I know there's been questions of this sort before, but I want to know how well the IDI works for every day driving- By that I mean, city driving, passing, highway travel, etc? I will probably be looking at trucks within a couple months and I am torn as to whether I should pick up '94-97 Powerstroke or find a slightly older truck with an IDI. IDI's are a good bit cheaper, but how is it as far as "real world" driveability?

 

Well, I started using mine as a DD last Tuesday. Drove it two days then the pump went TU on me.

Swapped my spare pump onto it Saturday and have been driving it ever since.

Comfort, just fine. Lots of room. Decent seat (for a bench). Good seating position, controls easy to reach and operate.

On the highway, it's OK. For passing, acceptable, but don't expect it to put you back in your seat - it will accelerate from 60-65 up to 70-75 in about 10 seconds (best guess).

Around town, the acceleration is also acceptable. Nothing to brag about, but you won't be holding up traffic either.

Stopping is much the same - OK. Leave some space though. 7000 pounds won't stop on a dime and unloaded the rears tend to slide first and easiest, just like any other pickup.

Steering is pretty good. A little too boosted for my taste - doesn't have much on-center feel. Tracks just fine and the boost is welcome when trying to park it.

Parking - kinda' sucks! Mine is a SuperCab with the standard length bed, so it is a couple of feet longer than a standard cab standard bed, and about 4 or 5 feet longer than a standard cab short bed. Makes for a pretty big turning circle, and lots of back & forth jockey-ing to get it into a regular parking space and parallel between the lines.

I'm using it as a DD right now, even though I have other things to drive, for two main reasons.
1) I want to run some fuel with Diesel Kleen additive through it to get the pump & injectors nice & lubed and cleaned up, and
2) I just got it running decent and am continuing to do mods on it. Kinda' the "its new - to me" factor.

 

bought mine Feb 05
I've put about 70k miles on it or more....

so driven every day. No problems. Lotsa lil fix it stuff. It is a work truck for me, so it normally has an 18ft trailer behind it. I can't say much about city driving as I try to take the bypass roads.... plus stop lights annoy me in any vehicle.
Since I burn vegetable oil in a heated system I get roughly 68-75 miles for every gallon of diesel burned. Depends on the commute.
It's actually cheaper to drive my truck than my wife's saturn.

as far as passing goes, don't be afraid to downshift. 3000rpms isn't that bad and it certainly gets the truck moving.
A turbo is a must.... I don't know how I drove the truck for 45days without one :-)

regarding parking: if it's a crew cab or excab expect to walk further. I havn't tried parellel parking.
Trucks (especially older 3/4ton-1ton) aren't made to be comfortable. They aren't bad perse, but they can't compare to a lot of the nicer cars, and if you drive 300+ miles the truck will wear you down a lil more.

Drew

 

20 years, 300,000 plus miles, do they make other vehicles?

If I am there, I got there in my 86.

 

Yeah I was mostly wondering about how it was power-wise for daily driving...

 

i'm with Dave on this one i now have five trucks all idi did have a 460 but got rid of the gas hog been driving the 85 for 21 yrs now and still love it i don't get the millage that i used too but that will change in a couple of weeks [ i tink CJeepers jinks me lol] cause now its my turn to put pump and injectors in this will be the 3rd time since new so not too bad when it comes to just the normal up keep as in every other year gps oil every 3000 and i change my filter every 3000 also just alot of dust out here in the desert so yea if i got ther then it was in a idi

 

I am real happy with mine as far as power goes.

You probably will not find one like mine though.


Well OK, there is not another truck like mine in this neck of the woods.
The front bumper, cab, frame, transmission, transfer case and cab lights are still stock.

 

well dave, it was a damn good bumper.

 

ghunt, as a daily driving goes any thing with 4 wheels will get you from a to b.

There is pros & cons with an IDI and a powerstroke...you're a senior member on this site and no dought have read many post...so I'm kind of confused of what your asking?

Powerstrokes
-IDI doesn't come close to its HP & Torque [Dave Sponaugle's IDI is the exception]
-mods are easy...just change the chip
-are in newer trucks...less wear & tear
-cost a fortune to fix and beyound most back yard mechanics to fix
-lots of modules, computer etc

IDI
-dependable
-no computers
-easy to fix
-parts are relivety cheap
-back yard mechanic can most of the work
-are in older trucks...more wear & tear
-glow plug system can be a pain
-Stock HP & Torque are lacking
-Mods can be done to increase power

Now I know, I haven't told you any thing new, it all comes down to the the truck....some deals you just can't pass up, weather its a Powerstroke or an IDI, lol.

 

I agree with these guys. I would avoid a Power stroke. They can eat your back pocket up. I work on trucks and heavy equipment I also have my own shop. I don't work on light duty trucks much but I do sometimes and I feel bad for guys that are doing good to make ends meet then their truck breaks down. I have done so much for people for parts only. I know they don't have that kind of money for break downs. Stick with a mechanical engine. If you aren't racing you really don't need alot of power. My brother 's work truck is a 91 1 ton. That 7.3 gets him around every day and he is in the excavating business. Gooseneck with an 863 Bobcat on it. NO it won't pull the highlift or the backhoe. My 83/86 has a 3.07 gear in it. oh yeah I have to down shift but I get 22-24mph draging my boat to the river. Guys laugh at me when they pass me on the hills but I catch them when they are at the fuel pump. I have all the power I need. Keep it simple.

I better quit now. I am fixing to get on my soap box. I have a major problem with auto manufacturers today and qaulity repair shops are their way out. It's ALL about the money and not the profession. I know not everybody is that way but..............Later

 

my father drove my 91' ext cab ext bed as a dd for over 5 years or so untill he got his camero
never had any serious problems. that is untill we let it sit

 

I was rather new to the idi world, having run gassers until a few months ago. I worked my'89 extened cab 7.3 hard, putting 10,000 miles in 3 months, normally making the commutewith a load in the bed or pulling a trailer. What I found is that unlike the gassers, it loved to be worked, felt more comfortable with a ton or better in it and the power never changed. The 15 mpg that I got out of the 7.3 never seemed to change whether it was loaded or empty either.
If you are asking about a daily driver, I'll gladly exchange the saturn rental car that I am stuck with for an idi.

 

4 years as a daily driver a little slow BUT way less $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

I'll admit that I've never driven an n/a diesel, or a powerstroke...I did drive a GMC K2500 with a 6.5 turbo diesel a couple years ago, it felt like it had plenty of power and drove very well. Are those comparable to powerstrokes power-wise (although everyone tells me the 6.5 sucked)?

Also I thought Powerstrokes were fairly reliable?

I'll admit that I love having that turbo sound along with the diesel, I know it's kind of a dumb reason, but it does sound cool.

 

A duratrash is fast till you put a load on it.
I can't catch one that is empty yet, but if we both have a couple tons on the back it is a different story.
I did say "yet".
Power Stroke are rather reliable, but expensive when they break.
Cummins is reliable, but expensive when they break.
Duramax, well I have a friend that has one, I could rebuild my 6.9 twice for what he spent for a set of injectors installed. (that is why I call them duratrash)