Another Job on the Horizon

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Picked this up over the weekend.  92 F-450 (actually called them Super Duty's back when they were built) 7.3 Powerstroke, 5 something-or-other rear end.I need to get rid of the stupid exhaust stacks, and the idiotic chrome rim thingies.The bed is way too heavy, and the gooseneck hitch pocket needs to be lowered.  In addition, I need to redo the bumper hitch to match the one I've already made for the other 1 ton.  The bed might just be scrapped, not sure yet.  It's made with 3" channel 12" on center.  Way too heavy for what it needs to be.Engine is a wreck, won't run out beyond 45mph or so.  Seems to be starving for fuel.  Otherwise it seems sound, no internal issues as far as I can tell.Radiator leaks like a sieve, and caused a MAJOR overheating incident on the way home.  I mean MAJOR  Wasn't an outdoor spigot in sight, so we had to fill it with the carwash spray gunHas a STUPID low rider baby donut steering wheel, the heater core has been bypassed because it leaks, and it needs all new tires.Tranny has some future issues, won't stay in 2nd gear right after shifting, but will stay in if gently coaxed.  (5spd)Rear end is good, and the front end is good and tight.  Body is fair, but some inside stuff is bad (door won't open from inside, same as my F-150), and some other cosmetic issues.Fuel gauges don't work, and previous owner informed me that the fuel system only works on one tank, the other is maybe full of water as the cap was off of it when he bought it 8yrs ago.  "Don't switch those tanks"  OK..........................I'm sure there's more wrong with it, but I haven't found it yetBottom line.........we settled on the princely sum of $1600 for this American treasureI figure it will absorb about another 3-4000 bucks to set it right, but still a real good deal by my way of thinking.  But then again, I'm usually too optomisticAnyhow, there will be abundant welding on this one.  Front bumper, bed, exhaust, etc.............................................  Probably sometime in the Fall I'm thinking"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You did good.  I would have bought it in a heartbeat also.  I have a 2000 450 ton and a half, with 16 ft flatbed.  The 7.3, as you know, is a great engine.
Reply:That's a 7.3 IDI diesel, not a powerstroke. The PS engines weren't made until '94.http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Personally I think you got ripped off with all the issues.  Like ZT said it's not a PSD.   You got a slug that will be lucky to get 10mpg.  Sent from my SCH-I545 using TapatalkTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawPersonally I think you got ripped off with all the issues.  Like ZT said it's not a PSD.   You got a slug that will be lucky to get 10mpg.  Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Reply:I like the 7.3IDI, put a turbocharger or 2 on there and you will really love it.If that truck were for sale here, it wouldn't have any tires that held air, it wouldn't start, wouldn't run, it wouldn't have any exhaust system, It could have a 6.Oh-no engine, the engine block would have a baseball size hole in the side of it and they would still want $5000 for it.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawPersonally I think you got ripped off with all the issues.  Like ZT said it's not a PSD. You got a slug that will be lucky to get 10mpg.
Reply:As stated above, it'a a 7.3 idi. Like southpaw said, it's definitely not going to win any races, but it's very reliable and will pull/haul ANYTHING you can throw at it. Based on the axle code on the door jamb sticker, you have 5.13 gears. Even in OD, with stock tires, your top speed is probably not going to be too much over 55 w/out bouncing it off the governor. Any and all info you need on these trucks can be found on oilburners.net or www.ford-trucks.com in their 6.9/7.3 idi forums.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabThat's a 7.3 IDI diesel, not a powerstroke. The PS engines weren't made until '94.
