1985 f250 4x4 mileage and other questions

[gwgiest]

my friend wants to sell me his 85 4x4 but i dont know the mileage, if the price is rite i can accept below 15 but im wondering what u guys and gals are gettin??

also its got a few problems, shocks are blown, block may have a crack, thinks the radiator mite also have a hole

shocks dont bother me, radiator- it is diffrent from a gas engined radiator?, and crack in block, what would need to be done to repare it and can it be welded to bandaid it?

thankyou

[ditchbangin]

i welded the block on my 83 and it just kept gettin bigger, finally got it closed up but had to run stop leak in it. is it cracked back by the block heater? mine was.. heard they all do this if they get left plugged in for to long. took the heater out and installed a rubber soft plug mine starts without a hitch on cold mornings...

[jmjames]

Mine is an 85 4x4 XL Standard Cab. I get 15.5 - 16.5 Depending on How heavy my foot is that day. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I have the 3.54 gears and the 4 speed manual tranny. Completely Factory Stock. Both tank full I can get about 690 miles hiway or about 620 miles city driving. 39 Gallons fuel give or take. Your Gear ratios will tell you what to expect for mileage. Cracked Blocks are a real Mutha but can be repaired if your welder person is really really good. Problem is finding the very tip of that crack and drilling the end out before you weld it otherwise it may act like a windshield crack and ruuunnnn..... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] What kind of money is he asking? What shape is the body in? Brakes? Transmission and transfer cases etc.... You can end up putting some real big money into one of these in a short while!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] But it's still cheaper than a new truck payment [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[gwgiest]

he wants i think like 1000-1500 or possibly trade it for my motorcycle "1982 yamaha seca 750"

body has no major damage but it was used as a farm truck from 85 till 03 so its got dings, scratches, and rust spots "none of which really bother me, keep it from gettin it messed with, tranny and t-case are in good working order, brakes are good but personaly i would rebuild/retrofit them

im basicaly lookin in to it because i like crawling around the desert, i have a dirtbike for goin fast and goin everywhere.


thats better mileage than my dads 96 F150 5.0, we're lucky to pull 15 on a good day

[jdkline]

Hey I think you need to determine if the coolant leak is really a cracked block..head gaskets, bad radiator or just leaky hoses. You may end up replacing the block if it is cracked. Soem guys have successfully fixed a crack others haven't. Early 6.9s liked to crack right by the block heater if it was used...the newer casting designated by an "85" stamped into the intake manifold and elsewhere and more certainly by the correct serial number(I foirget it but somebody here knows) eliminated thsi issue for the most part. The radiator is different from agasser and will cost 300-500 dollars if you buy new which you probably should.

[gwgiest]

dont think the block heater was ever used, im in socal and it dosent really get cold by the ocean


i think it was within 5" of the front pass side on the block if that helps at all

[shimonmor]

I think you can do better. You will end up putting a lot of money into the truck if you need a new block. Plus the radiator. Parts for these trucks are not cheap. Plus your time and effort. If you are looking for a fixer-upper than by all means get it. I've put a lot of money into my truck and I love it but in the end I still have a twenty year old truck that isn't worth that much (except to me).

[gwgiest]

is the radiator all metal or the crappy new alum/plastic?

if its all metal i prolly could get it fixed like i did my old car

i dont think that the block is in that bad of condition and reparing the block probably wouldnt be that hard, luckly if he hasnt already fixed the crack i could get in there with a stick welder and drill it and fill it.... that is if it is anything like a 460 block

[jmjames]

[ QUOTE ]
get in there with a stick welder and drill it and fill it.... that is if it is anything like a 460 block

[/ QUOTE ]

What he said!!!!!!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

Check this out carefully and look at all those freeze plugs as well as the block heater. Worst case pull them and replace them with new ones. Maybe there isn't a crack there but until you get some serious light under there and put on your glasses (If you need them?). [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] Before you pull anything apart go to the car wash put on your rubber suit and pressure clean the lower block area. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img]

[shimonmor]

[ QUOTE ]
is the radiator all metal or the crappy new alum/plastic?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's metal and worth fixing. But what caused the hole? If it was just poked then no big deal but if it's starting leak due to corrosion then you may develop more leaks in the future.

[ QUOTE ]
i dont think that the block is in that bad of condition and reparing the block probably wouldnt be that hard, luckly if he hasnt already fixed the crack i could get in there with a stick welder and drill it and fill it.... that is if it is anything like a 460 block

[/ QUOTE ]

I think fixing the crack is easier said than done. It can be done but it's not an easy job. It's cast iron and experiences quite a bit of expansion and contraction and the cracks tends to appear around the freeze plugs (and block heater) because the early block were too thin in that area. That's why the newer block were reinforced around the plugs.

I'm not trying to be a nay-sayer but I think for the money there are similar trucks out there that are better deals without the hassles of major problems. If the truck doesn't look like it was taken care of...what else may be wrong?

[Atmus]

I can't help you with your other problems, but comming back home from Kansas, my 85 4x4 with 4.11's got just over 20mpg, it was all unencumbered highway miles though, and my math is based off the fuel pumps at the gas stations being accurate as well, so it could be off. Either way though, after about 415 miles, I needed just over 20 gallons. Can't tell you what it gets in the city though, as I have it laid up while waiting for brake parts to come in.

[troy520]

My '86 6.9l with T-19 4 speed gets 18 MPG in town, on the highway, up a hill down a hill; just always gets 18 (not bad for a 3/4 ton pickup).

A lot of Cummins folks use the "lock-n-stitch" method to fix their cracked blocks. See: http://www.locknstitch.com/, although I'd probably not recommend intentionally buying a truck with a cracked block.

Also, see below to learn if you have the block prone to cracking at the block heater hole:

6.9L Old Style Block (prone to cracking)
Block Casting Number: On left side of block (beneath oil cooler) 1805440C1

Note:* Some 440 blocks are truly new style and must be visually inspected by raised donut around the block heater, frost plug (right rear).* Old style below serial number 173828.
Visual Identification: *No counter bored area for block heater
*No defined area on side of block for dip stick
*Thickness of cast iron around block heater 3/8" (.375")
Head Bolts: *7/16, 12 point socket is used to torque head bolts
*Block tapped with 7/16-14 for head bolts

6.9L New Style Block (not prone to cracking)
Block Casting Number: 1807996C1

Note: Some new style blocks have casting
number 440.* Above serial number 173828.
Visual Identification: *Has counterbored area for block heater
*Very defined relief area cast in side of block for dip stick tube.
*Thickness of cast iron around block heater 15/32" (.470")
*Latest style (not all new style 6.9) has ribs around head bolts, rear two on left side go from head gasket surface to pan rail - same as 7.3
Head Bolts: *Same as old style 6.9

Hope this helps, Tom

[GISSTUD]

mechanical problems aside, i get 15.6 miles to the gallon with a 6.9 4x4 3.54 gears. That is a two-month average based on a 64-mile round trip commute. I drive slow.

In a month I will know how studded tires affect that average.

-Steve

[redbeard85]

What is too long to leave your block heater plugged in? I leave mine plugged over night and lately while at work during the day.

Thanks

Trevor in MO

[jmjames]

That's what I did all last year on my '85 and so far I have had no issues with it. Your only road block might be the electricity costs.............. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] if any. I have only plugged it in a few times this year but that was before I went to the push button glow plugs. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] "Old Blue" started right up yesterday and the temps were in the mid 30's I love it!!!