Picked up a 6.9 on the cheap, tore it down and it is an early block, 110xxx SN. I wanted to re-ring, stud, new valvetrain and turbo it. Is it okay to rebuild if the block heater isn't used? Do I just scrap it? It at least needs a good hone and perhaps a bore.

 

I don't see why not, leave the block heater out and it's a good an engine as any other IDI.

The pre-85s have the pressed in oil squirters, from what's been posted here it sounds like it's best to just leave them in place.

 

thats the consensus, i would say youre fine as long as the cylinders are good.

 

I wouldn't worry about the squirters, you have to pull them to hone it properly... That being said, My 6.9 had press in squirters, and I got them out the first time by welding a cheap HF slide hammer to a set of cheap HF vise-grips... When I installed them (Not new ones, the same that came out), I used red threadlocker on them. When I had the engine back apart, I tried to pull them to make room for the hone, I absolutely could not get them out by the same method, I gave up. That tells me that red threadlocker is more badass than the factory fit.


Bottomline, it all comes down to how far you're going in. If you can get a good finish without taking them out, do it, but if you have to, red Loctite is your friend, but I wouldnt worry about it either way.


As far as the 6.9 aspect goes... as long as fueling is mild in relation to load, you wont have issues. If the engine doesn't have a pump big enough to require a DB4 cam pin, its probably safe to say you'll be alright, even at stock compression, as long as the studs are at least 100ft/lbs...

 

Update, I have all but two cylinders honed, very time consuming. This motor is going in a truck that will be sold. I have a line on a hypermax turbo kit for $400-500 and am on the fence for a R&D stage 1 cam. It will have a fresh rebuilt IP, fresh injectors, re-ring kit, lifters, the works.

What is everyone's opinion as to studs? I'm concerned I won't be able to get the money I put in back out of it, but I don't want it to blow up on the next owner.

 

These ol trucks aren exactly the type to flip, if your just gonna sell the truck put a used motor in it and keep the rebuilt one back for another project you might keep in the future.
Arp head studs ain't but $450 for the 6.9's

 

Now you've got me thinking, after re-ring kit, turbo kit, rebuilt heads, and studs that's 2000+ in the motor. Then again the motor I have needs heads rebuilt as well as fresh a valvetrain. Tough decision for a kid trying to make money the right way.

 

I don't know about in your area, but here you can normally score a good running idi engine for around 750-1250

 

I guess I'll end up getting studs, my old man said that if the buyer knows anything about diesels and I have receipts there's no reason to not get the money back. Probably send the cam off to r&d shortly. Hopefully this motor will surprise some people with decent power.