Thoughts on a heavy hauler...

[salans7]

Gary, knowing the IDI is both a reason to get the F450 and also a reason to avoid it if that makes any sense. I will admit that I am judging a book by its cover, but in my experience from picking at these trucks in the junkyards, a truck that looks like this one on the outside usually has a very tired, oil puking engine under the hood that may also be ripe for cylinder wall cavitation if SCA’s have not been maintained. I have not seen it, and it may not be that way, but I probably wouldn’t risk the purchase at all without the running 6.9 in the parts truck I bought. The medium duty with 80K miles has a much heavier industrial grade engine, but is one that I know very little about. It’s the big brother to the 5.9 Cummins 12 valve, and is all mechanical, that’s about all I know. I also have not seen it, and the truck is a little rough on the outside also. If the 80K is accurate it has been a hard working 80K. It is just hard to ignore that it’s only a $900 price difference for the much heavier truck. I wish I could see the F450 first, but it’s not working out that way.

The good thing about the 1980-1999 F-Medium Duty trucks is they all have a bullnose dash and door panels.

[Ford F834]

The good thing about the 1980-1999 F-Medium Duty trucks is they all have a bullnose dash and door panels.

Indeed... although the instrument bezel is different...

I decided to read up a bit on the engine the guy thought was in the ‘92, and it can’t be an 8.3L. The two diesel options for 1992 were 5.9 12v Cummins turbo diesel and 6.6 New Holland / Ford turbo diesel. Both are good. I actually know more of the 6.6 as Justin had one he was going to stuff in his F250 and discussed it a fair bit. It’s another de-tuned “dog” that will run forever.

 

[swampedout]

The good thing about the 1980-1999 F-Medium Duty trucks is they all have a bullnose dash and door panels.

Indeed... although the instrument bezel is different...

I decided to read up a bit on the engine the guy thought was in the ‘92, and it can’t be an 8.3L. The two diesel options for 1992 were 5.9 12v Cummins turbo diesel and 6.6 New Holland / Ford turbo diesel. Both are good. I actually know more of the 6.6 as Justin had one he was going to stuff in his F250 and discussed it a fair bit. It’s another de-tuned “dog” that will run forever.

Like you said, one of the hard parts about buying this type of vehicle is that mileage isnt always the best indicator. If it was a company tru k, the operator or operators probably ran it as hard as they could because they wont be paying the shop bill.

Another helpful tool for making your tank more portable is a home made gantry crane. I got one in the works and love the prospect of lifting heavy objects

[Ford F834]

The good thing about the 1980-1999 F-Medium Duty trucks is they all have a bullnose dash and door panels.

Indeed... although the instrument bezel is different...

I decided to read up a bit on the engine the guy thought was in the ‘92, and it can’t be an 8.3L. The two diesel options for 1992 were 5.9 12v Cummins turbo diesel and 6.6 New Holland / Ford turbo diesel. Both are good. I actually know more of the 6.6 as Justin had one he was going to stuff in his F250 and discussed it a fair bit. It’s another de-tuned “dog” that will run forever.

I am going to go look at a 4th option today after work. Option #1 (the running IDI F450) the seller isn’t responsive. It’s not the end of the week yet but the lack of communication isn’t encouraging. I am flipping between spending more on something that’s ready to go (and crossing my fingers that expensive problems don’t crop up) and buying something cheap and spending the balance getting it where I want... this is a low-buck option:

This ‘95 F450 was a 460 truck that had a 5.9 Cummins put in it. The Cummins has been removed, and the rest of the truck is being sold for $750. The idea would be to drop in the running 6.9 IDI that I have. There are a lot of potential draw backs to this truck but I think it’s worth the 2 hr. drive to go have a look. I have a quote from a reputable towing company at $400 if I can wait for an empty truck returning from Vegas.

