Unique opportunity
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
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From: Madison, WI
Unique opportunity
So, I have the opportunity to resurect my brother's 1985 F250 diesel. The truck had been brought up to WI from Texas when he purchased it in 2000, so there is virtually no rust anywhere. He drove it for one year until he was driving home on the interstate, took an off ramp, down shifted, then heard what he describes as a 55 gal. drum of rocks rolling down a hill, coming from the engine compartment. He parked the truck in 2001 and that's where it has sat until now. I am considering selling my 2005 f150 and using that money to rebuild the 6.9L and tranny then using the rest of the money as downpayment on a new car for the wife. I'll be using her old car as a commuter for work and a winter beater to keep the truck away from the road salt. Still trying to decide for sure if I want to go through with this or not, but if I do this truck should last forever with a new engine and staying off the roads in winter.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Sure looks like a damn clean truck! Even if it does need an engine, defenentlly worth it! Don't get many old trucks like that in that great shape.
The pile of rocks sound could very well be a broken rocker arm, the 85 6.9's had weaker rockers. Take the valve covers off you'll find out.
The pile of rocks sound could very well be a broken rocker arm, the 85 6.9's had weaker rockers. Take the valve covers off you'll find out.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,345
Likes: 802
From: Mi'kma'ki
that's a nice clean 85!
she sure looks like a perfect candidate for some TLC.
good luck!
yeah.that would be great if it's just those poorly manufactured 6.9l rockers broken.
upgrades to consider for the 6.9l if the engine is good,or replaced with another 6.9l:
7.3l style:
fuel filter/water separator
rockers
glow plug controller
aftermarket electric fuel pump
when did they address the block for the block heater? was that in 85?
if so,if you need one,post your block #,you may want to buy an aftermarket coolant heater and not use the stock one.
she sure looks like a perfect candidate for some TLC.
good luck!
yeah.that would be great if it's just those poorly manufactured 6.9l rockers broken.
upgrades to consider for the 6.9l if the engine is good,or replaced with another 6.9l:
7.3l style:
fuel filter/water separator
rockers
glow plug controller
aftermarket electric fuel pump
when did they address the block for the block heater? was that in 85?
if so,if you need one,post your block #,you may want to buy an aftermarket coolant heater and not use the stock one.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
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From: Madison, WI
Managed to drain the oil and get the driver's side valve cover off, everything is squeaky clean so far. Hopefully I'll find time to get the other valve cover off soon. Anybody know what a rebuild should cost assuming no major suprises? I'll pull the engine but don't have the time to rebuild it myself. Is $3K in the ballpark? If I'm going through this much work already should I consider rebuilding the transmission, I believe it is a T-18, shifter is very sloppy? What might that cost? Thanks!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
You can probably expect to spend $3000 depending on what it needs. Just the engine kit is $1000, but its hard to say what the machine shop will have to do to it. You might just get away with honing it yourself and be able to reuse the pistons and not re bore the block.
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Madison, WI
I believe it is homemade, my brother bought it at a swap meet. Looks to be a store bought grill guard with 1/2" steel welded to each side.
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Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
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From: Madison, WI
Found the problem!
So, we got the engine pulled and I found out what happened to it! Turns out when my brother had installed the flywheel he never thought to use loctite on the bolts. They ended up backing out and one sheared off, that is why he heard the noise as he was downshifting. I'm going to get some new bolts, loctite, and a few new gaskets while the engine is out, then I'll get it all put back in there and see if it will fire up! Pretty ironic, the first pic in this thread you can see the loctite sun shade I had in the windshield!!!
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New User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14
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From: Madison, WI
No, been sitting for 9 years and all I did was hose them off and wipe with a rag. I was amazed too!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I'd rip those running boards off since it's not to late!!!!
Because of those things my cab got so rotten underneath where they mount that they fell off, and the floor fell to pieces eventually.
Get the ones that mount to the frame!
Because of those things my cab got so rotten underneath where they mount that they fell off, and the floor fell to pieces eventually.
Get the ones that mount to the frame!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Well on the one hand running boards to offer splash protection for the body, but unfortunately they often just screw directly into the rear cab corner and front finder lip so rust will set in there eventually for those of us that live in the salted parts of north america. Oiling up the body is probably the only thing that can save you in situations like that.
My F150 had them before the restoration and I never put them back on again. I'm tempted to take them off the diesel too now that I don't really have to stand on them anymore to secure a load on top (everything gets hauled on a trailer now). Probably good for 1 MPG just from the wind drag.
My F150 had them before the restoration and I never put them back on again. I'm tempted to take them off the diesel too now that I don't really have to stand on them anymore to secure a load on top (everything gets hauled on a trailer now). Probably good for 1 MPG just from the wind drag.
