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

[capt_met]

My truck is a 2wd. that being said if it has a downside it is that it will get when empty going slightly uphill in grass everytime. I joke that if someone leaves a banana peel across the street in a parking lot the truck will get stuck.

 

[Soundguy]

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 ?

........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.

Yeah.. I'm not complaining about the figure either... when i need a big load towed.. it does it. my f450 is 2wd, and is setup for GN, 5thwheel or bumper.. has the extended auto xfer fuel tank, 70g setting in the bed.. tool boxes.. etc. it's a 'go get her' truck. IE.. hop in and drive a few states to haul something back.. like.. maybee a broke down buddies van.. )

my 99f350 has the 4.10 gears.. gets a hair better milage.. pretty much 13 minimum .. though not much over.. and it gets interstate speed fine with that gear set.. it is 4wd.. it will do bumper or gn...

 

[3930dave]

My truck is a 2wd. that being said if it has a downside it is that it will get when empty going slightly uphill in grass everytime. I joke that if someone leaves a banana peel across the street in a parking lot the truck will get stuck.

Capt - I was thinking 2wd, as even with a stick you are getting great mileage. Teaches you to be smart driver ! I remember a buddy of mine describing trying to pull a fast U turn in a big intersection on a hot summer day when he first got his 2wd 7.3 pu - lotsa smoke from the rear, that he wasn't expecting !

2 or 4wd, they were definitely built for loads/pulling as a priority, esp. in that era.

Rgds, D.

 

[Soundguy]

2 or 4wd, they were definitely built for loads/pulling as a priority, esp. in that era.

Rgds, D.

both my 7.3's 'ride' better with a couple thou in the bed, or 7+ behind them... kinda stiff otherwise..

 

[3930dave]

Yeah.. I'm not complaining about the figure either... when i need a big load towed.. it does it. my f450 is 2wd, and is setup for GN, 5thwheel or bumper.. has the extended auto xfer fuel tank, 70g setting in the bed.. tool boxes.. etc. it's a 'go get her' truck. IE.. hop in and drive a few states to haul something back.. like.. maybee a broke down buddies van.. )

my 99f350 has the 4.10 gears.. gets a hair better milage.. pretty much 13 minimum .. though not much over.. and it gets interstate speed fine with that gear set.. it is 4wd.. it will do bumper or gn...

Yeah, with that rambo combo your buddies with old vehicles must have you on speed dial. Your fuel+meals+beverage of choice would still be cheaper than commercial towing.

Picking up groceries, not so much. But, as the right tool for the job, these old trucks impress the heck out of me when Things Get Heavy. :tractor:

Fuel used vs. job done, can't beat it.

Rgds, D.

 

[Soundguy]

Yeah, with that rambo combo your buddies with old vehicles must have you on speed dial. Your fuel+meals+beverage of choice would still be cheaper than commercial towing.

...

Fuel used vs. job done, can't beat it.

Rgds, D.

yep.. the 450 stays parked in the barn on a float charger and packed. I got ramps, timber, jacks, air up tank.,, good tool set, extra fluids.. tire tools..e tc., all packed and ready to go. in the back of the cab I got a 'ready' bag that has a change of clothes, toll money.. power bar.. bottled water.. etc. map and an inverter... console has a stack of my favorite cd's

it's literally a get in and go setup.

funny.. I've used it more than once to go get a buddy. Friend called me.. he had been vaca in nmexico and made a wandering trip back hitting some other states. his stretch van broke down with most of his extended family in it. he called a friend with a minivan and they met me after I got off work at midnight. I had called another friend who has keys to my house. I had him show up and hitch my truck to the traielr, walk my dogs, and be ready for me when i got home. He also hit the groery store and had some grub for us. we set out in a lil convoy north. the minivan grabbed the passangers and then we wedged that broke down stretch van on my gooseneck. Glad I had a winch, hi lift jack, and I always carry a spare universal truck battery with me.

few weekends later.. another bud broke down driving his elderly parents' kia minivan.. front axle went out.

same deal... grabbed another budy who just got off work and we headed north.

my wife griped a bit and asted if I was running a towing service.. but I pointed out that if one of her friends called in broke down, facing a towing bill from out of state? that we'd be there trailering them home too... to which she begrudgingly agreed..

that's the fun stuff the way i see it..

