I was think of buying a 1990 E-350 bus (16 passengers) to use as a tool truck. I need to carry about 2500 pounds and tow a trailer that weighs 3000 pounds. I am told the older 7.3s are short on power. Will this vehicle work for what I want?

 

I would think if it was me I would try to find a power stroke diesel rather than the IDI simply because the psd makes more power,maybe even a f350 cube van with dual wheels this will make a big difference in weight distribution and handeling.

 

Well this is a 6.9 4 speed with 3.55's and 9200 in the bed, it is a little slow on the hills but what can you expect for 17,000 pounds gross.

 

it will pull,may be a little slower than PSD,but it will get you where your going,and you wont have to replace cam sensors and the such to keep it running.if really want it to pull put a turbo on it.a turboed 7.3 idi will out pull a stock first gen PSD any way,so i've heard.

 

It will pull, look at the picture above......diesel does not = racecar

 

like i tell my friends my truck wont accelerate as fast as there car but it accelerates the same if its empty or iam towing a house behind it.

 

it sure will pull.....i have an 84..f-250 6.9,3.55gears,4 speed......i live in the mountains se of nashville....this is my farm truck....i have had 10-1500 # rolls of hay on a 24' gooseneck and pulled an 11% mtn grade for over 3 miles...not real fast but it didn't heat up....trailer and load was over17,000 not counting the truck.......yea they pull.....................

 

aint no doubt

 

Yes, but what i was trying to say is that if he was trying to find something to haul his tools around,Ithink it would be a better set up to have a cube van dually to provide more space for the dollar and better weight distribution and overall handling,plus the newer style engine you can have the better the the package,right.

 

PSD over IDI being a better package is a matter of opinion.
I am also not so sure of the more power part either on the 7.3 Power Stroke motor versus a 7.3 IDI turbo that is properly set up.
The lack of sensors that go bad and leave you sit is a big plus for the IDI in my book.

I was over in the 6.0 PSD link for a while and some of the pyrometer temps those guys are seeing with stock motors makes me even wonder about them for long lasting engines.
One was talking about 1350 pre turbo EGT's. That is 100 degrees over where the pistons start melting.
I guess I should look at the 94+ PSD link and see what those guys are seeing on theirs.

 

I would suggest going to the PowerStroke, or at lest the turbo'd 7.3 IDI.
PowerStrokes rule!

 

Sorry, but they do not quite rule in this forum.

Most of us IDI guys are quite happy with our outdated antiquated mechanical motors.

The only computer in my truck is the cellular laptop for surfing the net on the road.

Email at 80 MPH is cool.

 

I'm with you dave. I like computer but not computer controled trucks. At least we've got half a shot of fixing our trucks by ourselves.

 

You guys aren't very friendly are you? I say one word of prefering the PowerStroke, and you guys just go off on me.
I never said anything about IDI's. They are rock solid engines (that last easily for over 500,000 miles) that tow as good as a PS (if the IDI is turbo'd) and get as good as mileage as them. Don't get me wrong they are great engines (I have had experience with them), I just prefer the PS. If you could just get the IDI in a later model truck, I probably would buy one.

 

Frost13,
I did not mean to sound as if I was going off on you, but I just spent enough to buy a used Power Stroke truck on a reman 7.3 IDI turbo for my 86.

I would not trade my 86 IDI for a 00 Power Stroke.

Since I have the new motor in, the Duratrash will not pull up beside me, the Dodge boys even leave me alone, and I am not impressed with the Strokers.

If you wanna come on up to the WVa mountains and throw that load of stone in the picture of my truck above on yours, well go talk turkey, if you can catch me.

That is a 7'6" x 9' dump bed, and the pile is that big from front to back. That is what it has done every day for 262,000 miles and 18 years.

I just ran over to the other side of the state today and picked up a 26 foot office trailer. 17,000 pounds GCW and not one car caught me up a 4 mile 13% grade mountain.
For the mountain part of the trip, 75 miles, 6 mountains, one car did catch me going down North mountain. 3 miles 10% grade and 9 25 MPH switch backs that made me have to gear down to keep the brakes cool.

Glad you like your PS, I like my IDI turbo.
As soon as I can afford it I am getting an overdrive unit so I can split gears, then I am gonna toast some Dodges for breakfast.