[1986F150Six]

I am going to go look at a 4th option today after work. Option #1 (the running IDI F450) the seller isn’t responsive. It’s not the end of the week yet but the lack of communication isn’t encouraging. I am flipping between spending more on something that’s ready to go (and crossing my fingers that expensive problems don’t crop up) and buying something cheap and spending the balance getting it where I want... this is a low-buck option:

This ‘95 F450 was a 460 truck that had a 5.9 Cummins put in it. The Cummins has been removed, and the rest of the truck is being sold for $750. The idea would be to drop in the running 6.9 IDI that I have. There are a lot of potential draw backs to this truck but I think it’s worth the 2 hr. drive to go have a look. I have a quote from a reputable towing company at $400 if I can wait for an empty truck returning from Vegas.

You can pull this off, Jonathan! Go to see it and take cash... maybe they will take less? Every little bit [saved] would help with the transportation.

Would you sell the utility bed? If so, that would help with the price.

[Gary Lewis]

I am going to go look at a 4th option today after work. Option #1 (the running IDI F450) the seller isn’t responsive. It’s not the end of the week yet but the lack of communication isn’t encouraging. I am flipping between spending more on something that’s ready to go (and crossing my fingers that expensive problems don’t crop up) and buying something cheap and spending the balance getting it where I want... this is a low-buck option:

This ‘95 F450 was a 460 truck that had a 5.9 Cummins put in it. The Cummins has been removed, and the rest of the truck is being sold for $750. The idea would be to drop in the running 6.9 IDI that I have. There are a lot of potential draw backs to this truck but I think it’s worth the 2 hr. drive to go have a look. I have a quote from a reputable towing company at $400 if I can wait for an empty truck returning from Vegas.

I'm with David - I think it is a viable option. You have the drivetrain to put in. And you could probably sell the utility bed.

But, will you have to then make a flat bed? Or?

[Ford F834]

I'm with David - I think it is a viable option. You have the drivetrain to put in. And you could probably sell the utility bed.

But, will you have to then make a flat bed? Or?

Thanks guys! I think it is viable... and yes, I will probably attempt to sell the utility bed. That would leave me needing a flatbed, but I can make one, or perhaps pick one up at a junkyard, or see if anyone wants to trade. I consider the bed it has to be in the “con” column, but at least it does have some value.

My concerns are how well was the Cummins install done, and what all might I run into converting it to idi. If it is butchered or heavily modified that could be a deal breaker.

The other issue for me is that I will not have an Aeronose IDI core support. I will need to source one, or fabricate one using the bricknose core support as a donor for the drop down. I could front clip swap it, but that’s a whole other can of worms.

The EFI 460 wiring won’t do me any favors either, but all I absolutely have to do to run the IDI is one wire to the FSS and manual glow plugs (and the starter and alternator of course). If I want everything to work as factory, then I would need an Aeronose IDI harness, or dash swap and use the Bullnose IDI harness that I just pulled today. But that’s an even bigger can o’ worms.

This truck currrntly has a Gtrag 5 speed in it. I don’t know if it would jive with a 6.9 bellhousing, but I read it isn’t a great transmission. It’s inferior to the NV4500, which in turn is inferior to the ZF. It does not have a driveline brake. They guy said it has a line lock instead. So I will need to excercise some creativity getting the driveline in place.

More later this evening after I have a look.

[Ford F834]

Thanks guys! I think it is viable... and yes, I will probably attempt to sell the utility bed. That would leave me needing a flatbed, but I can make one, or perhaps pick one up at a junkyard, or see if anyone wants to trade. I consider the bed it has to be in the “con” column, but at least it does have some value.

My concerns are how well was the Cummins install done, and what all might I run into converting it to idi. If it is butchered or heavily modified that could be a deal breaker.

The other issue for me is that I will not have an Aeronose IDI core support. I will need to source one, or fabricate one using the bricknose core support as a donor for the drop down. I could front clip swap it, but that’s a whole other can of worms.

