So, for a while now I have been looking for a truck. I looked at many options and decided to pull the trigger on an 89 F350 with a 7.3L IDI. For everything I looked at, this one had most of the things I was looking for and was a reasonable price.

I test drove a few that were within an hour or so from my house, but there was one more I wanted to check out. The only caviat is that it was 4-1/2 hours from my place and rounding up a ride for that far ended up being a little difficult to line up. So, next best idea. I load the family up in the RV for a fun weekend of camping and me looking at the truck. It went well and the owner agreed to drive the truck to our campsite to meet me. He showed up, we went for a test drive and for the most pate the darn truck drove extremely well. A few issues to get fixed, but the price was reasonable to me.


It goes down the road real well and I like it. I am now in the IDI Club.
So, three small issues. Four really, but the fourth one I knew about prior to driving to look at the truck.
1.) With a new alternator and voltage regulator, the gauge still reads real low.
2.) The transmission grinds going into 4th gear, even with double clutching.
3.) The shifter moves a lot when in 3rd gear. It jumps forward and backward depending whether or not you are accelerating or decelerating.
4.) The T-Case shifter pops out of 4x4.







Here she is, as delivered to my campsite. Tomorrow starts my 4-1/2 hour drive home and the wife following me in the RV. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

thats a nice one man! welcome to the mans club "idi"

 

"volt meter read low"
start the truck, and whomp the top of dash directly above the volt meter. it should come up to proper voltage. these trucks had sticky volt gauges.

"trans grinds going into 4th gear"
syncro gear is most likely bad. common on higher mile transmissions.

slop in shifter is most likely worn out shifter bushings.

transfer case shifter pops out of 4X4
this could be a worn out case, or an improperly adjusted shifter.
my bet is a worn out transfer case.
this is not a real deal breaker, a good low mileage BW 1356 transfer case is usually under $500. there are quite a few listed on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market in Alaska.

 

With these trucks, the condition really matters most....as even a well maintained truck can still have the problems your prospect has given the overall age. A solid truck with little to no rust is worth putting the money into to keep it going, clean interior is a plus. Of course, reasonable purchase price is assumed with the above statements.

If you like it and it's what you want, go for it and don't look back, just fix as needed.

 

Made it home. The truck drives great other than the issues listed above. Well, I noticed that it had a pretty good clutch/flywheel shudder when starting out once it gets warmed up.

The tap on the dash didn't work and I drove the last 100 miles or with completely drained batteries, no lights whatsoever and no electrical stuff at all...
Glad this thing is completely mechanical once it's started.

 

Yeah, sounds like the alternator is toast to me. Quick research shows it's the same as my 5.8L, which makes it a good candidate for a 3g upgrade!

 

3G is the plan. If I get a chance, I'll swing by the wrecking yard tomorrow and grab the needed parts. I think between the 3G upgrade, heavier gauge battery cables and two new batteries, it'll be good to go.

I'll call the transmission shop tomorrow on the Transmission and T-Case issues. I'll price both them doing the R&R work and a bench job. Not sure how soon I'll have the time to pull the Transmission and T-Case, I may have to bite the bullet and pay to have it done.

 

Imagine the world in 1989 when that thing was sparkling new, there was no Internet, and no 16 & pregnant type shows.

 

No doubt, I remember it... I was in high school in 1989.

I think this will end up being a good rig for many years to come.

 

i might have a tcase

 

Thanks Skip. Any idea the condition, mileage and what it came out of?

Shoot me a PM with what you want for it.

 

Honestly, I'm pretty amazed by this truck. It has plenty of power, drives decent and got 17.14 MPG on my first drive with it. 252 miles and it took 14.7 gallons to fill the tank back up.

On the down side, I thought I found a good 40/20/40 front seat, but it looks like the one that fits a Super Cab is different than the one for a Regular Cab / Crew Cab. Pretty bummed it didn't fit right. I can work up a mount later, I head back to work tomorrow.

I put one of my other bench seats in place of the Saab bucket seats and worn out Iron Horse console.

 

Ole clackety didn't achieve classic status for nothin!

 

A little Cost Tracking:


Truck Purchase: $2,300
Used Tailgate: $125
Used Bench Seat: $75 (Had to get rid of the SAAB Buckets)
Used wheels & Tires: $350
New Bosch 3G Alternator/Fuse Holder/Fuse: $163
2 New CarQuest Platinum AGM G65 Batteries: $300
Material to build 3/0 Battery/Starter/Ground Cables: $190 (I will have extra left over)
New Set of Motorcraft ZD9 Glow Plugs: $83
DB Electric Starter: $107.50
New KYB MonoMax Shocks: $310
Raptor Bedliner 8 Liter Spray Kit: $247 (will have extra to sell or for another project)

To be honest, it is adding up pretty quickly, but I think it is all money well spent for general maintenance and starting ease in the winter months.

 

So, it's been a while since I have posted. Between life, work, the holidays and working on the wife's rig.... you all know the drill.

I did get my front shocks on, as well as swap a better bench seat I had in the shed into the front to get away from the SAAB Buckets that were in there.

I will have to say, installing the DB Starter, replacing all the battery/starter cables, as well as new batteries, this dang truck cranks over crazy fast. This is by far the best upgrade I have done yet, I love it.

I still need to do the 3G alternator conversion, install the fuel return line kit, install the rear shocks and rebuild the transmission shifter.

I pulled the transfer case out before I had to head back to work and that is being rebuilt while I am gone. Not sure what the problem was, but it was popping out of 4H and feeling like it was floating between 2 and 4H, as well as making a weird "whirring" noise. Not sure what it will cost yet, but it was needed.

I plan to try and finish up a few things when I get home at the end of the month and there is the possibility this one will be getting sold. I think I am going to spend a little more money and try to find a 97 Powerstroke Crew Cab. I had one years ago and that was my favorite truck so far.

I really do like this truck for its simplicity, but I really miss my Powerstroke as well.

Time will tell...