For the last 5 months I had to get my 1989 f-350 with the 7.3 liter idi into good working condition. My income depended on it. I knew nothing about this truck or engine. I had many problems and many stressful days, not knowing who or what to believe. to make a long story short this forum helped me fix many problems, problems that not any mechanic I went to could fix. I had the classic cold hard start problem. fixed it. problem was a very tiny hole in the inlet brass fitting on the fuel filter housing that was letting air in. I put in Chuck's by-pass the whole glow plug controller module thing kit and that works well - too well. I burned out all my glow plugs. So once again I come here to learn all about glow plug testing and replacing. Once again I did it all myself. I got all the glow plugs out only to find a mixture of Bosh, Autolites, and Champions, no ZD9s, which I have ordered and will install. Fortunately none of the tips broke off, and on my engine I could easily get at all of the glow plugs. I was nervous as hell but had faith in this forum, and that proved to work very well. Thanks to all! One solution I used that I did not find in this forum or any other was this. I wanted to replace the Ford stock air cleaner and filter. Even with my lack of knowledge I could see this thing was an air flow killer. I looked into a long list of things, none of which would work on this engine in this truck. In the end all I wanted was for the engine to breath better to run cooler. I had changed the 2.25 inch stock exhaust to 3 inch. So I used a round K & N filter that also has the filter top thing. Now the engine gets all the air it needs and then some. However, it is extremely loud. Someone here said that the "soup bowl" was for noise reduction. I can say that is for sure true! I fixed a long list of other problems with the help of this forum. I learned a great deal about how much weight one can safely tow. I ran a little over 18,000 pounds between all my tools in the truck plus my 34 foot travel trailer. This truck is a former Uhaul box truck and I love it because I have a work shop set up in the back complete with bench and vice, and lots of tools and parts. I ran this way for almost 800 miles. The only problem was in the hills truck would only go 25 to 30 mph up hill. This I learned from this forum is normal, and that while slow, it would get me there. It sure did. I took things slow and easy. On flat running interstates in Texas I did not run more than 58 mph, kept it right at 3000 rpm or less. Fuel mileage was terrible, about 5mpg in the hills, and about 6 or 7 on the highway pulling that 18,000, and without the trailer I get about 10 mpg. Again, all normal as I learned in this forum. I replaced all the shocks, I replaced much of the wire harness, cleaned off all the brakes but had a mechanic put new shoes and dics in for me. I learned all about the suspension, the brakes, the frame, what oil to use, and a long list of other things - all from this forum. All of you have saved me countless hours of stress and agony. I went to three diesel mechanics who did not have anywhere near the knowledge of this forum. So I want all to know there are people like me who greatly benefit from your contributions. May God Bless You All!!! Many many thanks - 10Burgers somewhere in West Texas Oil Fields.