pointers on older diesels?
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pointers on older diesels?
guys, im considering trhe purchase of an older diesel (mid-80s to early 90s range) for towing (6-9000lbs) and interstate trips. Any 'gotchas' on these vintage diesels? Would I be better to look for a 351 of this era over the equivalent diesel? What are the inspection tips for these diesels?
Are these diesels excesively noisy? I know the later PSDs are much quieter. It doesnt have to be silent, but I dont want to have to wear earplugs on the interstate either
Advice? Thanks!!!
Are these diesels excesively noisy? I know the later PSDs are much quieter. It doesnt have to be silent, but I dont want to have to wear earplugs on the interstate either
Advice? Thanks!!!
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The best advice on buying an IDI is to get a cup of coffee, sit down and read the threads. There are a lot on cavitation, early model block heaters (blocks crack) injectors, pumps, glow plugs and many other things that can go wrong. You will find info on towing, seems most like the turbo for extra power (I do) If you purchase you can find info on modifications that will increse the power. My 94 7.3 turbo, auto is noisy on start up but when warm is ok. Driving the freeway with horse trailer is fine. I do like the dually for towing as it is more stable than my newer single p/s. Good luck
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From: Buffoonalo, Yew Nork
Originally Posted by F150Guy87
guys, im considering trhe purchase of an older diesel (mid-80s to early 90s range) for towing (6-9000lbs) and interstate trips. Any 'gotchas' on these vintage diesels? Would I be better to look for a 351 of this era over the equivalent diesel? What are the inspection tips for these diesels?
Are these diesels excesively noisy? I know the later PSDs are much quieter. It doesnt have to be silent, but I dont want to have to wear earplugs on the interstate either
Advice? Thanks!!!
Are these diesels excesively noisy? I know the later PSDs are much quieter. It doesnt have to be silent, but I dont want to have to wear earplugs on the interstate either
Advice? Thanks!!!
Yep, it's a tad noisy when I wake it up first thing in the morning, and until it warms up a bit. Yep, it gives off that diesel odor a little bit when it's warming up, and even running, under a load that most gassers could only dream of dragging around, while it does it more economically! But it's as quiet and as docile as any gasser when it's dragging just me around at highway speeds. It gives a fella a feeling of solid, "road presence", that I never had with the biggest Ford pickups that I ever had, (and I've had 'em all). I know that no matter what I ask it to do, it will. In fact, it alone, (I was ALWAYS the guy that got the call for a "big" towing job), has earned such great respect from my crowd that there are more diesels than gassers amongst us now!
I know this sounds corny as hell, but that damn old Ford truck has become more like a good friend than a mode of transportation, I really have come to depend on it, unquestionably. I live in the northern rust belt, unfortunately that fact has taken it's toll on the body of my old friend. However, I bought a solid, '86 E-350 gasser, that will benefit from the heart and soul of my old partner. I just couldn't have brought myself to parting with it completely, so this "upgrade" for the gasser is my tribute to that service. The gasser is a dually, has a 460, C-6 and an over/under Doug Nash unit, but trust me, it isn't HALF the truck my old partner is. I could never trust the "new guy" until the transplant is done.
Getting into diesels is almost another lifestyle, honestly, if you depend on your vehicle like I do. Yep, you'll hear ALL the excuses/reasons for not getting a diesel, but I've learned to not even try to rebut them, just chuckle and enjoy the benefits and capabilities that the reluctant and uninitiated will never know. Hell, who knows, you might even find a good, strong, dependable friend like I did.
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Jun 11, 2004 01:08 AM
