Diesel opinions: '93 Ford F250, '87 Ford F350

[RobertN]

I am aquainted with someone who did the same to a Chevy CC; he tows his 5th wheel with it. He thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread! He did some minor tuning on it; not a fire breather, but definitely tuned. Gets great mileage, and tows very well.

Buddy of mine dropped a Cummins 12V into a Chevy CrewCab of that era. Used it as his race-tow vehicle, running long distances.

When he finished racing, I think that truck sold the day after he put it up for sale.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I am aquainted with someone who did the same to a Chevy CC; he tows his 5th wheel with it. He thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread! He did some minor tuning on it; not a fire breather, but definitely tuned. Gets great mileage, and tows very well.

At my age/for my needs, if I got into tuning it would be mostly for mileage. For the kids, tuners are a fast way to smoke a Trani - one of life's lessons, for Free !

Rgds, D.

 

[JESSE1]

I had an '85 F-350 dually with the 6.9, '89 F-350 dually with a 7.3 and a '94 F-350 dually with the 7.3 turbo. It made a real big difference adding the turbo to the 7.3, really woke up the engine. These are all still mechanical engines, no computer controls so they should be cheaper to repair than a Powerstroke. If I was choosing I'd get the 7.3 with the ATS turbo.

 

[3930dave]

Turbos on a diesel = having a cake and eating it too. Power and efficiency.

This 93 is non-turbo though. I guess the upside would be I don't have to worry about the health of a 20 y/o turbo, in this case.

Rgds, D.

 

[crashz]

My father had a 86 F350 (SRW pickup, 4x4) with the 6.9L diesel. The engine started out fair, but by 120K miles, couldn't pull a hair off your head. But it was used as a company truck for my father and at least three of his foremen including me. And we beat that truck unmercifully. It plowed snow, towed equipment and generally was beat on every day. And when it was my company truck, I tooled around all over creation in it. I had it stuck on a mountain pass so bad that I had to pull it out with our wheel loader. Pull started a loaded Mack with tag trailer and 20 ton dozer on. Had to use low range for that.

If that truck had the 7.3L it would have been the best truck Ford ever made. Good looking, rugged chassis and tough driveline (C6 auto, BW T case, Dana 60 front, and Sterling rear). The 6.9 was really reliable, but lacked grunt.

A local kid owns it now. He popped a 7.3 in it and drives it every day. I wish I kept it and had the fore-thought to re-power it with a Cummins 6BT. It was the perfect truck for that engine.

 

[3930dave]

My father had a 86 F350 (SRW pickup, 4x4) with the 6.9L diesel. The engine started out fair, but by 120K miles, couldn't pull a hair off your head. But it was used as a company truck for my father and at least three of his foremen including me. And we beat that truck unmercifully. It plowed snow, towed equipment and generally was beat on every day. And when it was my company truck, I tooled around all over creation in it. I had it stuck on a mountain pass so bad that I had to pull it out with our wheel loader. Pull started a loaded Mack with tag trailer and 20 ton dozer on. Had to use low range for that.

If that truck had the 7.3L it would have been the best truck Ford ever made. Good looking, rugged chassis and tough driveline (C6 auto, BW T case, Dana 60 front, and Sterling rear). The 6.9 was really reliable, but lacked grunt.

A local kid owns it now. He popped a 7.3 in it and drives it every day. I wish I kept it and had the fore-thought to re-power it with a Cummins 6BT. It was the perfect truck for that engine.

LOW Range !!!!! What a wimpy truck !

I've pull started 50 hp Ag tractors.... that Mack combo would have been a beeotch. Wouldn't want to try that stunt with one of these new 1/2 tons that are 10,000# tow rated - at least not anything that I owned. Thinking aluminum confetti bomb.

Never owned a C6, but the guys I knew that had them gave 'em a serious s**t kicking and couldn't break 'em. Even w/o regular, or in some cases any maintenance, they just rolled along. Wouldn't want to try that with my 4R100.

Ahhh.... to play mix'n'match with vehicles/engines of yesterday - Jay Leno is my hero ! :cool2:

Rgds, D.

 

[capt_met]

Dave, my empty milage is 17 mpg. flat, hilly doesn't matter. for great milage drop speed to 65. You may want to check out 6.9L IH & 7.3L IDI Diesels they have a great idi section with some guys that know every bolt of one.

 

[capt_met]

when towing 5000# i have never worried about how much fuel it uses. Mine still works for a living and when towing it's getting paid. By the fuel gauge it doesn't seem to drop that much. If towing an enclosed trailer there will be some drop because of the wind drag.

 

[Soundguy]

i know on my 99 7.3, speed I drive makes more differenc eon fuel economy than load.

I can run loaded full or unloaded and if I stay 70 or under.. I make 10-13mpg..

If I run 72-76 my economy goes to heck... goes to heck ONLY a lil faster loaded. really.. almost no difference. it's almost all a speed issue. mind you i have a real low 4.88 rear... so I'm tach'd out to hit 76

 

[3930dave]

Dave, my empty milage is 17 mpg. flat, hilly doesn't matter. for great milage drop speed to 65. You may want to check out 6.9L IH & 7.3L IDI Diesels they have a great idi section with some guys that know every bolt of one.

Capt, Soundguy - thanks for the real world #'s !

I've only owned one road diesel, so it is good to hear similar experience with no-load vs. loaded efficiency. Agrees with diesel engine theory that I've read, but real world experience is what really matters - at least if you are the one paying the bill.

Capt - well, you can't complain about that mileage figure - there are probably mini-vans running around that don't get that mileage ! BTW, is your truck 2wd or 4wd ?

Thanks for the IDI link. I know a few of the big Ford truck sites, but hadn't seen that one before.

Soundguy - 4.88's eh ! I know who to call if I need to tow an apartment building ! You tow heavy often enough, so I can see why you keep that truck around.

Thnx, Rgds, D.