Looking at an '84
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 28
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From: North Saanich, B.C.
Looking at an '84
Hi Guys:
I'm thinking about getting another NA IDI, this one is an '84 f250 6.9 2wd with the automatic (3 speed?) pretty much stock with about 180K miles. I haven't seen it yet, but it looks good in the ad. I love the look of the old 80s 250s.
Presently I have a 91 F250 NA 7.3 , 4wd 5 speed with 355 rear, 127K miles that runs great. I get about 19 miles per US gallon.
Firstly, any comments on the 84 in general. Aside from the usual, is there anything to be aware of?
Secondly, how will the 2 trucks compare, as far as power and fuel economy?
My present truck has enough jump for me, and getting 19mpg makes me very happy.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
Dale
I'm thinking about getting another NA IDI, this one is an '84 f250 6.9 2wd with the automatic (3 speed?) pretty much stock with about 180K miles. I haven't seen it yet, but it looks good in the ad. I love the look of the old 80s 250s.
Presently I have a 91 F250 NA 7.3 , 4wd 5 speed with 355 rear, 127K miles that runs great. I get about 19 miles per US gallon.
Firstly, any comments on the 84 in general. Aside from the usual, is there anything to be aware of?
Secondly, how will the 2 trucks compare, as far as power and fuel economy?
My present truck has enough jump for me, and getting 19mpg makes me very happy.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks
Dale
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
Compared to you present rig, it may be a dissapointment.
These were built when the national speed limit was 55, and most with the C6 tranny had 4.10 gears. they were a work horse in their day, and way ahead of the competition, but speed limits have gone up, and at todays speed limits fuel mileage sucks with one of these rigs.
These were built when the national speed limit was 55, and most with the C6 tranny had 4.10 gears. they were a work horse in their day, and way ahead of the competition, but speed limits have gone up, and at todays speed limits fuel mileage sucks with one of these rigs.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Actually the most common gears with the C6 (3 speed) is 3.55 (Sterling axle) or 3.54 (Dana axle, witch that 84 will have). But it could very well be 4.10's, just hope for your sake it ain't!
2 things to be aware of on those older 6.9's
1 - weak block casting at the block heater area, witch means DO NOT use the block heater, or you ricks cracking the block. Best thing is to install a heater in the lower rad hose, or a tank heater, in the heater lines.
2 - the glow plug system in those earlier 6.9's are nothing but garbage, they tend to fail, and turning ON the glow plugs, untill they all burn out. Best solution is to convert to manual plugs with a push button switch...or if automatic plugs are a must for you, convert to the 87+ solid state system.
Other than that, shes gold
2 things to be aware of on those older 6.9's
1 - weak block casting at the block heater area, witch means DO NOT use the block heater, or you ricks cracking the block. Best thing is to install a heater in the lower rad hose, or a tank heater, in the heater lines.
2 - the glow plug system in those earlier 6.9's are nothing but garbage, they tend to fail, and turning ON the glow plugs, untill they all burn out. Best solution is to convert to manual plugs with a push button switch...or if automatic plugs are a must for you, convert to the 87+ solid state system.
Other than that, shes gold
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
John It may have been somewhat of a regional thing, but nearly all I have been around with the C6 was 4.10 and with the T19 had 3.55,s, which is backwards to what I would have thought it should have been.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 28
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From: North Saanich, B.C.
Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.
I went to see the truck, the body was good, and the interior was nice. But... it hadn't been driven in 2 years at least (expired plates) which meant I couldn't test drive it. Obviously the truck had been sitting for a long time. There was rust on top of the air filter cover which was a replacement, kind of makes me wonder if the other rusted out. And there was a fluid (oil?) leak between the oil pan and the trans. So I'll pass on this truck. Oh yeah, and it was smoking like crazy at idle.
One more question: The sellers brother, who was the "mechanic" said that the injectors on these trucks are always open, ie. no popping, and the pump just pushes the fuel straight through the injector. This doesn't sound right to me, is it?
Once again thanks for the wealth of info you guys provide to newbies like me. this site is great.
Dale
I went to see the truck, the body was good, and the interior was nice. But... it hadn't been driven in 2 years at least (expired plates) which meant I couldn't test drive it. Obviously the truck had been sitting for a long time. There was rust on top of the air filter cover which was a replacement, kind of makes me wonder if the other rusted out. And there was a fluid (oil?) leak between the oil pan and the trans. So I'll pass on this truck. Oh yeah, and it was smoking like crazy at idle.
One more question: The sellers brother, who was the "mechanic" said that the injectors on these trucks are always open, ie. no popping, and the pump just pushes the fuel straight through the injector. This doesn't sound right to me, is it?
Once again thanks for the wealth of info you guys provide to newbies like me. this site is great.
Dale
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115
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sounds like a good decision, i wouldn't trust the mechanic that doesn't understand that these injectors open at certain pressure..and are not always open...that truck will be nothing but issues....feel bad for the poor fool that does buy it...
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
Likes: 5
From: Faibanks Ak.
Don't let that mechanic work on anything you own. If an injector was always open, they wouldn't go to the trouble of using injectors. It would just have a hose to each cylinder. lol
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1
From: Sweetwater Texas
Around here the C6's have 4.10's.
I had an 88 IDI with an C6 and a 4.10, and boy was she slow and pulled like crap at 70, now at 55 was a different story because the motor was much closer to its ideal running speed. I would pass it over, unless the price was great.
I had an 88 IDI with an C6 and a 4.10, and boy was she slow and pulled like crap at 70, now at 55 was a different story because the motor was much closer to its ideal running speed. I would pass it over, unless the price was great.
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