Ok lets start off with a lil background, back at home I drive an S10, and I did an off the frame restoration with my 51 ford f1 (not done), me and my uncle are working on it........basically didnt know anything about diesels, until this past year. I am a 0311 infantry marine, and during my workup to get dep. in Iraq, i went to hmvvee and MRAP schools, I am on my way out of this place, finally! and just about every day i was driving and fixing lil issues with the MRAPs, which are powerd by CATs C7 inline 6 engine......well I have to tell you the abuse we put these motors through and how much life they have still is amazing, this is when I fell in love with diesels. Lately (past 2 months) civ. diesels, in particular the 7.3l idi, heard nothing but good things about this..........i plan on getting a 84-95 f350 when I return home, I know in 94 ford switched to the powerstrok and made it a di. Basically i am asking what chould I look for when purchasing, to make sure I dont get a lemon.....I have been reading many post here and know that this is a great place for help with trouble shooting, but anyother sites out there? What about online manuels? Anything at all will be much apprieciated! Thank You for your help, Mairo

 

u had to motor 6.9 and 7.3 87 is the best year for the 6.9 and pre 85 6.9 where prone to have engine block cracks around the block heater other then that i lovee mine

 

You are on the right track...keep in mind that 1994 was ahem, a.....strange....year for Ford diesels. The early 1994's had two 7.3 engines, neither with turbo [NA]-- which one depended upon if you had an automatic trans or the 5 speed. Somewhere in the middle of the 1994 run they added a turbo and created the first Powerstoke. AFAIK they all were good, just can be a nightmare at the parts counter at times.

BTW...thanks for your service to our country!

 

Greg2,
Welcome to FTE and the IDI diesel forum.

Actually 94 had one IDI NA 7.3 engine, one IDI 7.3 turbo engine and one 7.3 DI Power Stroke engine.

If you have a 94 IDI turbo, best approach when at the parts store is tell them you have a 93 7.3 turbo engine.

 

The IDI 7.3's have an issue with cavitation due to thinner cylinder walls than the 6.9. Hit a cummins shop or a Napa auto to get some coolant test strips to make sure the SCA levels in the coolant are up to par, especially if you are looking at a higher mileage rig, say 150k miles or more. If you see an electric fuel pump, chances are it has an air leak some where. Check the injector return lines for leakage as well.

 

Is '1993' 7.3 turbo correct? AFAIK 1994 was the first year of the turbo. I will defer to your experience on the other statement.
FWIW...I own a 1994 with a 7.3 NA [IDI] in front of an automatic transmission.

I thought the NA 7.3 in front of the 5 speed trans was a direct injection, still without a turbo. Then late in 1994 they added the turbo-DI... aka Power Stroke. But then I could have been wrong-as I said I will defer to your experience-as long as I know what to tell the parts man, I'm good.

So far, the wierdest thing for me was being asked if the PU had cruise control when shopping for a master cylinder???@!!-I now know why, but sure seemed strange at the time.

 

Dave's right about the motors and you could get any of the diesels; with any of the available transmissions.

When the PowerStroke was added in the middle of the '94 model year there was then the situation where you could actually buy any of the three motors in a brand new truck from a Ford dealer.

 

Oh, to have those kind of diesel options now......

 

Factory 7.3 turbo IDI was a 93 and 94 option.

Some of the 93 models actually have a 92 build date, so some people say the turbo was available mid year 92.
As far as I know, all of the IDI turbo engines were titled as 93's or 94's though.

94 Power Stroke's (direct injection) all had manual 5 speeds and build dates around July 94 or later.

93 and 94 7.3 turbo IDI engines are the same.

 

Forgot about the 5-speed only '94.5 PS.
WEIRD deal anyway. I'm sure they thought maybe the E4OD couldn't handle the PS but they put them in IDI turbos and even though mine's a 5-speed it sure has a lot more get-up-and-go than my '97 PS does.
My '97 has more power than the '94.5 PS does too and it has an E4OD anyway.
I think the IDI turbo was underatted as far as factory specs go.

 

Ok, thanks for all the info! Just a couple of qs left, are all dually's 2x4 are do they also come in a 4x4 model? I was lookin for a 4x4 model, but i really like the looks of the duallys.......and also when i get the truck taking that nothing goes wrong i was planning on making a custom cold air intake, then changing out the exhaust, and then adding in the Air Dog 2 lift pump.........any comments on this, anyone heard bad news about that lift pump. I also notice a lack of after market products for the IDI's, any thoughts on this as well? Thank You again, Mario

 

Dually 4x4 trucks are out there.
Custom cold air intake, several of us have manufactured our own with good results.

Air Dog 2? Not sure what that is.

Remember the last IDI rolled off the assembly line 15 years ago, so the aftermarket manufacturers have moved on to electronic motors that have higher prices on aftermarket parts.

The IDI engine started the diesel pickup craze, but has been left for dead by almost everyone.

 

http://www.xtremediesel.com/pureflow...fp150-1-2.aspx


Here is a link for the Air dog 2......so i guess they dont have any programmers for these bad boys either........do they?

 

There is nothing to program on the engine. The later auto trans does have a computer for the trans only. Programming is done mechanically with injectors change, injection pump and timing work. Internal engine work, adding turbo, exhaust change, ect.

Auto trans can have shift kit installed. E40D has a couple of aftermarket "computers" for control.

 

I find the lack of computer controlled functions comforting.