7.8L New Holland (Ford) diesels - Diesel Forum

DUKES2FORDS · 02-22-2003, 07:16 PM

Anyone want to share their experiences with them?
I had it's little brother the 6.6L NH Ford diesel in my F-700 and it was 100% reliable, albeit not very powerful.

Some of the "anti-Ford" types I talk to like to call them "boat anchor" diesels. Fact or fiction?

What's the 7.8 like? Is it only available as a 210HP? Some guys have told me they can be rated up to 240HP.

Also, Can they be turned up? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

DieselDon · 02-22-2003, 07:45 PM

Good engines. They got a bad rap because they are not wet sleeved. I think there were 3 6.6 HPs and several 7.8 up to 275HP. Bosch fuel system very reliable. Tough, simple engines. Saw many go 300K+ miles before overhauls. I taught and troubleshot these engines for Ford. The dealers and many fleets were not very happy when Ford dropped them in favor of the Cummins "B" & "C". I still have some service info on these engines if you need it.

DUKES2FORDS · 02-22-2003, 08:33 PM

Thanks, Don.

My mechanic loves them. The fleet he maintains still has a few 7.8's and some 3208 CAT's. He actually thinks the 7.8 Ford is as good if not better than the 3208 CAT. He says the 3208 has a lot of leaks, isn't very tough and kinda low on power.

There's a early 90's F-800 with one I've been keeping an eye on. It's got 98K on it and I think it's rated at 215HP. I was hoping for the 240HP version.

Can they have their power increased? How? different pump? injectors?

guss · 02-22-2003, 09:37 PM

just take it to a ford newholland shop they can turn it up to 300 hp for you.the trucks up to 275.but in the tractors they were up to 300hp.or thats what my book says on my a66 endloader.when they first put them in trucks ford gurenty 10 percent better fuel milage over any other simular size engine.my loader has 12000 hours and no problem yet do adjust valves every year though.i dont no how many miles that would be.change oil every 200 hours.you can buy parts at tractor dealer where truck garge might not carry them any more.

Cat320 · 02-23-2003, 10:56 AM

Duke any pic's of your 750?How does it do pulling your backhoe?

DieselDon · 02-23-2003, 11:21 AM

What years are we talking about? Taking the 7.8 up to 240 shouldn't be a problem. To go to 270 takes some heavier internal parts ( at least in production ).

DUKES2FORDS · 02-23-2003, 11:48 AM

Cat320,

Oh gosh no. I sold my F-700 ~8 years ago. It pulled a backhoe pretty good. On hills it stuggled a bit. It was only ~190HP. I also had a '79 IH1700 4x4 gasser [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img] for the off road & plowing work. I leased my backhoe and turned it in about 2 years ago. Since then, I've been using an excavator. Now I have the itch to get some more equipment again. But this time I want to get the exact truck I want, not a compromise truck.

Louisville Joe · 02-23-2003, 03:17 PM

Well, first hand, I didn't have too much trouble with them other than oil leaks (oil cooler, crank seals) and for some reason loose fuel filters seemed common. They are difficult to service in an F series, particularly if the truck has an alligator hood. The engine is very heavy for it's output. It is a smooth runner, but it doesn't pull near as hard as a Cat 3208. The engine was actually made in Brazil, and when they were around I remember being told by Ford people that they were having a lot of warranty problems. They are starting to get scarce. I guess they weren't that great, they were only around from about 1985 (in the Cargo- what a P.O.S. that was!) until 1992 or so.

DUKES2FORDS · 02-23-2003, 05:46 PM

If you had an otherwise good Ford truck that lost a 7.8L, are they still around in rebuilt form? Or do you just change over to a B or C Cummins?

It's really pretty sad, the 8.2L Detroit is pretty bad, the 5.9 Cummins is pretty bad, the 3208Cat has it's share of problems, and the New Holland 6.6L & 7.8L isn't too great either.

Did I miss any of the diesels available in '85-'98 F-800's?? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/depressed.gif[/img]

Birken Vogt · 02-23-2003, 11:51 PM

I think you missed the Cat 31 series in the later models. I am a big fan of the 3208s though they are real good motors in my book. At 10.4 liters by far the biggest of the bunch and they pull real strong through the rev range.

And of course the utter quietness and smoothness is great.

Birken

Louisville Joe · 02-24-2003, 04:04 PM

Yeah, I have a 1988 GMC 7000 with a 250 h.p. 3208, and it is a really smooth, quiet engine. Pulls hard, too. I have seen a few rebuilt and 'good used' 7.8L Ford around, but I do think they'll be tough to find in a few years. What's wrong with the B5.9L? I guess if I was looking at used medium duty Fords, my choice would be an L-8000 with a C8.3L Cummins. The L was twice the truck the F was.

Kenworth · 02-24-2003, 10:11 PM

I like the L series too I would like to have one with a 3306 Cat or L-10 Cummins gotta have a truck thats JAKE equiped and produces a true 300hp.

KW

DUKES2FORDS · 02-25-2003, 07:19 AM

Back in December when I had tunnel vision on the F-550 4x4, I saw a '87 or '88 F-700 4x4 with a 3208 CAT, central hydraulics, and a 11' plow.

It was up in New England (400+ miles north from me). I called the seller, he offered to email me pictures, but he never followed through.

The 5.9 Cummins would be fine for me. They are kinda light for a MDT, not much rotating mass, but they can be turned up easily.

Kenworth · 02-25-2003, 03:41 PM

You may regret buying a truck with a 5.9 Cummins turning them up doesn't replace a larger engine especially in a MDT where you can push the EGTs through the roof working the engine too hard.

I personally wouldn't want anything less than a 466 sized engine when your packing 6-7 ton you want the power to pull the hills you want a engine that just makes noise you want some power in the truck. With a truck with a 2spd rear the best thing is less shifting as posible if a truck is underpowered it really tires you out with constant shifting.

Good Luck
KW

DUKES2FORDS · 02-25-2003, 06:21 PM

KW, I agree, but you can't get a 466 in a F-700/800. If I found an IH with 4x4 and a 466 I would like to have it.

IMO, looks like the best F-800 is gonna be a 7.8L or a 3208CAT the best IH is gonna be a 466. If it's a straight 5, maybe I could get a 2 speed rear upfitted into it. I'll just have to remember to keep off the button while in 4x4!!!

If it's a spicer 6 or 7 speed, that'd be just fine.