Read a interesting thread on Diesel Stop, IDI 7.3 , 7.3 turbo rated best.

[Ruger_556]

to those who think it's easy.here's a good read you'll enjoy.
(very recent/current thread.guy's down while diesel techs trace 6.7l psd electrical problem for weeks!!)
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1269499-at-the-dealership-for-35-days-now.html

it's real hard to beat the legendary 7.3l idi.for my neck of the woods,the speed limits hold the psd's to work right along with the idi's anyway.so in n/a form they may not haul the mail up the grades,but they'll always reach the top.

Re-read above posts... No one said Cam-bus or module failures were easy. But the dealership obviously hasn't trained their techs properly on the 6.7... Seems to me more like downright incompetence on the part of the dealer.

 

[Moretorque]

With the proper tools finding a short is easy could be time consuming due to large amount of wires but easy all the same.

That is what he was saying, he worked on these trucks all day every day for a living and he said they could be time consuming to fix with electrical problems on the newer engines and the test gear could only take you so far. He just was saying they flat out had the best luck with the old Ford diesel and was basically saying it wasn't even close. $ for $ they were the best bang for the buck for a work vehicle. He felt the mechanical setups were less trouble over all.

I thought I tagged it, it was on diesel stop. I will again try and find it.

 

[jhnlennon]

We do realize that we are mostly talking about stone age technology here right?

First off, when it comes to work trucks, I dont know any business that is running trucks that are much older than 10 years old, much less IDI's and 1st gen powerstrokes. Up here, a vehicle is getting rotted out and shot by the 10 year year mark and turned over to beater status. Appearance starts to become a factor if your running a reputable business.

Secondly, an old vehicle is just that. Old is old, and any profitable business can not afford down time, which is why the need for replacement.

Those two facts really make the IDI or even a first gen powerstroke, not the best work truck any longer. They do, however, make great trucks for enthusiasts, or an around the house get stuff done truck. They are affordable which makes them a prime canidate for the do-it yourselfer who has more mechanical ability than money.

 

[towcat]

We do realize that we are mostly talking about stone age technology here right?

First off, when it comes to work trucks, I dont know any business that is running trucks that are much older than 10 years old, much less IDI's and 1st gen powerstrokes. Up here, a vehicle is getting rotted out and shot by the 10 year year mark and turned over to beater status. Appearance starts to become a factor if your running a reputable business.

Secondly, an old vehicle is just that. Old is old, and any profitable business can not afford down time, which is why the need for replacement.

Those two facts really make the IDI or even a first gen powerstroke, not the best work truck any longer. They do, however, make great trucks for enthusiasts, or an around the house get stuff done truck. They are affordable which makes them a prime canidate for the do-it yourselfer who has more mechanical ability than money.

put your money where your mouth is.
I am still fielding a viable towing company with the same trucks you are putting out to the pasture.
I will be forced by the the state of kalifornia to upgrade my fleet next year to a truck that spends more time in a shop than these trucks have ever done so.

 

[Moretorque]

We do realize that we are mostly talking about stone age technology here right?

First off, when it comes to work trucks, I dont know any business that is running trucks that are much older than 10 years old, much less IDI's and 1st gen powerstrokes. Up here, a vehicle is getting rotted out and shot by the 10 year year mark and turned over to beater status. Appearance starts to become a factor if your running a reputable business.

Secondly, an old vehicle is just that. Old is old, and any profitable business can not afford down time, which is why the need for replacement.

Those two facts really make the IDI or even a first gen powerstroke, not the best work truck any longer. They do, however, make great trucks for enthusiasts, or an around the house get stuff done truck. They are affordable which makes them a prime canidate for the do-it yourselfer who has more mechanical ability than money.

Your not quit on Q, allot of the companies seem to be going back to gas because the new diesels are overly complex expensive pieces of junk. They can build a direct injected motor without all the complex electrical systems. As to weather it is EPA compliant is another story. Use your eyes and look around you, this whole economy is going under from vehicles that cost 60 to 70 thousand and several thou every time you open the hood.

Companies are going broke and new trucks are part of the problem that sum up our whole situation in America today. When I looked at the prices of new trucks I about died the other day. You are right about the stone ages and I prefer the pricing better in those days.

 

[Moretorque]

put your money where your mouth is.
I am still fielding a viable towing company with the same trucks you are putting out to the pasture.
I will be forced by the the state of kalifornia to upgrade my fleet next year to a truck that spends more time in a shop than these trucks have ever done so.

This is a hit job on free and open markets by the communist Marxist gang which is the Federal Reserve banking cartel, they control the world for the most part with their fake money system.

 

[Lithgow]

Towcat, why are they forcing you to upgrade your vehicles next year?

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

put your money where your mouth is.
I am still fielding a viable towing company with the same trucks you are putting out to the pasture.
I will be forced by the the state of kalifornia to upgrade my fleet next year to a truck that spends more time in a shop than these trucks have ever done so.

im with ya brother.i run a very reputable tree service using an idi truck and just added another.$ for $ they can't be beat,however it does take a key factor jhnlennon states; mechanical ability.
the engines don't need anything,but it's work to bring and keep the trucks up around 'em lol.
but what ya gunna do? one single repair on a new one,could cover the entire cost and then some for a whole idi truck,so there's no way you can't beat 'em as long as we do our own wrenching.
thats a real shame what Cali is doing to you guys out there.you don't foresee any workarounds/grandfather clause at all?

