mid 80's ford 6.9l diesel questions

[NorCalChris]

I found a mid 80's F-Series truck on the cheap. It's 4x4 and diesel. I need a cheap tow rig, and was wondering how "Gutless" this thing would be towing an XJ, or anything at that. I've read up on some Ford forums and a few people have mentioned if you want a fast truck get a 460. Well, I don't want a fast truck, I want a truck that can tow. I read that a turbo swap is that best bang for your buck mod (makes perfect sense), but that will barley put you near a stock idi 7.3? I dont know. I guess my question is: Would these trucks be worth buying to use as a tow rig?

 

[CarbonXJ]

Dad had one as a "farm" truck for awhile. used it to move things and just as a general junk truck. It was OK, but pretty gutless on the freeway. The 7.3L was not much better. it was adequate, but only just. We now have a '94 Ram with the 6BT and manual and it performs FAR above the others. Got it from a surplus sale. Doesn't get used much but when needed it has not failed and going on 240k....Looks like hell though.....

 

[Outlander560]

My buddy has the 4spd 6.9 idi it's an 86 it's got the low end to haul but top end sucks ass...he's running 33s with 4.10s I believe could be the reason....however one thing I can say is DO NOT TURBO IT it can not handle it

 

[hadfield4wd]

however one thing I can say is DO NOT TURBO IT it can not handle it

Not true.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1025737

 

[BoringDave]

My first diesel truck was an 86 6.9l. I hauled 4 quads on a bed mounted platform and towed a 29' late 80's travel trailer with it. It was slow and got horrible fuel milage. I then found a used Banks Sidewinder turbo setup for it. The first thing that happend after the install was it blew a head gasket. I installed new Felpro premium blue head gaskets, surfaced the heads and clamped it all back together with ARP studs. Never had another leak, it towed a lot better also the fuel milage whent from about 9mpg to about 13. I decided I wanted more power so I modified the turbo inlet/outlet got rid of the big dumb Banks air box installed a clamp on filter,boost guage,pyrometer. Then I started turning up the fuel! Also installed turbo injectors out of a 94 7.3l idi turbo. It had plenty of power then. I could out pull and out run my buddy's stock 97 power stroke up to 72mph because I would run out of gear and hit the governor.

Another great thing is you can run used oil as fuel. I use to filter used hydraulic,transmission fluid even motor oil but not from a diesel. I'd mix it with diesel fuel to thin it out depending on if it was summer or winter and run it.

I wish I still had that truck.

 

[NorCalChris]

Hmmm. All good info. If it doesnt sell soon, Im going to make an offer.

 

[WAD357]

I had an old 6.9 dually and boy was she slow! only ran about 70 or so flat out as well! My brother had a 7.3 idi turbo with a stage one pump and injectors on stock boost he ran right next to my powerstroke on a 75hp tune

 

[Johnnie Walker]

With a 460 you will probably get 9mpg loaded or unloaded, will pull almost anything. Definitely worth it.

 

[xjtrailrider]

My Dad had a 6.9L E-350 van that he towed a 40' (yes, 40 foot long!) tag-a-long travel trailer to and from the Outer Banks NC to Roanoke VA several times a year.

He blew up 2 trannies, both rebuilt(C6 I believe) before he spent the money on a good unit(B&M) but the engine ALWAYS ran and pulled great! I was amazed at how the van could handle the rolling hills of central VA on VA460 with ease. The van, which was a conversion on top of being a heavy duty van, handled the big trailer with no real issues. He had a stabilizing hitch of course. He bought the van with 162k on it and sold it to a construction company to use as a light tow rig/personal hauler when it was showing 220k on it. It still ran perfect.

I do not remember the towing mpg but it had dual tanks and I do think we had to fill up about 100 miles short of our destination each way. We never towed over 50-55 mph and on a good bit of 460 its 45mph anyway.

 

[hadfield4wd]

With a 460 you will probably get 9mpg loaded or unloaded, will pull almost anything. Definitely worth it.

My 460 gets 6 loaded up. After some mods I plan on 8. No OD. My brothers 460 with FI and OD gets 9.

 

[BoringDave]

My 460 gets 6 loaded up. After some mods I plan on 8. No OD. My brothers 460 with FI and OD gets 9.

Yep mine gets that if I'm lucky.