I am thinking about buying a 94 f-350 4 door with the 7.3. my questions are how good are the non-turbo 7.3s and how tough are the auto trannys? i have never owned a diesel ( have driven many with the turbo) i was told that this one would have no power and i would hate it. also it has the auto in it and the truck has 270000 miles. it runs very good, with no pings at all...it is very quite for a diesel. i can get it for 2000 cash, the body is rough..but i dont care about that..i work in a body shop so i can fix all of that! no rust at all and great tires....it has just been used as a truck....any help would be great, thanks

 

The 7.3 is one tough Diesel... Most prefer the Turbo'd version. I was looking for one, but not being a diesel expert and owning and old truck are a bad combo... That, and if it does up and die, diesels are that much more expensive to replace, so I went the gas route... I can fix near anything on my 460, and that's the way I like it

That thing will have a ton of life left, IF it has been properly maintained over the years (if it was a work truck, then it may or may not have been) Guys have put 500k + on those things with no sign of slowing down

The auto tranny's seem to be the weak spot in these trucks. At 270k if it has never been rebuilt/replaced, you can bet it will probably need it if it has been worked hard.

Mine has 270k (Kms) and I believe it to be the original non rebuilt tranny, but I don't know that for sure. She shifts fine, and the fluid is clean and doesn't smell burnt... So its likely been rebuilt at some point

 

my 88 currently has a little over 496,000 miles on it.
a turbo can be added very easily for under $1,000.
they show up on ebay, craigs list, and even here all the time.
the difference between a turbo and a non turbo truck is night and day.
but one thing to remember, these are not race trucks. even with a turbo, it will be one of the slowest things on the road, but it will pull a house down without any problems if asked to.

 

yes, i dont need a truck for speed. i need one for everyday use and pulling trailers. i dont worry about the engine, but i do worry about the tranny. i just keep thinking that for 2000$ it might be worth taking the chance.

 

My '92 with the non-turbo IDI is about to hit 296k, and it's still going strong. The previous owner had the transmission rebuilt at around 170-190k, and it shifts fantastic.

It is slow as can be though. I've thought about a turbo, but I figure since it doesn't have the reinforced internals like the IDIT, it's better to save my money and be patient. It'll get up to speed... eventually.

 

my 88 has had a non wastgated turbo on it since it has had around 4,000 miles on it.
it has never been opened up.
just external bolt-ons replaced.