I will probably go look at a 1986 6.9 idi with 183,000 miles. Is it really stupid that I’m not a mechanic and going to look at a 100 year old truck? And even dumber I’m asking you guys about it?

 

Well if it is truly a 183K mile truck, that isn`t bad. All depends how it was maintained. When you buy used you are
taking care of past abuse and neglect. Maybe you will be lucky and it is a one owner and beautifully maintained.

I bought my 86 with 192K for $1800. But she was rode hard and put away wet a few times.
I didn`t know squat about these Ford Diesels and didn`t know if it would make it home the 150 miles.
I have had her for 5 years now, but have about rebuilt everything.

See how she starts cold, Glow Plugs should work. I personally would be concerned if it has been started with Starting Fluid.
Look for leaks, well they all leak something. Front and rear mains, manual gear box, front or rear seal can leak on those.
Auto trans I know nothing.
Check the tires, my CL add said good rubber. Did have good tread, but side walls were really dry rotted.

Take it out for a drive, if it wonders, probably worn pivot axle bushings, and tie rods. No ball Joints, it will have King Pins.

The big guys will come along and add to this.

Put down in your signature where you live, maybe some one in the area can give you some guidance.
Welcome to the Forum.

Charlie

 

Any issues that will arise with it if you decide to buy it I'd recommend you try and fix them youself. A basic set of hand tools and some online readin up will get you far with these things and save a ton of cash. Most shops don't even know how to work on these older diesels (that aren't a cummins) and can give you the run around.

If you don't plan on being a mechanic at least when you can I think you'd be better off buying something newer, although they are a lot harder to work on and parts are a lot more expensive.

Pretty much the main benefits to these older diesels are reliability because there's less to go wrong, and the parts are generally cheaper. It may be slow compared to the modern stuff but it'll get the job done either way.

 

Here is some info on the 6.9/7.3 IDI engines.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tech-info.html

Some IDI history,
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...sel-101-a.html

If you have to take in your truck to a mechanic you will go broke. The mechanics that were around and went to school
on these diesels are retired or passed away. The majority of mechanics today were little kids or not born yet. They
have knowledge on the newer high tech electronic junk.
These engines are simple once you under stand them. No spark needed, just air, fuel and compression.
You just do not want air entering the fuel system. There are a ton of threads on addressing it.

There is a lot of knowledge here on the forum and guys to help you along.

Charlie

 

Definitely check your local area to see if there are diesel service shops capable of doing the IDI specific maintnance (i.e. injection pump timing and injector rebuilds).

 

OH and BTW I might add IF you are thinking about a Haynes Manual for it, let me save you time and busted knuckles .. Get a Real Ford Service manual....

Do it by the book - the real meaning of Haynes instructions

sorry, I just couldn't help me self

 

Dont you use the Haynes for a knee pad, or to put around the hood latch when you have to kay on top of the motor

 

A Chilton/Hanes isn't exactly preferable, but better than nothing if you have no clue what your doing.

Bout the only time I touch a book is for torque/gap/backlash specs. The rest comes with experience.

 

Mechanics who haven't worked on the IDI engines can be your worst enemy. A mechanic friend of my dads told him he was sure the timing chain was the problem with his "no start" condition, so he started taking parts off the engine to fix it. Since I've owned my '91 for 15 years, I stopped the work and had to tell his friend he was full of it. It was an air intrusion issue which I fixed with a $25 electric pump in an hour.

You WILL have leaks - fuel, oil, p/s fluid, trans fluid, etc. Take care them over time so you can park in your friends driveway again. Mine is old, but is a beast. I brought home 2 tons of sand on it yesterday (crew car 350 dually), and it rarely leaves or returns home without a heavy load. I pull my tractor, skid steer, haul firewood and gravel, etc.

Wouldn't trade it for any newer F350.

 

Same here. I had to choose between an IDI or PSD Van or some fancy new Sprinter diesel van setup. I'm so glad I went with the IDI Van. Saved thousands of dollars on the purchase, and when I work on my IDI, it costs a fraction to maintain or replace parts than the PSD or Sprinter diesel. The IDI is easy to fix, cheap to maintain, and lasts forever. I have hundreds of thousands of miles on my IDI Van, and I wouldn't hesitate to haul thousands of pounds or drive cross-country tomorrow.

x2 on the local mechanics. Don't use them, unless they are 70 years old. New diesel mechanics have given me more trouble than it's worth, and everything I've worked on this IDI was something I could figure out with a Ford Service Manual (you can buy the CD on ebay).

 

I took a set of injectors to a diesel service shop. I was going to pay him to pop test the injectors and then rebuild them if needed. When I returned after a week he just wanted to sell me new injectors. I'm convinced he didn't do anything to those injectors. Heck, I brought them to him clean and grease free...