Hey’all, I have been doing a lot of reading on your forum and want to start off by saying what a great bunch you all are. I’m very excited to have found this forum and really appreciate all the information. So thank you and thank you for reading my first post and for any feedback.
I finally did it! Last week I got me a diesel and this truck is bad ass to say the least. It’s a stock 1994 F350 XLT 4x4 Crew Cab with a 5 Speed Manual, 7.3 IDI Turbo and an 8ft. bed! I got this truck for what I think is a good deal at $3,800 with 270K miles. It’s not necessarily an amazing deal but I was particular about what I wanted.
As you can see from the pics below (I'll add more asap) the truck is in good shape but needs some work and I intend on sprucing it up and making it look and run great. What is hard to tell from the pics is that it has been sitting and baking out in the sun for a long time and the clear coat is practically gone.
I know it has no major rust problem (little surface rust) and I drove it from San Angelo, Tx to Orlando, FL (about 1,400 miles) with no problems at all. Mechanically speaking (at least from what I can tell as a home wrench twister!) the truck is in great shape. Did not burn any oil nor did it overheat. No oil leaks and ran at 75 - 80 miles/hour with ease. After the long drive it started up from the first try although from time to time I get a bit of smoke.
With that said, I would like to know your thoughts on what I should consider doing to this truck and specifically from a mechanical and performance stand point. Any heads up I should know about or be proactive about.
From what I have read so far, I need to be looking into an air intake, down pipes and a dual exhaust system, ATS turbo upgrade, pyro, increase boost, and fuel. I want to have these things done but don’t know if the 270K mile engine, transmission and sun backed rubber parts can handle it.
Assuming you were to have a reasonable repair and spruce up budget (limit is before wife burns you and the truck... lol), on what kind of things would you invest in?
Wow, sorry for the long first post but you’all know what you are talking about here and would love to hear from you.
The most important thing is the turbo kit. If it's not a factory turbo it won't have a horribly crushed pipe and it provides about as much power as a factory PSD. (Factory IDIT is maybe 15% less due to Ford-specified detuning. Bastards.) Increasing boost over 11psi "stock" (ATS and Ford both, AFAIK, run 11psi max) requires at least new studs and an intercooler is a VERY good idea.
By far the most useful item is the turbo, and you want the EGT sensor. Everything else is optional. You might check your carrier bearing (in the middle of the drive shaft) for cracking, if you're planning to put down much more power you might want to have it serviced BEFORE it breaks. Check the differential vent tubes for clogging too, if you run faster/harder there will be more venting.
Stay on top of your coolant, watch it very carefully and use the test strips. But it looks and sounds like you got a great deal.
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1992 F250 XLT 4x4 Super Cab 7.3 IDI E40D 3.55 ATS 088 Turbo 4"R.C.Lift Dana50TTB/10.25SterlingLSD 373k miles
Thanks for the great feedback... I will make sure to look into the items you pointed out and the truck does have a factory turbo! I have just moved “upgrading the pipes” up the list of things to do and added the other items you mentioned. Excellent thanks!
I'm a bit concerned about the rubber components and hoses that they may be dried up... Also the engine does rattle a bit more than I anticipated but then again this is my first 94 diesel so it may be normal. Of course the only other truck I can compare to is my buddies 2008 F250! Yeah I know… way two different!
On another note, thanks… it’s refreshing to know someone thinks I got a good deal. All my buddies here own rather new trucks so there is little appreciation for what a great truck I have stumbled upon!
Any other ideas and "heads-up" are greatly appreciated. I think what I'll do is start a before and after on this site. Should be fun since everyone here appreciates these trucks and engines!
On another note, thanks… it’s refreshing to know someone thinks I got a good deal. All my buddies here own rather new trucks so there is little appreciation for what a great truck I have stumbled upon!
As far as I can tell these are the trucks that get the best mileage, and the easiest and cheapest to work on. Their only real downside is that they are seriously heavy; that is also an up side. Everywhere I go, old timers compliment me on my truck
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1992 F250 XLT 4x4 Super Cab 7.3 IDI E40D 3.55 ATS 088 Turbo 4"R.C.Lift Dana50TTB/10.25SterlingLSD 373k miles
Your truck looks beautiful. Much nicer than mine. I bought mine for $2200, and put about $1000 in it so far. I would have snatched yours up in a second. I live in a rust belt, and am happy to have as little rust as I have, but it still has significant rust.
If I were you, I'd replace the coolant and add the SCAs. Other than that, grease everything with a fitting, and enjoy it. Normal maintenance rules apply. Looks like an incredible deal. In the north east, we just don't see trucks like that. They are either bondo queens or rusted out. I have some of the oldest vehicles in my neighborhood, and the oldest ones out of my coworkers. I don't have any car payments, and they are relatively cheap to repair, so IMHO the new ones are a waste of time.
i to just got my first diesel although here in va couldn't find a turbo diesel for under 5000 so settled on an 88 f350 dully 7.3 low miles 4.10 rear with only a c-6 3 spd that is the only draw back to the truck but i got it for a mear 600$ and i got it stricktly as a toy so its got a turbo in its future, along with stacks and whatever else i can do. and thank god for this site! i have learned more about my truck in such a short time than i ever thought possible. i also trying to put in picture hope its in here.
drinkypoo: try uploading some pics of your truck when you get a chance. Sounds like you have a great set-up going and would be great to see some pics. Its funny that you mention old timers giving you compliments... yesterday I had an old timer stop by as I was filling up on diesel and was just inspecting the truck and I could have sworn he was willing to buy it right then and there. I of course drove 1400 miles to get this thing and I’m not about to let it go anytime soon. oh and get this.. he was in a new model F250!
Junkrider: hey thanks for the compliment and see if you too can upload some pics. I live in Florida and I know about rust! I have little surface rust spots on the chassis that I plan on hitting with a wire brush and some “CHASSIS SAVER.” Have you looked into trying Chassis Saver or similar products on your or do you need metal work?
Thanks for the heads up as well and amen to no car payments! Coolant and SCAs are on the list.
88toy: what a sweet truck and a sweeter deal. You can’t go wrong at $600... Actually I’m kind of surprised you got it for $600. Literally a steal! Looks great and this truck is worth triple that in parts alone! Wow great deal… Can’t wait to see what your toy will look like when you are done… or if there is such a thing as done!
Thanks guys for the feedback and keep'em coming! I'm thinking of having two shops in town do an inspection and compare their reports just to be more educated about my truck... sounds like a good thought but don't know if it makes sense and worth the cash. I'm going to price it out!
That's the gallery for truck pics. Not much going on right now. I'm about to go out and hopefully find a drop receiver today, I have a long-shank receiver so I can't just buy one of those big aluminum adjustable drop hitches. I need a long-shank drop receiver, then I can mount ordinary hitches. I had a long-shank 2" drop hitch but then I raised my truck
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1992 F250 XLT 4x4 Super Cab 7.3 IDI E40D 3.55 ATS 088 Turbo 4"R.C.Lift Dana50TTB/10.25SterlingLSD 373k miles
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i also trying to put in picture hope its in here.
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