 

[3930dave]

yep.. the 450 stays parked in the barn on a float charger and packed. I got ramps, timber, jacks, air up tank.,, good tool set, extra fluids.. tire tools..e tc., all packed and ready to go. in the back of the cab I got a 'ready' bag that has a change of clothes, toll money.. power bar.. bottled water.. etc. map and an inverter... console has a stack of my favorite cd's

it's literally a get in and go setup.

funny.. I've used it more than once to go get a buddy. Friend called me.. he had been vaca in nmexico and made a wandering trip back hitting some other states. his stretch van broke down with most of his extended family in it. he called a friend with a minivan and they met me after I got off work at midnight. I had called another friend who has keys to my house. I had him show up and hitch my truck to the traielr, walk my dogs, and be ready for me when i got home. He also hit the groery store and had some grub for us. we set out in a lil convoy north. the minivan grabbed the passangers and then we wedged that broke down stretch van on my gooseneck. Glad I had a winch, hi lift jack, and I always carry a spare universal truck battery with me.

few weekends later.. another bud broke down driving his elderly parents' kia minivan.. front axle went out.

same deal... grabbed another budy who just got off work and we headed north.

my wife griped a bit and asted if I was running a towing service.. but I pointed out that if one of her friends called in broke down, facing a towing bill from out of state? that we'd be there trailering them home too... to which she begrudgingly agreed..

that's the fun stuff the way i see it..

Sudden road trips for a good cause. A lot of people today might not get volunteering to do that, but I'd say a disproportionate # of TBN'ers would. Something about DIY and helping people seems to interlock well.

A roadtrip with a worthwhile problem to solve at the destination. Much more interesting and engaging than what is on TV, or a trip to the mall.

"What goes around comes around". My close friends have the same Pay It Forward mentality.

Rgds, D.

 

[case245]

i say get the 7.3l truck a friend has an 87 f350 crewcub it has a non tubro 7.3l that thing is slow

 

[Turbys_1700]

I had a 92 non turbo idi in an F250 extended cab 4x4...
Owned it for 10 years...
Motor never gave one bit of trouble...
When I sold it it only had 135K miles on it but I had purchased my current 03 F350 dually...
If my old F250 would have been geared lower with 4:10's it would have been a much better puller...
The guy that ordered it new had 3:55's put in...
Needless to say the pulling power was not very good...
But, on the other side as a daily driver 16 to 17 mpg is great by me...
I did have to replace the tranny under extended warranty...
It was an E4OD...
One reoccurring issue I had with the 250 was the IFS kept backing the bolts out of the front end on the right side...
Finally had my mechanic spot weld to keep them in place...
IMHO the IFS on that F250 was not robust enough for the added weight of the 7.3 idi...
But, that was still a really good truck...

 

[3930dave]

I'd love to Leno out a truck - newish cab, mechanical injection, turbo, and a 5+ speed stick - but I seem to be short the 2 million $ personal shop and play funds to do it !

If I do anything with one of these, it would be based on my remote friends test drive. He owns a 7.3 PSD, so can provide relevant commentary on how these particular old boys drive.

I haven't owned enough of both to decide yet, but sometimes I wonder what rattles things loose more - diesels or motorcycles. Dzls have the vibe, but bikes the high rpm and range of rpm :scratchchin: to create havoc.

Yep, spot welds are often the fix ! Another buddy has an early PSD F250 4x4 - not sure how different that front end is from yours, but while he does maintain it, he also works the snot out of that truck - no issues with that front end.

Vehicles are funny, every once in a while one will come along a little different - combination of a particular engine, motor mount, and frame element can show up a one in 1000 or more quirk. Keeps mechanics busy, and the good ones on their toes.

Takes some money, but at least there are plenty of factory gear set options for these Fords. On my Leno truck, I'd love to have a Gear Vendors overdrive too !

:cloud9:

Rgds, D.