Well after quite a long time of looking at quite a few trucks I finally got an 87 F 250 6.9L. I have my work cut out for me but over all it seems to be a pretty good truck. I gave $1000 for it and the drive train seems pretty sound.
The good:
Starts great cold
Runs like a champ.
Tranny is solid (4-speed)
Body is pretty straight with no rust
Ball joints recently replaced
The Bad:
Tie rod ends are junk
front knuckle joints, junk
Fan clutch seized
water pump bearing loose
Tires are junk
front end is sagging a little
right rear brake hangs up once in a while
Long list of small stuff
My transmission code is "P", anyone know what this tranny is?
Anyone have any good suggestions for the front end sag?
Any suggestions and or comments are appreciated.
the only thing that comes to mind on the front end sag would be the spring shackles. you might check to see if the bushings are worn out and letting the "dreaded droop" be happening.
Oh I forgot another bad is my muffler is broke out on both ends. Would there be any benefit to straight piping it, or will it just make it loud?
If its turbo you could straight pipe it, Without a turbo I wouldn't, to loud. But there are some people that have done it. Id go for keeping a muffler if you like being able to hear.
__________________ 2002 7.3 PSD 4x4 Nothing out of the ordinary.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6686L
I nominate this Parkland guy for President. He KNOWS what is important, has his priorities straight. I mean...if...we are going to have a "pair of boobs in the White House"...at least with Parkland running the place...there will be some that are good to look at...!
Tranny should be a T-19. Good strong 4-Spd.
The front leaf springs could just be worn-out, reversed arched. I put add-a-leaves in the front of my Dodge and it made a HUGE difference in the ride quality. All the Fords I've had so far have been F-350 gassers, they automatically sit higher and they don't have that HEAVY diesel sitting over the front axle so I haven't any personal experience with the F-250s.
My Dodge still had a couple of inches of suspension travel in the front but with a 1,000# engine, heavy front bumper and winch it didn't take much to hit the bump-stops. Add-a-leaves are fairly inexpensive if you want to try them.
The other suggestions should probably be done first as they are important fixes by themselves.
One thing I think I saw Dave S. recomend one time was the "center pivot bushing" where your "twin traction beam" swivels/pivots in the center. I don't have any experience with this myself.
If the diesel fords were sitting lower than the gassers, than something was wrong. TTB suspension cannot be above or below the correct ride height without throwing the wheel camber off. The Diesels are supposed to have 3 leafs on the front, and the gassers have to (at least thats the general rule).
And about the muffler. I say get one. I've been running a turbo 6.9 for nearly a year with a strait pipe and with a 200 mile trip at the end of each week, the novelty wore off a few months ago. It will shake the house when I drive it into the garage, but it gives me a headache on those long trips. There is a loud crackle on hard acceleration and on engine braking that is barely audible in the truck, but the drone from the engine and pipe under the truck is what gets tiring. You will probably love a strait piped diesel for the first week at least, after that it starts to get old.
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1986 F250HD Ex cab Fresh built up 6.9L diesel Lariat AC leather seats power everything w/full cluster, sterling rear 3.08LS gears, E4OD trans, ram intake ATS 088 turbo
1986 F150 Ex cab Lariat rollercam 5.0L on LPG AOD trans 3.55 gears 390 000Ks
I test drove an '87 6.9L with no power upgrades but no muffler. For me anyway after about the first mile when letting off of the accelerator there was a droning noise that vibrated my ear drums. It wasn't painful, just annoying.
That being said I might straight-pipe the '94 Turbo I should be getting in a week or so.
I'm thinking a muffler is in order.
This truck only has two springs in the front. I'm sure they must be stiffer than the ones on my gasser but they don't look any different. The gasser is an HD but it sits nice and level.
as far as the reverse arch in the front sp;rings, that don't make them worn out. all the diesel 250s that i've seen have the reverse arch(fords, at least) so don't let that be your final judgement factor on replacing springs on a ttb front end.
I test drove an '87 6.9L with no power upgrades but no muffler. For me anyway after about the first mile when letting off of the accelerator there was a droning noise that vibrated my ear drums. It wasn't painful, just annoying.
That being said I might straight-pipe the '94 Turbo I should be getting in a week or so.
My 94 sounds sweet with no muffler and they are way more insulated than the older trucks befor I straight piped it I couldn't hear it running once the cold start advance kicked off. Now I can bearly hear it and if i turn the radio on i cant hear it at all. Also has a bit more power now.
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94 F350 Crew Cab Long bed 4X4 7.3L IDI Factory Turbo, AKA The Land Yacht. E4OD, 4.10 posi. Getting further from stock with 35 inch BFG alterains on 16 inch micky's, straight pipe, Triple A-piller pod with pyro, boost, modifyed stock oil presure gauge, tc lock light&switch
My 94 sounds sweet with no muffler and they are way more insulated than the older trucks befor I straight piped it I couldn't hear it running once the cold start advance kicked off. Now I can bearly hear it and if i turn the radio on i cant hear it at all. Also has a bit more power now.
I personally like to "hear" my motor, not that insulation isn't a good thing, I'd definitely rather have it than not. I just like to hear the motor, not resonationg, vibrating stuff just the REAL engine sounds. I might change my mind when I get older but for now I don't understand everone's big desire to go out and get the "QUIETEST" diesel truck they can find. That's about the last thing on my list. I don't want it to be obnoxious either but the only time it's a problem is at the drive-thru.
Thanks for your input! I'm even more determined to straight-pipe it now!
I haven't had the guts to do it to my Cummins but you never know.....
The cummins will sound awsome strait piped my buddy in collage had ve12v and it sounded cool. From all the diesels I've been in I would say mine is the quietest inside but loudest outside atleast at idle.
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94 F350 Crew Cab Long bed 4X4 7.3L IDI Factory Turbo, AKA The Land Yacht. E4OD, 4.10 posi. Getting further from stock with 35 inch BFG alterains on 16 inch micky's, straight pipe, Triple A-piller pod with pyro, boost, modifyed stock oil presure gauge, tc lock light&switch
2002 7.3 PSD 4x4 Nothing out of the ordinary.
Lariat AC leather seats power everything w/full cluster, sterling rear 3.08LS gears, E4OD trans, ram intake ATS 088 turbo
