanted a real debate on the virtues of the 460 vs 7.3]

 

I myself have a 1989 F250 regular cab, long bed, 4x4, ZF5, 7.3L N/A with 4.10 gears. I love it. Slow as heck. Plenty of power for what I do and tow. I get around 16 mpg empty during the summer. I also have a 1992 F250 regular cab, long bed, 4x4, ZF5, 7.5L with 3.55 gears. I love this one just as much. Has the same pulling power but a bit quicker empty. It usually gets 10 mpg during the summer.

Now both engines have their good and bad. I really don't pull much so I can't help you there. Empty or having a bed full of wood either truck feels close to the same power. Just the 7.5L seems a tad bit quicker.

 

Stock for Stock... 460 wins the power game, and loses the mileage game by a long shot. Dollar for dollar of upgrades, the 7.3 IDI will out do the 460 easily, unless you bolt a snail onto the BB with a blow-thru carb. However, anything short of that, the IDI wins, hands down. Take a 94 Factory IDIT, take a 94 460, crank the fuel on the IDI and Adjust the WG, add a free flowing intake and exhaust to both. The IDI will put 265fwhp and 550fwtq, and the 460 will do, well, what its rated for, much higher in the RPM range. The second you start dumping money into it, the IDI still wins. The only advantage a 460 has is being a gasser with its displacement, and somebody who knows how to take advantage of that, can make it potent. Beyond that, grow a mullet.

 

7.3 is a good engine, but I'll say right now that for towing, plan to put a (used) turbo kit on it. It's night and day for that. A tuned up 7.3 with turbo can easily haul heavy loads, without it's kinda gutless, and you drop speed very rapidly on hills.

 

Well the way I see it, it's the tirght forum,
IDI power

 

Not much of a question if you ask me, I haven't considered a 460 since gas prices left $1.20 a gallon. There's a reason everyone's selling them so cheaply.

If I went gasser again I'd get a 300 I6. If I wanted a fuel sucking torque monster I'd get an FE. I couldn't see ever getting a 460 again from this point on.

 

When you say "FE" are you referring to the 390? My buddy has one in his 74 always says she can tow