The EFI 460 wiring won’t do me any favors either, but all I absolutely have to do to run the IDI is one wire to the FSS and manual glow plugs (and the starter and alternator of course). If I want everything to work as factory, then I would need an Aeronose IDI harness, or dash swap and use the Bullnose IDI harness that I just pulled today. But that’s an even bigger can o’ worms.

This truck currrntly has a Gtrag 5 speed in it. I don’t know if it would jive with a 6.9 bellhousing, but I read it isn’t a great transmission. It’s inferior to the NV4500, which in turn is inferior to the ZF. It does not have a driveline brake. They guy said it has a line lock instead. So I will need to excercise some creativity getting the driveline in place.

More later this evening after I have a look.

Folks, the purchase was made and the 95 F-Superduty will be delivered Saturday. I found a company who will move it for $350.

There is a lot of bad news with this truck, and I almost walked away from it... but these three things sold me:

1. The seller had recently been driving it every day. It hasn’t been sitting very long at all.

2. The wheelbase is 137”, only 4” longer than a regular pickup. Many are much longer, and for me shorter is better.

3. The axle gears are 4.63’s (not 5.13’s). That is plenty of gear for what I need to move and will help keep the revs down on the 6.9L.

Some of the bad news is the service bed is only 48” between the tool boxes. The water tank won’t fit as-is. The bed will have to come off before I can haul water. The bed isn’t in the greatest shape, and won’t be worth a lot, but it looks like it will fit a standard 8’ bed truck which will make it easier to sell. As I suspected, the Cummins swap butchery was pretty bad. The top of the core support is cut, welded, now cut again for engine removal. The instrument cluster is gone and replaced with all aftermarket gauges. Interesting things have been done to the wiring to run the CTD alternator etc., this is going to be a big project and I am going to need help. I will post more pics and details later, in the form of a project thread.

[Gary Lewis]

Folks, the purchase was made and the 95 F-Superduty will be delivered Saturday. I found a company who will move it for $350.

There is a lot of bad news with this truck, and I almost walked away from it... but these three things sold me:

1. The seller had recently been driving it every day. It hasn’t been sitting very long at all.

2. The wheelbase is 137”, only 4” longer than a regular pickup. Many are much longer, and for me shorter is better.

3. The axle gears are 4.63’s (not 5.13’s). That is plenty of gear for what I need to move and will help keep the revs down on the 6.9L.

Some of the bad news is the service bed is only 48” between the tool boxes. The water tank won’t fit as-is. The bed will have to come off before I can haul water. The bed isn’t in the greatest shape, and won’t be worth a lot, but it looks like it will fit a standard 8’ bed truck which will make it easier to sell. As I suspected, the Cummins swap butchery was pretty bad. The top of the core support is cut, welded, now cut again for engine removal. The instrument cluster is gone and replaced with all aftermarket gauges. Interesting things have been done to the wiring to run the CTD alternator etc., this is going to be a big project and I am going to need help. I will post more pics and details later, in the form of a project thread.

Well, congrats? Or Congrats!!! Not sure which.

But, your plan is to put the running gear from the truck that you bought recently in this one. Right?

As for the tank, what kind of a cradle does it need? No chance the utility bed could serve as that, with a platform in the middle for the tank to sit on?

[Ford F834]

Well, congrats? Or Congrats!!! Not sure which.

But, your plan is to put the running gear from the truck that you bought recently in this one. Right?

As for the tank, what kind of a cradle does it need? No chance the utility bed could serve as that, with a platform in the middle for the tank to sit on?

Thanks Gary, let the learning and entertainment begin as I pop open this can of worms!

The plan is indeed to use the engine/transmission from the red parts truck. I may opt to use a 460 ZF instead of the diesel one, but that, too, is something I already have. The DNE2 will be my chosen method of turning the 4x4 transmission into a 2wd .

The service bed is around a foot too narrow, so I don’t think there is any way to make that work. The tank is pill shaped, but has a built in integral fiberglass base. It just needs something flat to sit on and some good straps.