Any OBS/IDI Ford Guys here?

[Night goat]

I got a 93 F250 7.3IDI 4wd XLT factory turbo that I'm in love with, I've done extensive work to her, and found her with 78,000 miles on the engine, for me she's basically a new truck, but has some quirks and thought I'd see who else is rocking one of these old beasts.

For me, sure there are better trucks out there, she doesn't make that much power, isn't fast, although you can get froggy with her on the dirt roads, but I'm never going to tow anything huge, I just wanted something beefier than a half ton, that you can drive forever, with no def, no computers etc... for me investing in a 100% mechanical truck I was a solid choice- but wanna see who else thinks this way and pick some brains

[Fastass350]

I agree hundred percent. I have an 85 standard cab 6.9, 5 speed swapped sitting on 40’s. Ice replaced the body once after rolling it, this one’s getting rusted out so it’s time to do it again. It’s more of a woods truck but sometimes I use it for work pulling my mini around. I also have a 94 f350 dually with a dump flatbed and the power stroke, in all reality that truck doesn’t pull my mini much different than my idi.

[Vek]

I've owned five of these...four on purpose (manual transmissions) and one inherited from FIL (auto).  The auto 6.9 is a pig, and the rest were merely slow. 

The first '84 6.9 nonturbo with 4-speed and 4.10 gears wouldn't go faster than 65 or so due to gearing.  I added a usgear overdrive that helped a little but not worth the complication. 

The second '89 F250 x-cab with 3.55s and 5-speed was a good highway cruiser and turned pretty useful when I added a hypermax turbo. 

The third '86 F250 x-cab came with hypermax turbo and intercooler, but was less of a freeway cruiser since it didn't have overdrive but still had 3.55s so it would go 75 if needed.  Not a bad rig. 

The '90 crewcab F350 was a great rig.  Top of the heap.  Only complaint was no AC but most of it's life with me was spent in AK so no biggie there.  Should have kept that one.  4.10s, 5-speed, usgear overdrive from the first truck, hypermax turbo and intercooler...it pulled like a stock 7.3 powerstroke and ran down the road at 80mph like a champ.  Kingpin front axle and zero drama.  I replaced track arm bushings and sway bar bushings, and a new steering gear and tie rod arms...that rig went down the road straight as an arrow.  I drove that thing all over alaska without any issues whatsoever.  Wife sold it when I bought my current '99 CCLB with 6-speed, and I miss it.  The ZF5 drove way easier than the ZF6...lots easier for friends and wife.  I shoulda put a cummins in it. 

The '86 f250 x-cab from my FIL is a turd with 3.55s and c6 auto...but starts with the first turn of the key and is easy to use around the farm.  I have a zf5 in the barn for it...that would make it a viable rig if the entire front end wasn't wore out.  Need to do a superduty axle swap also rather than new springs/bushings/etc for the crappy IFS. 

In general if glow plugs and relay are good, they start with the turn of a key.  I've gotten used to the several seconds of cranking with my powerstroke and it's a bit surprising when the IDI kicks off with a touch of the key. 

The '99 7.3 is up to 466k miles, so I kinda have to keep driving it only to see how long it will go.  Might be a while.  I flog it pretty hard towing the boat up to vancouver island but otherwise it just putts around the county and takes me hunting. 

[Smokeploe]

Check out FORD TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS.  They have a lot of info in there dating back years!  I have helped and been helped many time.  There are a lot of guys there that still have you series of trucks and are willing to help. 

Smokeploe

[Martinhunter]

If you haven't already, check out the no b.s OBS show in Salem Or this summer. Awesome event! Over 500 OBS trucks.