Diesel Truck Question

[phatdaddy]

I might have the opportunity to buy a 1990 ford dually diesel. The truck has 70,000 miles and i would be getting it from the original owner. The engine is the 7.3 International, no turbo or computer. I work out of my truck(96 Dodge w 5.9) , so it wouldn't just be for a tow vehicle. I was just wondering if anybody has any experience with this set up and given the price of diesel should i just look for another gas truck.

[phatdaddy]

I might have the opportunity to buy a 1990 ford dually diesel. The truck has 70,000 miles and i would be getting it from the original owner. The engine is the 7.3 International, no turbo or computer. I work out of my truck(96 Dodge w 5.9) , so it wouldn't just be for a tow vehicle. I was just wondering if anybody has any experience with this set up and given the price of diesel should i just look for another gas truck.

[reelapeelin]

Hey Phatdaddy...if pullin' your V is all the towin' you do, you certainly don't NEED a diesel...if a diesel is what you WANT, then if it checks out, go for it...


...never had one, but hear duallies are tire hungry... ;) ...

[reelapeelin]

Hey Phatdaddy...if pullin' your V is all the towin' you do, you certainly don't NEED a diesel...if a diesel is what you WANT, then if it checks out, go for it...


...never had one, but hear duallies are tire hungry... ;) ...

[Skools Out]

Hey P-Daddy what yr is the truck? The 7.3 was and is Fords best motor. The 7.3's 2 baby brothers are junk the 6.9 and 6.0 have you ever had a diesel or a dually? The dually will be hard to park. I always hated parking mine and you will tear up the rear fenders at some point if you drive it long. Tell us the yr of the truck. The diesel are great but remember they hold more oil on oil change but that's why most people go 10k to 15k miles on oil changes in diesels, plus they don't require the as often. they have less up keep, no plugs wires or cap. but you have injection pump average $2000 to replace, and injectors average $375 up to replace. are you up north where you will be plugging it in more to keep warm? if so remember plugging in a diesel will make the antifreeze turn into acid over time so you will need to get acid neutralizer at a truck stop or flush the system every couple yrs.

[Skools Out]

Hey P-Daddy what yr is the truck? The 7.3 was and is Fords best motor. The 7.3's 2 baby brothers are junk the 6.9 and 6.0 have you ever had a diesel or a dually? The dually will be hard to park. I always hated parking mine and you will tear up the rear fenders at some point if you drive it long. Tell us the yr of the truck. The diesel are great but remember they hold more oil on oil change but that's why most people go 10k to 15k miles on oil changes in diesels, plus they don't require the as often. they have less up keep, no plugs wires or cap. but you have injection pump average $2000 to replace, and injectors average $375 up to replace. are you up north where you will be plugging it in more to keep warm? if so remember plugging in a diesel will make the antifreeze turn into acid over time so you will need to get acid neutralizer at a truck stop or flush the system every couple yrs.

[TheTinMan]

Skools, ain't that an International motor?

Oh, he said it's a 1990.

[TheTinMan]

Skools, ain't that an International motor?

Oh, he said it's a 1990.

[willy]

Can't give any help on the dually part of it, never had one. The normally aspirated 7.3 was a very durable and reliable engine. They added the turbo to it because it was a little under powered for some. My friend has the 7.3 turbo and it has over 300,000 and is going strong no problems.

[willy]

Can't give any help on the dually part of it, never had one. The normally aspirated 7.3 was a very durable and reliable engine. They added the turbo to it because it was a little under powered for some. My friend has the 7.3 turbo and it has over 300,000 and is going strong no problems.

[turbinedoctor]

You stated that the truck is a 1990 with no turbo or computer. I could be mistaken but I think they started turbos in 1985. I would ask if it is the original engine.

I have a 1997 and love it. Got 143,000 miles with little to no problem. As Skools siad they hold more oil, mine holds 14 quarts and factory reccomends oil cahnge every 5000 miles.

[turbinedoctor]

You stated that the truck is a 1990 with no turbo or computer. I could be mistaken but I think they started turbos in 1985. I would ask if it is the original engine.

I have a 1997 and love it. Got 143,000 miles with little to no problem. As Skools siad they hold more oil, mine holds 14 quarts and factory reccomends oil cahnge every 5000 miles.

