Buying a 1989 7.3 idi

[kevinbev123]

Im looking at buying a 1989 f250 7.3 idi non turbo and I don't know much about diesels so im trying not to get burned on it. The truck has 145k on it looks like its in good shape doesn't seem to be any rust or rot and the guys asking for 6k. It is a four speed with overdrive 4x4 regular cab, to me it seems like he is asking a lot but is that a fair price? Is there anything I should be looking out for? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[BrianX128]

Yes (click here)

 

[kevinbev123]

Thank you very much that helped a lot.

 

[BrianX128]

Not a problem. Each truck can present its own interesting circumstances so if you have specific questions feel free to ask, many know way more then I do, but the tech section has a lot of things you can learn just by reading through them.

 

[kevinbev123]

Okay thanks for your help what about the price does that seem steep or is it about average.

 

[BrianX128]

It all depends on how it looks and drives, honestly. Most of the important factors like was the coolant kept up with sac's (cavitation), how does it start when cold (glow plug system), how does it shift? Clutch wear / flywheel feel fine (dual mass flywheel issues).. Those are just a few things that are extremely important when looking at a truck with those miles and that setup.

If everyone of those issues is totally fine and the truck "looks" good, it might be ok. It could also be 3000$ too high. Some of it will always be in the eye of the beholder. Have any pictures of the truck / is it on Craigslist? More info can definitely help us to give better advice.

 

[kevinbev123]

https://reading.craigslist.org/cto/5608088761.html that's the craigslist post.

 

[nj_m715]

a plow frame normally means it had a hard life and extra exposure to salt/rust, but with the low miles it may have been a parking lot queen. To me it's a bit high for an old truck that's not super clean, but if I were you I'd take the max amount you are willing to pay and drive up there to kick the tires. It's not too far and you can stop to eat at shady maple

 

[MTKirk]

If that's a plow frame I would not pay anywhere near that money. Plow trucks idle and run at low speed for hours. Comparable wear for a highway runner would likely take twice as many miles. Unless he has receipts proving a rebuild, new injection pump, injectors etc, and he knows what SCA's are and has maintained them. I would not pay more than around $2500. You would likely be rebuilding EVERYTHING!

 

[IDIoit]

thats a 3000 dollar truck, max

 

[BrianX128]

I've bought two of my old fords of Craigslist (Ernest and Hank in sig), and one thing I can say in my experience is anyone who says in the ad that they don't need to sell now by any means and they are just putting it up to see what someone offers and no low balling blah blah all that b/s, are just trying to see if someone will give them that and they "get lucky" and cash out. Usually that's for a reason.

Best thing to do on Craigslist honestly is just find someone selling something because there's no further use. Either someone who retired or something or morbid as it may be if someone passed away. You have a better chance getting an honest story of the trucks history and a better value as well. My 250 the owners had a week to move to New Orleans for work and sold it to me for next to nothing and it's fine. My IDI an older guy had passed and no one in the family except for the son in law could drive a stick and he didn't want a diesel so they offered it to me for dirt cheap too. I actually tried to give them 300$ more because I felt bad and was fairly sure they weren't getting their money's worth out of it for the shape it was in but they wouldn't have it.

Granted I got extremely lucky in both cases, but, moral of the story from my view.. If you see anything of that verbiage with don't need to sell or just seeing what's out there or something just move on. Never goes well.

 

[chris142]

I paid $3100 for my 87 with 60000 miles on it and I thought I overpaid by about $500. But the lot would not budge

 

[mackmack]

I have see that truck on Craigslist before. That guy has been trying to sell it for a few months now.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

 

[kevinbev123]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, yeah the guy didn't seem like he'd budge on the price and I asked for more pictures of it before driving an hour and a half but he wouldn't send any. I found another one 86 6.9 for about the same price. Four speed with a wood bed looks clean from a little local dealer says it has 40k miles which I find hard to believe but it looks the the transfer case has a leak and one tires bald. Have you guys just been searching through craigslist until you find a good deal they seem impossible to find especially in my area.

 

[riotwarrior]

Well he is an idiot...as that is a 5sp zf not a 4sp w OD...****...

Plow frame says worked...

New oil pan...hmmm means engine pulled...did they use gasket or sealant only?

Just a new dizk n pp or flywheel too???

Too much hyperbole and posturing ...guys not wanting sell wants way to much....for to little a truck.

Son just scored 4x F350 93 5sp for 4 k canadian...