SnoFord
Registered User
Hey fellow Oilburners,
I live up in Washington State and just recently purchased a '86 F250 Ext Cab, 4x4, with the 6.9 IDI, C6 Auto, it has a ATS turbo on it, and is straight piped with a 5" exhaust stack . I thought I was buying a good running truck (the odo says 89k but the PO didn't know what the mileage was for sure), it test drove fine (that freaking exhaust stack with the sound of the turbo coming through the exhaust had me all love sick), but of course I stupidly didn't have a shop check it out (I was a long way from home and thought I knew what I was doing, dumb). I bought it and then after I drove it for a couple of weeks I noticed it was getting bad gas mileage and was smoking even when it wasn't under load. I also noticed that the engine temp light came on, but there wasn't anything too serious happening. I decided to take it to a local Diesel shop to have them give me their analysis. Here is what they said: "Coolant is very rusty and can see air bubbles in the over flow bottle. Cooling system is over pressurizing, radiator is leaking from a previously repaired spot on bottom side of radiator. Removed oil cap and found an extreme amount of blow by. Engine is very tired and has blown head gaskets. Needs new engine." After I left the shop the truck overheated and there was a loud pop (I was trying to limp it home, the temp gauge stopped working, the heater wouldn't blow hot air). I got it towed home.
Thankfully I really like this truck and I am not into it for a lot of money, which means I could put some more time and money into it and have a great truck. So I have some questions I am hoping you folks can help answer:
- I found another motor for $500, it is already pulled from the donor truck so I can't hear it run. Should I go for this or wait for a motor that I can actually hear run? Also the seller doesn't know the mileage but says the guy he got it from ran Amsoil in it and had 2 remote filters on it (I assume fuel filters). He said he heard it run and it started right up. He said he compression tested it and it has good compression. I have to assume he wouldn't have went through all of the work to pull it if it wasn't a good motor?
-Is there anything I can look at on this motor to determine if it is going to be a good runner?
Thanks in advance for all of your help and I look forward to being a part of this online community!
I live up in Washington State and just recently purchased a '86 F250 Ext Cab, 4x4, with the 6.9 IDI, C6 Auto, it has a ATS turbo on it, and is straight piped with a 5" exhaust stack . I thought I was buying a good running truck (the odo says 89k but the PO didn't know what the mileage was for sure), it test drove fine (that freaking exhaust stack with the sound of the turbo coming through the exhaust had me all love sick), but of course I stupidly didn't have a shop check it out (I was a long way from home and thought I knew what I was doing, dumb). I bought it and then after I drove it for a couple of weeks I noticed it was getting bad gas mileage and was smoking even when it wasn't under load. I also noticed that the engine temp light came on, but there wasn't anything too serious happening. I decided to take it to a local Diesel shop to have them give me their analysis. Here is what they said: "Coolant is very rusty and can see air bubbles in the over flow bottle. Cooling system is over pressurizing, radiator is leaking from a previously repaired spot on bottom side of radiator. Removed oil cap and found an extreme amount of blow by. Engine is very tired and has blown head gaskets. Needs new engine." After I left the shop the truck overheated and there was a loud pop (I was trying to limp it home, the temp gauge stopped working, the heater wouldn't blow hot air). I got it towed home.
Thankfully I really like this truck and I am not into it for a lot of money, which means I could put some more time and money into it and have a great truck. So I have some questions I am hoping you folks can help answer:
- I found another motor for $500, it is already pulled from the donor truck so I can't hear it run. Should I go for this or wait for a motor that I can actually hear run? Also the seller doesn't know the mileage but says the guy he got it from ran Amsoil in it and had 2 remote filters on it (I assume fuel filters). He said he heard it run and it started right up. He said he compression tested it and it has good compression. I have to assume he wouldn't have went through all of the work to pull it if it wasn't a good motor?
-Is there anything I can look at on this motor to determine if it is going to be a good runner?
Thanks in advance for all of your help and I look forward to being a part of this online community!