 

[Moretorque]

Private industry is being destroyed on purpose in this country, if you have not seen what the bankers who are running the show want to do to America pull up a map UN 21 and take a look for yourself.

 

[jhnlennon]

put your money where your mouth is.
I am still fielding a viable towing company with the same trucks you are putting out to the pasture.
I will be forced by the the state of kalifornia to upgrade my fleet next year to a truck that spends more time in a shop than these trucks have ever done so.

Number one, you actually have vehicles available to you that arent rusted out and beat down by an ever changing climate. Trucks that see highway service on a daily basis in Wisconsin are pretty much at the end of their useful service life at the 10 yr/200k markfor the simple fact that they are literally rusted out. And two, you have tremendous resources and mechanical ability.

Your situation is not the norm, rather the exception. Trust me, Ive dealt with companies and cost metrics, and your not gonna be able to sell them on the idea that maintaining old is cheaper than buying new. Its not just maintainence costs, its downtime that could cost companies tremendous money if not entire contracts.

 

[icanfixall]

the same engine towcat uses in his tow fleet is whats being outlawed lawed on cali roads but.. that same engine exactly in ass than 15,000 gross weight rig like any f 350 rig is ok... for now as its been said many times. i will bet by 2020 not one idi will be on any cali roads. fortunately i will be long dead by then. to those making these moonbeam laws here in cali i say pound sand fella. your no friend of the working man and i hope you all get colon cancer....

 

[jhnlennon]

Your not quit on Q, allot of the companies seem to be going back to gas because the new diesels are overly complex expensive pieces of junk. They can build a direct injected motor without all the complex electrical systems. As to weather it is EPA compliant is another story. Use your eyes and look around you, this whole economy is going under from vehicles that cost 60 to 70 thousand and several thou every time you open the hood.

Companies are going broke and new trucks are part of the problem that sum up our whole situation in America today. When I looked at the prices of new trucks I about died the other day. You are right about the stone ages and I prefer the pricing better in those days.

First of all, the whole everyone is going back to gas powered trucks just isnt true. That was all hype started back in the 6.0 liter days by pissed off customers and internet jockeys. All the big three still have tremendous sales in the diesel truck market. In fact, dodge just released a half ton diesel option, and Nissan has plans to do he same shortly. Diesel still sells, quite well actually. According to this article, http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2012/163_news120418_diesel_auto_sales_increase/ diesels account for over 50% of new 3/4 and 1 ton trucks sold, with consecutive monthly gains year to year. Its also interesting to note that diesel powered automobile sales in general were above the board with continual annual growth, and starting to exceed hybrid sales. Diesel is here to stay.

As far as the state of the economy goes, it has much more to do with poor consumer decisions, and lack of regulation of the stock market than it has to do with the price of automobiles.

And I have looked around, and I find the real problem is with the people themselves. They are unwilling to change with the times and keep trying to re-live some iconic image of the past that never really existed to begin with. I know of several companies, off hand, that are doing INCREDIABLY WELL right now, and its because they got with the program. The whole economy isnt doing badly, just the sector that isnt willing to do anything about it.

 

[Moretorque]

First of all, the whole everyone is going back to gas powered trucks just isnt true. That was all hype started back in the 6.0 liter days by pissed off customers and internet jockeys. All the big three still have tremendous sales in the diesel truck market. In fact, dodge just released a half ton diesel option, and Nissan has plans to do he same shortly. Diesel still sells, quite well actually. According to this article, http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2012/163_news120418_diesel_auto_sales_increase/ diesels account for over 50% of new 3/4 and 1 ton trucks sold, with consecutive monthly gains year to year. Its also interesting to note that diesel powered automobile sales in general were above the board with continual annual growth, and starting to exceed hybrid sales. Diesel is here to stay.

As far as the state of the economy goes, it has much more to do with poor consumer decisions, and lack of regulation of the stock market than it has to do with the price of automobiles.

And I have looked around, and I find the real problem is with the people themselves. They are unwilling to change with the times and keep trying to re-live some iconic image of the past that never really existed to begin with. I know of several companies, off hand, that are doing INCREDIABLY WELL right now, and its because they got with the program. The whole economy isnt doing badly, just the sector that isnt willing to do anything about it.

As long as you take contracts or work through companies on the Federal Reserve gravy troth! you are doing good, and that's about it.

Your just like that socialist ****** John Lennon.

 

[Moretorque]

the same engine towcat uses in his tow fleet is whats being outlawed lawed on cali roads but.. that same engine exactly in ass than 15,000 gross weight rig like any f 350 rig is ok... for now as its been said many times. i will bet by 2020 not one idi will be on any cali roads. fortunately i will be long dead by then. to those making these moonbeam laws here in cali i say pound sand fella. your no friend of the working man and i hope you all get colon cancer....

Have you seen the movie cancer is serious business 2010? you should take a look.

 

[Ruger_556]

As long as you take contracts or work through companies on the Federal reserve gravy troth! you are doing good, and that is about it.

Your just like that socialist ****** John Lennon.

What the heck are you talking about? Electronics are here to stay and those that got with the program early on are doing well It is a matter of time before IDI's are a thing of the past because of emissions. I believe Canada is planning on instituting a law that prohibits heavy trucks manufactured prior to 2009.