Hello all,

I have an '87 F250 with a 7.3 IDI engine. I don't know exactly the year of the engine as it the guy I got it from wasn't sure, said he new it was a replacement and thought that he was told it was a '90.

I want to keep this truck, it has its share of problems, but I really like the diesels and I prefer it to the two gas jobs I have. But its really rough and getting to it has been delayed.

Then...this past winter the transmission stopped going into reverse gear. Ever pushed an 8800 lb. vehicle out of a parking space you nosed into absentmindedly? You know how quickly a small incline becomes a huge hill?

Anyway, I know I should dump this thing, but I can't just yet.

So, what I need to know in order to make the most educated final decision as to what to do, how can I find out what the transmission is on this? Is there a typical location for the ID tag for the type of transmission? At that point, possibly I can research getting a used one vs. rebuilding this one.

Also and probably most importantly, do I have options as to what transmissions I can bolt up to that? I guess I'd need to know what engine year I have in that thing, so where would the ID plate be for that?

Any input would be helpful as I need to make a decision as what to do with this thing. Also, I think it needs an injection pump, a block heater, possibly new glow plugs and possibly new injectors.

Any input would be helpful. I'm a packrat trying to reform.

 

Is it a 3 speed........that would be a C6..... But if the engine is a 90 it could be an E4OD 3speed with Overdrive......

There is a serial number on the front of the upper block (stamped), when facing the engine from the front, it is to the right of the oil filler housing and just behind. Check the data tag on the oil filler housing too, the year should be punched out.

 

i believe the 87 would have the c-6 three speed trans. Mine had a long metal tube running from the injection pump to the trans that worked the kick down switch and the e40d was all electronic controlled BUT NOT POSITIVE on that.
the engine from factory might be a 6.9 or a 7.3. the 7.3 had structural webs on the lower part of the head along the exhaust manifold where the 6.9 was kind of flat looking in that area.
like plc stated, look for the engine serial number just to the driver side of the injection drive cover to be more specific in its year.

 

New England Builder,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI forum.
Any transmission from any Ford diesel from 1983 to 2003 will bolt up to the engine.
6.9, 7.3, 7.3 turbo, 7.3 Power Stroke all have the same tranny bolt pattern on the motor.

We assumed you are talking about an automatic transmission, you never said in your post.

 

Thanks for everyone's help here. Just started fiddling with the thing yesterday, took both the tanks down as they both leak and struggling to get the friggin' pumps out (seems the lock ring has seized onto the tank). Typical working on a vehicle -- nothing ever goes as planned.

Also, the plugs on the glow plugs look fried, so I'm going to have to replace not only all the glow plugs but probably at least a few of the caps on top on which the wires attach.

I looked at the round part where the oil filler is and found what I belive to the original tag for the engine number, but it has been worn off and there isn't much there to work with.

I am sure now after reading here and asking others, that the tranny in that is the standard C6 3 speed - yes its an automatic.

I possibly located a C6 as well as a used injection pump locally, started the ole' beast up today and she smokes white smoke good until warmed up.

Thanks all for your help. I'll definitely come back here for more questions, of course I think I'll buy a book for this as well.

thanks again.

 

the number is stamped into the block about where the tower cover meets the block on the driver's side corner ... on the flat kind of between the tower cover and the valve cover. not that paper tag on the tower cover.
you can use a spade connector to replace the rusted factory connector on the glow plugs.
No pumps on the tanks, they are siphoned by the lift pump on the front passenger side of the block (like a gas job) and run thru the selector valve on the frame rail.
Make sure the tranny you found is from a diesel (different clutch pack internally)

 

Well then, must be simply the sensor unit inside the tanks. I am going out today again to negotiate some carpentry work for a tranny replacement from a mechanic I know well. Yes, I had heard before that only a transmission compatible with a diesel should go in. I am anxious to see if there is any improvement on the smoke issue after installing a set of glow plugs and cleaning up the glow plug control relay/unit.