Reply:I think, by in large, some of you are missing the pointI like the model year, they were real nice looking.  Better (in my humble opinion) looking than the newer ones.  I like square shaped trucks.I think it'll be sorta fun to rehab the old gurlAnd AND , I'm real lucky to have the ability to match the truck with the loads I pull.  I have enough trucks to literally pick-and-choose the one for the job.  94 F-350 gasser, 78 Dodge PowerWagon gasser (400cid), 82 LN-9000 diesel (6-71 Detroit), COE International (350 Cummins Big Cam), and now a little diesel air breather  A veritable "truck buffet"I'm not, at this point, sure about the gears on this new truck.  They're made for pulling, not speed.  I may want to step up to 4.10's, not sure.I do have a reliable theory on diesel engine powerbands though.  I refuse to lug a diesel engine.  I run them up against the governor, or close to it.  I shudder when I see guys lugging their Cummins 855's down in the 1800-1900rpm range.  Engines of that type will last forever running at 2100-2200rpm.While a diesel will deliver a whopping amount of torque at the lower end, it produces phenomenal stress on the lower end of the engine, as well as increasing exhaust temps, which is an indication of very high cyl temps.  So, while risking melting a piston.......at the same time you're risking blowing a crank bearing.  Not a viable combination in the long run.  I suppose it's all a matter of choice, and give-and-take.I believe this little guy I just bought maxes out at 3300rpm, and most people prefer to run them at around 2100rpm.  On my brief test drive while buying this little gem it seemed that the motor felt real relaxed at somewhere around 2300 or so.  At 2500 it started to sound a bit "thin".  This was, of course, before something in the fuel system crapped out, and we went limping back to the doods house at 45mph  I've been around enough diesels to think that it might be something as simple as a restricted fuel filter.  Way it was running screamed fuel starvation.  Won't know till I get into it.Overall condition.........As mentioned, it's nearly impossible to find this motor/truck in the turbo version for anything near what I consider a reasonable price for what you're actually buying.............a 20+ year old truck.  Anything reasonably priced was on the verge of literally falling apart.  Believe me, I've been looking.  And turbos tend to attract "tuners".  Tuners kill vehicles  And K'kins likes the door stepsBTW....that old 6-71 Detroit is actually a naturally aspirated engine, despite what most people believe.  The blower only scavenges exhaust from the cylinders, it doesn't raise compression ratios by adding charged air to the cylinder.  Don't confuse a blower on a Detroit with a supercharger, or turbo......two different animals when it comes to Detroits."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I think it was a score bro! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Heh I get the attraction to certain kind of truck.... I have a thing for Cabovers as my most recent purchase showsSent from my SCH-I545 using TapatalkTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:There were quite a few of the 71 series Detroit motors with a blower and a turbo.
Reply:Nice find! You'll enjoy getting her back in running order.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Good thing its NOT a PSD, if it were and you had the 45mph top speed problem, you'd be looking at a lot more $$$$ for fuel related issues.Nice find, if worse comes to worse you can part it out for more than $1600.Sent while hiding at work using Tapatalk Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Should be able to sell the bed to help offset some  of the other repairs how is reverse. We have a f350 of the same vintage and reverse doesn't always work. Nice thing with the older trucks at least you can tweak and try things with out some 500 dollar programmer or a computerMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammBTW....that old 6-71 Detroit is actually a naturally aspirated engine, despite what most people believe.  The blower only scavenges exhaust from the cylinders, it doesn't raise compression ratios by adding charged air to the cylinder.  Don't confuse a blower on a Detroit with a supercharger, or turbo......two different animals when it comes to Detroits.
Reply:what do you want for the stacks?-------------------------Chemetron AC/DC 300 HFSnap-On MM300L Lincoln SP140 Lincoln AC/DC 225g Lincoln SA200 Lincoln SA200 Miller Bobcat 225GVictor torchesH&M and Mathey beveling machinesMcElroy Plastic pipe fusion
Reply:I had a welder that bought a new F450 in 1994 I think (been a long time ago...) anyway, he put the 3 speed brownlipe auxillary transmission he had in his '86 model F350 behind the 5 speed in the new one.  Made it a completely different truck (Truck weighed 14,000 all the time, then he pulled a 36' fifth wheel trailer  when we went out of town).  I'm not a Ford person, but I woulda bought his rig when he sold it if I had known about it...  He ran a SA250 diesel and had every tool you can think of to fabricate up to 12" on the truck.-------------------------Chemetron AC/DC 300 HFSnap-On MM300L Lincoln SP140 Lincoln AC/DC 225g Lincoln SA200 Lincoln SA200 Miller Bobcat 225GVictor torchesH&M and Mathey beveling machinesMcElroy Plastic pipe fusion
Reply:Those are good trucks for the most part. And that price seems about in line with what I found when I was looking. Anything that was claimed to be a good runner was several thousand more, and you still had a crap shoot as to whether it was actually good or not. I finally found a 2005 with a v10 that I ended up with which will suit me fine. Most of the time I drive 7 miles and only take 1 or 2 long trips a year so I didn't feel like I needed a diesel. Good luck with this project, should be fun.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:You did good. I sold one recently that was 4x4 with a service box and pipe rack. Motor was stock and I was getting 16mpg. Guy I sold it to went with 19" wheels and he's now getting 18mpg.If you want to spend about 3-4k on the motor you can build it to around 400hp and if you don't drive it like you're racing you can still get 16mpg+Most likely your speed issue is due to air in the fuel system, first step is a $40 return fuel line seal kit from ebay. After that you start looking for other restrictions, maybe needs a lift pump.Mr. HE