Hi all, I usually hang out in the '01 section, but have a question on earlier models. A volunteer fire dept. here in northern Colorado is looking at a '95 model fire truck, to supplement their wild land fire fighting. I think it is an F350 or 450. GVWR is 17.5. It does have a 7.3, of course built up with fire stuff. Has 23,000 on it.
What are the major issues to look for? Like cps, glow plug relay issues, under the valve cover harness, stuff like that? It is dual rear wheel, 4x4, standard tranny.
Thanks, help is appreciated.

 

At 17,500, it's probably a 450, but back then, they weren't called F450, they were called the F-Superduty (different meaning from the '99-up SuperDuty). It's therefore a cab-and-chassis; never had a pickup bed, and unlike the pickups which had the inner rear wheel directly behind the front wheel, the front wheel lines up with the space between the rear dually wheels. And it has a narrower frame than the pickups. Beefier suspension, too; the spring perches (take a look at them) were actually bigeffin' castings rather than stamped.

What does the badge on the fender say (or is it still there?)?

There were no dually 4x4 pickups from the factory; not sure if 4x4 + dually was an option with the cab-and-chassis, or if that was done aftermarket or at the dealer. Interesting find, in any event.

So why the crazy low miles? A lot of short trips, or did the truck sit for many days of the week without being run?

GP relay is always a possible issue; Stancor and Western Plow relays are popular "upgrades". If the low miles is short trips, the GPR is probably just as tired as one on a 100,000-mile truck. UVCHs are different from what you're used to; there are two on each side. Same issues, though, with burnt pins, etc.

Is salt/rust an issue in that part of CO? If so, check the radiator core support; crazy expensive and hard to come by.

That truck may have hydroboost brakes, but it might also still have a mechanical (belt-driven) vacuum pump for the HVAC. Turbo has no intercooler, no wastegate. Otherwise, it's pretty similar mechanically. Work the 4x4 now and then to keep the lever from seizing up. Same stoopid brake/clutch pedal box / clutch pushrod bushing issues. Get a CPS from the International dealer and keep a spare in the glove box.

The ZF5 has about the same overall range as a ZF6, so the spacing between the gears will be wider than what you're used to. If it's got the original clutch, even at those low miles, it'll have a dual-mass flywheel, which is held together in part with some small plastic bits. At its age, it could come apart, and if it does so while underway, the centrifugal force sends those bits flying and they can torpedo the tranny case. New clutch and single-mass flywheel might be on your to-do list. Tranny takes _synthetic_ ATF, t-case takes any ATF but synthetic is better.

 

Thanks, some good info. I haven't looked at the truck yet, just some pictures. It does sit higher than normal. I assume it was originally built for it's fire fighting use, so would not have been driven a lot, but a whole bunch of short trips. Interesting note concerning the clutch, yikes.