Yeah I know this is mostly Dodge, but I saw a decent 87 F250 4x4 with the banks turbo kit on it,Im not sure if its a 7.3 or 6.9. its a 4 speed stick, and has 120k on the odo. Anyone have any experiance with one of these? any good? how about MPGs. it would make a good beater for the ranch, for 3k.

 

It would be the 6.9L. The 7.3 came out in the '88 model year.

I would find out if it has had new headgaskets installed. Mine went out at 129k on a bone stock, 150HP High Altitude engine. I also had to replace the mechanical fuel supply pump, return fuel lines (the ones that run between the injectors and the one that connects the return from both heads in the rear.

The fuel injection pump and fuel injection nozzles (injectors) are generally shot at 100k miles. Both the pump and nozzles can be had for about $600.

The 6.9s like oil. Even with all the external leaks fixed, and the heads checked out OK when they were off, I still have to add 1qt/1000miles.

I have 3.55 gears along with the C6 auto. No O/D. Get 13-15mpg, uncorrected for the 255-85-16 tires vs. 235-85-16 stock.

My biggest concern (w/the low mileage for the age), would be dried out seals and other stuff. My '86 has had the highest cost/mile of any vehicle I have owned, partly for that reason. It just nickel and dimes you to death. I rarely drive it anymore. Really need to sell it.

 

On the oil use: I was the oil check man for a while when I drove school buses. It was a fleet of around 200 IH buses with IDI 6.9's and 7.3's. If I tried to keep them at the full mark most would need a quart weekly. If I just kept them in the acceptable range most would rarely need oil.

 

I had a 1987 class C motorhome with the 6.9 and I installed a banks sidewinder turbo @ 70000miles and head gaskets @ 90000 and again @ 140000 I kept it until It had 166000 miles on it and sold it to a guy because I thought it had to many miles and he has since taken it to Belize twice from Canada ( so what do I know). As a previous poster said do not try and keep the oil at the full mark If you run it a quart down it will stay there for a long time. The second set of head gaskets were a change up from the first set. (supposed to be an improvement).They are not the best on fuel they are not the best at anything really but they are OK.
By the way even though I am from Canada the above figures are in Miles not Kilometers.
Jim O

 

Unfortunantly, not the case for this one. I always waited 'til it got to the add mark, to add oil. All though rarely, sometimes I waited 'til it was a quart below, to see if it would do as what wannadiesel said. Never found a "sweet spot". Short trips (running at 55mph or below) were the worst. Which in my case, is my daily drive to and from work. 30 miles round trip.

Mine likes the interstate best. Keeps the RPMs up and it doesn't have to work as hard (and uses less oil).

 

Well I passed after driving it, Gotta admit the truck minus the engine was pretty good and fit me well but that power, I was expecting some being turbo and all. I kept waiting for the boost guage to show something or the pyro then after having it floored for a few away she`d go at a whopping 8 lbs of boost. I maxed at 400 degrees on the pyro, what a dog. personally I d like to have the Cummins in a older F350 4x4. sorry Guys the truck itsself was far better than my Dodge, ride, seating, etc and man I miss a stick shift.