mileage
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
mileage
hi everyone
i seem to have found a pretty clean 87 f-250 with a 6.9 ltr non turbo diesel in it. Mechanically the truck seems great! looks wise is alright to except the hood is a different color, this will be a work truck so im not to worried about it. anyway the truck has 144,xxx miles on it, how long do these trucks last? also when i go to look at this truck, what should i be looking at to know if this is a good truck or not, this will be my first diesel so i know nothing about them, any advice is great. thanks in advance
i seem to have found a pretty clean 87 f-250 with a 6.9 ltr non turbo diesel in it. Mechanically the truck seems great! looks wise is alright to except the hood is a different color, this will be a work truck so im not to worried about it. anyway the truck has 144,xxx miles on it, how long do these trucks last? also when i go to look at this truck, what should i be looking at to know if this is a good truck or not, this will be my first diesel so i know nothing about them, any advice is great. thanks in advance
Last edited by Kris.; Jan 29, 2008 at 10:21 AM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Baldwin, ND
Pete just answered a question like this.....
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-ford-guy.html
That should help....
Thad
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-ford-guy.html
That should help....
Thad
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
1987 was a good year for the 6.9, better glow plug system, and the possibility of a 5 speed transmission. 144 000 is not much miles for a 6.9 either.
You want to see how easy it is to start, make sure the engine is cold. Checking the oil before firing it up will reveal if there are any blowby gasses still in the crank case, this will tell you if the seller fired it up before you got there.
Look for a deep solid green color in the coolant.
While its running, pop the oil filler cap off and see how much blowby gasses are escaping, it is acceptable if only a slight increase in RPM will pull them back in, if you have to rev it above 100 PRM, then the engine may be tired.
Be aware that if the truck is a 4 speed manual or a three speed auto that it will not be very economical on the highway. A gear change can fix this if its 2wd and you don't have to tow heavy loads very often.
You want to see how easy it is to start, make sure the engine is cold. Checking the oil before firing it up will reveal if there are any blowby gasses still in the crank case, this will tell you if the seller fired it up before you got there.
Look for a deep solid green color in the coolant.
While its running, pop the oil filler cap off and see how much blowby gasses are escaping, it is acceptable if only a slight increase in RPM will pull them back in, if you have to rev it above 100 PRM, then the engine may be tired.
Be aware that if the truck is a 4 speed manual or a three speed auto that it will not be very economical on the highway. A gear change can fix this if its 2wd and you don't have to tow heavy loads very often.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Baldwin, ND
That would probaboy be a good diesel to start with due to it proven reliability. Also, note that those engines are great for running biodiesel or waste vegetable oil.....
144,000 on these isnt really that much. I bought mine with 155,000 and I have no engine trouble.......
Thad
144,000 on these isnt really that much. I bought mine with 155,000 and I have no engine trouble.......
Thad
Trending Topics
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Kris,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.
The only downside to the early trucks is the odometer only reads 99,999.9 miles.
Then it turns over to all zeros again.
44,000 on the odometer means more than 100,000 miles, but the first number might be 2 or 3 or 4.
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.
The only downside to the early trucks is the odometer only reads 99,999.9 miles.
Then it turns over to all zeros again.
44,000 on the odometer means more than 100,000 miles, but the first number might be 2 or 3 or 4.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
ok guys this truck is a 4 speed manual with overdrive he says the truck is very mechanically sound the body is just rough, he said he doesnt plug it in at night and it fires right up every morning, he cant find the plug for the heater element under the hood.....this could be bad right? im going to look at it at 3:00 pm today, pacific time. i need to know where i can find that heater element because i want to be able to plug this thing in. also it leaks very little out of the valve gasket, is this a big problem or an easy fix? he had to replace all the front tie rods, the coolant is green as ever. the 4x4 works but the front left hub pops once or twice just after turning 4x4 on he says hubs are about $75 for the part. Also it doesnt have the part of the intake that pulls cold air from outside of the truck so i would have to buy one of those. i think i got everything......sorry i know that run on sentence is confusing please bare with me.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
I bought a new block heater with plug/cord for a little more that $50 last year, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I had to replace mine because the element started leaking coolant (O ring dried up). Its not hard to replace (just messy), and if the plug is bad (common problem) you can get a replacement plug at a hardware store, or possibly even the complete cord at an autoparts store.
Valve cover gaskets are easy to replace, also not a big deal. Your favorite auto parts store will be able to get them for you.
If it has overdrive than you could have a good truck there, how bad is the body?
Valve cover gaskets are easy to replace, also not a big deal. Your favorite auto parts store will be able to get them for you.
If it has overdrive than you could have a good truck there, how bad is the body?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
well its not pretty, all the body parts i need i can get through junkyards correct??? oh and he's asking $1400 on craigslist i was thinking about offering him $950 what do you guys think about those prices?!?
heres the pics that i have.
heres the pics that i have.
Last edited by Kris.; Jan 30, 2008 at 03:42 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
The truck is worth $1500 in parts alone, at least thats what it would go for where I am. Trucks from 1987-1996 are really easy to get body parts for, a complete cab in good shape can be in the $400 range, same for a box (but they can also be up to $1000). Reproduction hood, fenders and doors for $150 a piece. If you're not in a hurry, you can shop around for the best deals and slowly replace the body piece by piece.
I have a feeling he may not go for $950, but thats where a counter offer comes in and given its poor visual appearance, I would risk a $950 offer. Just give it a good look all over, and put it through its paces when driving it. Check the rear of the underside, sometimes rust on the frame can be bad enough to cause structural damage.
Does it track strait? the pictures of the side look almost like the frame is a little bent.
I have a feeling he may not go for $950, but thats where a counter offer comes in and given its poor visual appearance, I would risk a $950 offer. Just give it a good look all over, and put it through its paces when driving it. Check the rear of the underside, sometimes rust on the frame can be bad enough to cause structural damage.
Does it track strait? the pictures of the side look almost like the frame is a little bent.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
ok cool thanks david, im headin out to check it out right now, and im in no hurry to make it look pretty but i do plan on it if i buy the truck, what would you offer for it just by seeing the pics? you have just about as much info as i do about the truck. oh and that side dent your talking about the first owner of the truck fell down a hill and it hit a tree so you may be right about frame damage ill check it out while im there.
Last edited by Kris.; Jan 30, 2008 at 04:38 PM.