[Skools Out]

no in 85 it would have been a 6.9 international the 7.3 are avail both ways back then. most weren't turbo, but you can add a banks kit to those.I don't think the 7.3's are international.

[Skools Out]

no in 85 it would have been a 6.9 international the 7.3 are avail both ways back then. most weren't turbo, but you can add a banks kit to those.I don't think the 7.3's are international.

[phatdaddy]

Skools, I'm in Florida, so plugging them in shouldn't"t be a problem. I drove a dually with a tool body for a couple of years when I worked for another company, so I know what a pain they can be. This is a crew cab w/ a long bed, so I'll have to park waaay out in the parking lot. I am concerned about the fuel system. The truck hasn't been used very much in the last 5 or 6 years so I am concerned about things dry rotting and algae growing in the fuel. I think it is a 7.3 because when I looked up a price on Blue Book that was the only diesel option given.

[phatdaddy]

Skools, I'm in Florida, so plugging them in shouldn't"t be a problem. I drove a dually with a tool body for a couple of years when I worked for another company, so I know what a pain they can be. This is a crew cab w/ a long bed, so I'll have to park waaay out in the parking lot. I am concerned about the fuel system. The truck hasn't been used very much in the last 5 or 6 years so I am concerned about things dry rotting and algae growing in the fuel. I think it is a 7.3 because when I looked up a price on Blue Book that was the only diesel option given.

[Seacrets]

Had five 87's (F-250) in our fleet years ago. All with the International 7.3's and no turbo. Great trucks. with 70k original miles, that puppy is barely broke in. I also think the 7.3 was the best diesel in the F series. If the price is right, I'd suck it up

[Seacrets]

Had five 87's (F-250) in our fleet years ago. All with the International 7.3's and no turbo. Great trucks. with 70k original miles, that puppy is barely broke in. I also think the 7.3 was the best diesel in the F series. If the price is right, I'd suck it up

[mod7x]

the 7.3 is an iternational navistar engine, same as a dt 444 that came in city delevery trucks and school buses that international built, very bullet proof, i don,t know about the power w/out a turbo but they can't be to bad, we have a couple of non turbo 444's in 33,000 gvw boom trucks at work, they seem ok for power, but my 99 superduty w/7.3 turbo feels way more powerful but its lot lighter, only about 7000#, as for the dually part, i had a 1989 f350 dually w/460 gas engine, didn't care much for that power plant, hard on gas and it didn't seem like it had much power, but it towed great , no sway ever pulling a trailer with a race car on it that weighed about 8000# combined, remember 4 tires are better than 2 unless it's motorcyle

[mod7x]

the 7.3 is an iternational navistar engine, same as a dt 444 that came in city delevery trucks and school buses that international built, very bullet proof, i don,t know about the power w/out a turbo but they can't be to bad, we have a couple of non turbo 444's in 33,000 gvw boom trucks at work, they seem ok for power, but my 99 superduty w/7.3 turbo feels way more powerful but its lot lighter, only about 7000#, as for the dually part, i had a 1989 f350 dually w/460 gas engine, didn't care much for that power plant, hard on gas and it didn't seem like it had much power, but it towed great , no sway ever pulling a trailer with a race car on it that weighed about 8000# combined, remember 4 tires are better than 2 unless it's motorcyle

[phatdaddy]

Thanks for the input. I'll take it for a test ride and run it by a shop and let them look at it. We usually trailer to the keys every 2 years (1500 miles round trip) and I think the trip would be a lot easier in this truck. Now the Dodge gets 10 mpg, I would think this set up would get better than that.

[phatdaddy]

Thanks for the input. I'll take it for a test ride and run it by a shop and let them look at it. We usually trailer to the keys every 2 years (1500 miles round trip) and I think the trip would be a lot easier in this truck. Now the Dodge gets 10 mpg, I would think this set up would get better than that.

[TheTinMan]

What kind of work do use the truck for? Do you really need a 1 ton truck? If the V20 is the biggest thing you are towing I would just get a gas 3/4 ton...even a half ton is plenty for the "V". I wouldn't want to drive a huge dually every day unless I absolutely needed it. JMHO....but what the hell do I know http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/crazy/083.gif

[TheTinMan]

What kind of work do use the truck for? Do you really need a 1 ton truck? If the V20 is the biggest thing you are towing I would just get a gas 3/4 ton...even a half ton is plenty for the "V". I wouldn't want to drive a huge dually every day unless I absolutely needed it. JMHO....but what the hell do I know http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/crazy/083.gif

[reelapeelin]

Now the Dodge gets 10 mpg, I would think this set up would get better than that.



