I have an '85 1 ton 6.9. I own a tree service and pull a chipper and full load of chips with this truck a lot.

http://imageshack.us/scaled/landing/850/sam1045n.jpg

The engine is starting to smoke quite a bit and just doesn't have the power I need. I've helped rebuild a couple of gas engines but just don't feel comfortable enough to take on a full rebuild myself. Since the 6.9 I have is weak on the power I need, I was wondering about a few options I have. The only problem is that I have to keep this truck running. I just can't afford too much down time so I basically need to have everything ready for a full swap.

Would I better off to

1) buy a remanufactured 6.9 and add a turbo to it before drop in

2) buy good used 7.3 with turbo already on

By the time I'm ready to do this I will probably have about a 5,000 budget to work with. I really like the truck itself, so much that I really don't want to sell it. But the truck running the way it is will probably only bring around 2,000. I'm also not sure about the transmission I have with a 7.3.

Just not sure what to do. I have some friends that would help with a rebuild if I bought a used 6.9 if it has to come down to that.

Another friend of mine is familiar with my situation and told me that instead of shelling out the money for a turbo, I should try a 5 speed in it. I know it seems to be geared pretty high and he said it would help better than the 4speed I have in it now.

So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

It's a slippery slope when you start rebuilding. You end up replacing more and more because it makes sense to do while you have the truck apart.

I just decided to rebuild my 460, my original plan was just a cam/timing set.
It ended up full blown rebuild and I spent more than i wanted and alot more work and down time.

Advice? I would try to sell the truck and get a newer one with what you can afford. Because if you dont have a truck you arent making money.

Even if you build an extra motor, that is ready to go, i would still figure about a week of downtime for an amateur to pull one and install one and troubleshoot/test before hooking a load to it.

Now if it were a non-business decision, i would probably pick up a used one and rebuild it.

 

double post delete

 

I would get another 6.9 and rebuild.

You can find the turbo kits used sometimes. Recently there was a F250 with a 6.9 with an ATS turbo on CL that was wrecked/rolled. Keep your eyes open.

And the 5 speed would be a good addition.

 

Nice looking truck. I'd look for a 12 valve Cummins to drop in.

 

What color smoke are you getting? How long have the injectors been in there? I have seen worn out injectors cause troubles that way. My dad's truck was so bad that it idled really rough and smoked like crazy. I replaced them and it runs smooth and gained back the power that it used to have.

The Cummins swaps rarely end up being a simple bolt and go, always something to slow it up. Fastest way back is to put a similar motor in. The 7.3 turbos can be a good motor, but have their issues as well, then the 6.9 will need to have some upgrades that the reman companies don't always do to add to the longevity, especially if you want to turbo.

 

If you're not really "mechanically inclined" or don't have the tools or shop to work in - then denfinately just buy the remanufactured 6.9 - and bolt it in. Don't add a turbo unless you have the ability or desire to do a lot of customizing work and tuning. You can't just slap a turbo on an engine without changing anything else.
My guess is that the 6.9 has enough power for you when it's fresh (yours is worn out).
If a rebuilt engine still is not providing enough low end grunt, then next step is to swap in some lower gears (like go from 3.54 to 3.73 or 3.73 to 4.10). You didn't say what gearing is in your truck now.
IMO

 

I agree with the above, though if you like this truck, retire it, keep it, and make it a project.

People on this board are "enthusiasts", and some of the decisions that are made do not make good business sense, they are decisions based on things like; They like the looks, they like the affordability/fixer-upper part, they have some emotional attachment, etc.

You use your truck as part of your business. As was mentioned, you do not have time to mess around fiddling with a "project" truck. Sure you could make it a good reliable truck, but it takes time, and time is money. I would buy a newer truck in good shape. It will have the power you are looking for, hopefully be reliable, and you can write it off as a business expense.

 

hey guys, sorry so long getting back to this thread. I've actually made a decision on this. A buddy of mine owns a garage and he has a 7.3 with 90,000 miles said running great when taken out of wrecked truck.

He will sell me the motor, take my motor out and put this in for 1500.00. I really can't go wrong with this deal as he will back his work up. And "CountryBumpkin" I will keep the gears in mind. That will be my next step as you suggested. I think my ole motor is just wore out and has been since I got it. So I can't wait to see how it will do with a good motor in. Work is going to start the first week in Dec

Thanks for all the tips guys. Really appreciated