Any advise?
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New User
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Long Island, NY
Any advise?
Hey guys. Well the old 86 F350 finally gave up the ghost so I'm now looking for an inexpensive replacement. I found a few but would like a little advice before I pull the trigger on any of them. 1 is a 89 f350 4x4 dually dump 7.3 5speed with 109,000 miles. 1 is a 91 same setup with 122,00 and the other is a 87 6.9 with unknown mileage. what should I be on the lookout for? thanks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Both 7.3's have very low mileage. But you have to be carefull with those for cavitation. Ask the owners if they know anything about Coolant Additives (DCA4 or SCA) if they don't, I'd walk away from the 7.3's. 87 was the best year for the 6.9 but also do suffer from cavitation, just takes much longer do to having thicker cyl walls, if the 6.9 is under 250,000 miles I wouldn't worry much for cavitation.
Just curious, what happen to your 86?
Just curious, what happen to your 86?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,106
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From: Virginia
Both 7.3's have very low mileage. But you have to be carefull with those for cavitation. Ask the owners if they know anything about Coolant Additives (DCA4 or SCA) if they don't, I'd walk away from the 7.3's. 87 was the best year for the 6.9 but also do suffer from cavitation, just takes much longer do to having thicker cyl walls, if the 6.9 is under 250,000 miles I wouldn't worry much for cavitation.
Just curious, what happen to your 86?
Just curious, what happen to your 86?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
Try them all. I wouldn't walk away from one I liked because it could develop a cavitation.
I have seen cavitation at100,000 miles and have seen them go 300,000 without a thought of additive, so it affects some blocks worse than others.
check the regular stuff including the tcase and the frontend for slack,leaks and funny noises.
Always try to check them when the motor has sat overnight to see how the cold start is.
It seems to me that very few people sell one that honestly needs nothing and while glow plugs or a return line kit is not bad, but the cables last forever so most of these rigs are still on the original ones and it's time to change them on a lot of them.
So what I'm saying if it doesn't cold start like it is suppose to there can be a combination of things that are not 100% and could add several hundred bucks that you are not planning on spending. In your part of the world I would check the parking brake too,as the cables have a tendency to rust. Usually I have found the little things to be what you look for, if the owner stayed on top of the little things they usually maintained the big stuff too.
Any of these rigs have the potential to work for you for years.
I have seen cavitation at100,000 miles and have seen them go 300,000 without a thought of additive, so it affects some blocks worse than others.
check the regular stuff including the tcase and the frontend for slack,leaks and funny noises.
Always try to check them when the motor has sat overnight to see how the cold start is.
It seems to me that very few people sell one that honestly needs nothing and while glow plugs or a return line kit is not bad, but the cables last forever so most of these rigs are still on the original ones and it's time to change them on a lot of them.
So what I'm saying if it doesn't cold start like it is suppose to there can be a combination of things that are not 100% and could add several hundred bucks that you are not planning on spending. In your part of the world I would check the parking brake too,as the cables have a tendency to rust. Usually I have found the little things to be what you look for, if the owner stayed on top of the little things they usually maintained the big stuff too.
Any of these rigs have the potential to work for you for years.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Mi'kma'ki
id go with one of these:
1 is a 89 f350 4x4 dually dump 7.3 5speed with 109,000 miles. 1 is a 91 same setup with 122,00
there's no replacement for displacement.
the 7.3l just like the 6.9l has been known to exceed 300k miles lol.so i mean,it's not like cavitation is a major issue,and doesn't appear to be anything common on these boards.in fact id call it a rare issue.(and hey,above 300/400k anything can happen lol.)
the mileage is known.and it's low.
sounds like some nice dually work rigs.
1 is a 89 f350 4x4 dually dump 7.3 5speed with 109,000 miles. 1 is a 91 same setup with 122,00
there's no replacement for displacement.
the 7.3l just like the 6.9l has been known to exceed 300k miles lol.so i mean,it's not like cavitation is a major issue,and doesn't appear to be anything common on these boards.in fact id call it a rare issue.(and hey,above 300/400k anything can happen lol.)
the mileage is known.and it's low.
sounds like some nice dually work rigs.
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Post Fiend
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From: Faibanks Ak.
There have been several cases of cavitation on this forum and I have personally seen a few so I wouldn't call it rare. I wouldn't walk away from a truck that is otherwise what I want though.
The displacement issue is very minor and the diff in performance is neglible and the 87 6.9 is the best of the 6.9's so I would look at it too.
I have seen some with 50,000 miles that were not as good of shape as some with 200,000 miles it depends on the owner.
The displacement issue is very minor and the diff in performance is neglible and the 87 6.9 is the best of the 6.9's so I would look at it too.
I have seen some with 50,000 miles that were not as good of shape as some with 200,000 miles it depends on the owner.
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From: Mi'kma'ki
yeah im sure.but how many engines are likely to suffer from cavitation would you estimate in say 1,000 motors,what would be your guess of how many will fail due to it,in say 300k miles or less?
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Faibanks Ak.
I have no clue most that I have personally seen happened less than 150,000 miles but over 100,000 miles, and were out of warranty. while the percentages are in our favor it is not what I call rare. Like I said though it is not a buy or not priority with me but if the radiator has much lime deposits in it I'm real cautious.
I fortunely like the earlier body style better so it is uaually not an issue, but I do have one that I swapped a 7.3 in and it has been a great motor so far, it hasn't reached that 150,000 mile mark either.
I fortunely like the earlier body style better so it is uaually not an issue, but I do have one that I swapped a 7.3 in and it has been a great motor so far, it hasn't reached that 150,000 mile mark either.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From my experience, I'd verify that the fuel selector switch is working, the fuel gauges don't read 1/4 full when empty (likely broken pick-up), check for fuel leaks when both tanks full and truck not level.
The cold start test is a biggie. Warm engines will hide a lot of problems. At least two of those trucks are pretty low miles, so I'd expect them to be in decent condition. I'd tend to go by the quality of the owner!
The cold start test is a biggie. Warm engines will hide a lot of problems. At least two of those trucks are pretty low miles, so I'd expect them to be in decent condition. I'd tend to go by the quality of the owner!
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Long Island, NY
Thanks for the tips guys, I'll keep you posted.
As for my 86, the tranny (c6) went during the blizzard in December and with the amount of rot on the body & frame, it's not worth it to me to dump the money into her anymore.
She will be missed.
As for my 86, the tranny (c6) went during the blizzard in December and with the amount of rot on the body & frame, it's not worth it to me to dump the money into her anymore.
She will be missed.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,389
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From: Mi'kma'ki
I have no clue most that I have personally seen happened less than 150,000 miles but over 100,000 miles, and were out of warranty. while the percentages are in our favor it is not what I call rare. Like I said though it is not a buy or not priority with me but if the radiator has much lime deposits in it I'm real cautious.
I fortunely like the earlier body style better so it is uaually not an issue, but I do have one that I swapped a 7.3 in and it has been a great motor so far, it hasn't reached that 150,000 mile mark either.
I fortunely like the earlier body style better so it is uaually not an issue, but I do have one that I swapped a 7.3 in and it has been a great motor so far, it hasn't reached that 150,000 mile mark either.
thanks.