Wouldn't get my hopes too high...

[reelapeelin]

Now the Dodge gets 10 mpg, I would think this set up would get better than that.



Wouldn't get my hopes too high...

[8barrel]

My father had two of those 7.3s One was a turbo and one wasn't. I remember the non turbo as being a dog. Thats why he traded it in to get one a few years newer and with a turbo. He pulls a 31' 5th camper. I know he had to get the automatic transmission rebuilt at around 100,000 miles. The transmission shop told him his was common on the 7.3 automatic trucks.
Never had any engine trouble.

[8barrel]

My father had two of those 7.3s One was a turbo and one wasn't. I remember the non turbo as being a dog. Thats why he traded it in to get one a few years newer and with a turbo. He pulls a 31' 5th camper. I know he had to get the automatic transmission rebuilt at around 100,000 miles. The transmission shop told him his was common on the 7.3 automatic trucks.
Never had any engine trouble.

[Luckystrike]

I was wondering, What was it that you did not like about your 5.9 Cummins diesel? until you mentioned that you were only getting 10 m.p.g. There has to be something drasticly wrong. My 5.9 Cummins averages 24 m.p.g. and i've driven it for 13 years and 312K miles with the only repairs being a water pump and a starter.
You should be getting at least 20+ m.p.g.
In my opinion, concerning diesel trucks, there's no better combination of performance, reliability, and economy out there than the 5.9 Cummins. If I were you, I would find out whats wrong with the Cummins, get it fixed, and keep it.

[Luckystrike]

I was wondering, What was it that you did not like about your 5.9 Cummins diesel? until you mentioned that you were only getting 10 m.p.g. There has to be something drasticly wrong. My 5.9 Cummins averages 24 m.p.g. and i've driven it for 13 years and 312K miles with the only repairs being a water pump and a starter.
You should be getting at least 20+ m.p.g.
In my opinion, concerning diesel trucks, there's no better combination of performance, reliability, and economy out there than the 5.9 Cummins. If I were you, I would find out whats wrong with the Cummins, get it fixed, and keep it.

[Skools Out]

i think he has a 5.9 gas currently

as far as milage you will get alot better towing. My diesel Tahoe gets 19 to 20 towing the V20 at 65 to 70 mph and my gas truck gets 12 to 14 towing same.

[Skools Out]

i think he has a 5.9 gas currently

as far as milage you will get alot better towing. My diesel Tahoe gets 19 to 20 towing the V20 at 65 to 70 mph and my gas truck gets 12 to 14 towing same.

[TheTinMan]

He's gotta be talkin about a V8 5.9 gas motor.

[TheTinMan]

He's gotta be talkin about a V8 5.9 gas motor.

[phatdaddy]

It's a gas5.9. It's been a geat truck and done everything I've ask it to do. I've pulled tractors and ditch witch trenchers with it . I had to replace the tranny at 120,000. I think that is a common problem.
I know the f350 would be overkill, but I thought if i could get a diesel dually w/ 70,000 original old man pulled a travel trailer miles for a good price, I might consider it. We haven't talked price yet, but I was thinking in the $3500 range.

[phatdaddy]

It's a gas5.9. It's been a geat truck and done everything I've ask it to do. I've pulled tractors and ditch witch trenchers with it . I had to replace the tranny at 120,000. I think that is a common problem.
I know the f350 would be overkill, but I thought if i could get a diesel dually w/ 70,000 original old man pulled a travel trailer miles for a good price, I might consider it. We haven't talked price yet, but I was thinking in the $3500 range.

[regidog]

I drove a 6.9L ford F350 dually and towed 12,000lbs for work. That truck was fantastic. Only problem I've heard about is the tranny in the early 90's. The overdrive was a problem. Towed a 6,000lb Grady with it and forgot it was behind the truck. If the price is good and no problems its a good truck.

[regidog]

I drove a 6.9L ford F350 dually and towed 12,000lbs for work. That truck was fantastic. Only problem I've heard about is the tranny in the early 90's. The overdrive was a problem. Towed a 6,000lb Grady with it and forgot it was behind the truck. If the price is good and no problems its a good truck.