Bought this 1994 F350 2WD Crew Cab Dually Auto today as a project. She has 169K miles. I paid $4,200 (too much?) Her are the Pix and Videos

I enjoy refreshing cars and trucks but have never owned a diesel or even worked on one. I've built and re-built and street raced several gasoline powered engines and cars/motorcycles but don't really know where to start or what to even look for on this thing engine-wise. All I know about it is that it has almost zero blow-bye (oil cap doesn't rattle or blow off + a rubber glove didn't inflate at all when sealed over the oil filler) and... it seams to start up very quickly and run smooth and strong. I love the sound and smell :-). Otherwise I know NOTHING about this truck or diesels at all.

The only weird thing I've noticed since buying it earlier today is a distinct vibration at about 55mph when letting off the accelerator and a slight "thunk" sound when applying or letting off of it completely. It sounds/feels like there is slack in the drive-line somwhere. My gut tells me this is most likely drive-line (u-joint/carrier/etc) related but... maybe not? Any thoughts on what to check first?

Looking forward to finishing the paint correction, deep cleaning the interior, and doing any mechanical stuff that it needs. I just don't know what it might need or how to check!

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Idea's?

THANK YOU FROM TENNESSEE! Jason

 

A rust free, southern, F350 XLT diesel dually, is well worth what you paid and then some. That paint is coming right back nicely. She's going to look great! Yeah, hopefully just a shot u-joint. If so, you'll find it easy enough. Sounds like you have a lot of searching and reading to do, to learn about your truck. Lots of info here.

 

I'd say, you did great on the purchase.

And, you're right about where to look for the clunk. Start with the U-joints.

Regarding living with your first Diesel, I would start by tracking down the Owner's Manual and a shop manual or two. I find it nice to have both the factory service manual and either a Haynes or Chiltons.

Roy

Roy

 

Awesome OBS truck!

Make sure you post an after pic once you buff out all the paint.

 

Check the Yoke on the differential Pinion. The nut may have come loose.
You might get away with tightening the nut back up, but in my case the splines in the Yoke were damaged, so I replaced the Yoke.
Involved pulling the axles, removing carrier, replacing crush sleeve, resetting bearing preload, etc.
I actually eliminated the crush sleeve and used a solid, shimmable one so I could really tighten the pinion nut more than a crush sleeve will allow.
Luckily, the engineers make the Yoke a bit softer than the Pinion Shaft, so the damage on the Shaft was minimal. I used Locktite 660 on the splines.
I was told by two diffetent axle guys to leave the Lash alone, since my axle has high miles on it.
I used Locktite Orange on the pinion nut and used my 20v Dewalt 1/2" impact and really ran it down super tight. This is on a 1990 F350 4x4 Sterling 10.25" Limited Slip axle.
Make a couple of short flat bars to help you hold the heavy carrier in when you're removing and installing the axles. It wants to roll out. Just a couple of 4" long bars with a hole so you can use a cover bolt to hold them on.
Also a long bar that you can use the ujoint strap bolts to hold pinion from turning when you're tightening the big nut.

 

Yes definitely overpaid... Don't worry about it, I'll help you out and take it off your hands for what you paid, can't have you spending all that on an old truck




I'd have to repaint it though, hate red....
Dude you stole that truck, factory turbo? nice deal! Honestly I don't need a dually, but wow, nice truck! I'd probably have to think twice if that popped up in my area.

The Sterling rear axle was tweaked slightly in the early 90's I believe, to fix the pinions loosening up and wearing. So hopefully thats not your problem, but check it all out. CHOCK the tires and put it in neutral. Then crawl under and wiggle every part of the driveshaft to see what is moving around. A tiny bit of play in the rear axle can be normal, but there shouldn't be much, and the u-joints and carrier bearing should be tight.

 

Sold this one for 10k 6-7 years ago. 93 idi turbo auto with 140k. $4200 was a steal.

 

😳

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know! Nice truck :-)

 

 

She's a real head turner now. Don't see too many clean ones like that anymore.

 

Looks great!! What did you use/do to shine it up? I have a ‘91, white, that no matter what cleaner I have tried, just can’t get the dullness to go away, currently has absolutely no ‘shine’ to it. Guess spending its whole life in AZ and TX blazing sun will dull even white paint.

 

Recently I bought a cutting and polishing kit from Chemical Guys. I guess it was long enough ago that they've since changed the packaging on their compounds.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/

I've also used Turtle Wax Polishing and Rubbing compounds before.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/TW_T230A

 

@Mr.Lars Thanks man! You can 1000000% make your white truck shine. These ole girls are single stage paint (unless it's been repaired/repainted). Here is what I did.

Gotta have a dual-action machine polisher. Step 1 - Wool Pad + Cutting Compound - Step 2 - Foam Pad + Polishing/Finishing Compound - Step 3 - Wax or Ceramic Coat It. Highly suggest Ceramic Coating b/c it lasts longer but wax is okay too.
Do it! Post pix! White looks incredible shined up. I'd much prefer white to red!

 

Thanks @FORDF250HDXLT and even more thanks for your help with the e4od!

 

LOL. Thanks man. I might sell this for what I have in it once I get my primary truck back. We'll see. I'm sort of falling in love with this ole girl. She snorts and clatters and smells like diesel but there is something about it that I really enjoy. And... the bench seat is really quite comfortable. It's like sitting on the couch to drive! I think I prefer it to my 2023 F150 seat.