Best way to find an IDI to buy?

[jayro88]

So I already have my '88 e250 IDI. This morning my wife decided to go deer hunting with her Sienna. Good news is we got some meat out of it, bad news is that her Sienna is high mileage (240,000) and may get totaled out.

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So we were discussing what to do. My 15yr old son gets his license in March and the original plan was to give him the Sienna and my wife would get something different.

Now the plan is to use the insurance money to by my son something. The wife will drive it until March. She has a summer toy to drive already, and then get a new DD come next winter. I was thinking that a 4wd IDI would be a good fit for my son. Not fast, durable, 4wd would be good for the snow. Leaning towards a non-single cab so he could taxi his 2 brothers around.....although not completely against a single cab.

So my question is this. What would be the best way to find the truck? I have looked on Craigslist, but that's it. I am willing to travel a ways for the right truck/deal. Price range is probably up to the $4000 range. Needs to be an immediate driver for the wife. In decent cosmetic shape. Ideas?

 

[snicklas]

I’d say Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. There are also a couple of IDI groups on Facebook that seem to always have something for sale.

Or, depending on how far you want to travel, put up a “wanted “ post on here and see is you can get an assist from some of our southern/western members. Get a nice rust free truck from down there....

But, the most important question. Is your wife ok? Being a van, it looks like it did is job and took the hit, and didn’t get into the cabin.

 

[jayro88]

I’d say Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. There are also a couple of IDI groups on Facebook that seem to always have something for sale.

Or, depending on how far you want to travel, put up a “wanted “ post on here and see is you can get an assist from some of our southern/western members. Get a nice rust free truck from down there....

But, the most important question. Is your wife ok? Being a van, it looks like it did is job and took the hit, and didn’t get into the cabin.

Thanks.

Yes, the wife is okay. Just a little shaken up.

She was more upset because the Sheriff had to shoot the deer since it had broken legs etc.

If we go this route i may post. I am fine with a road trip to get a vehicle. Probably load it on a trailer and haul it back with my IDI.

 

[whiteboyslo]

Generally i would say CL, but I actually found mine on eBay. It was local, so I met the guy and gave him a number. He initally said no but changed his tune after the eBay ad went nowhere.

Mike

 

[Thewespaul]

Here’s what I do, most posts are vague and very few use idi as a keyword in their ad.

So on Craigslist I will set it up so it searches the entire state for “ford diesel” and limit the max year for 1994.

 

[towcat]

i've brokered many deals where the out-of-state and a couple non-US buyers have done the initial search and was satisfied with the conversation to send me after the vehicle. I get money wired to me ahead of time and then I bring it back to my place and go through as much or as little as the buyer wants to ensure an uneventful trip back to where they are from or ready and delivered to a freight forwarder for export. Ironically, my best customers aren't from OB, they're from a 1st Gen Dodge forum who I'm not even a member of. Those critters are really hard to come by, even out here. Back where they live, they flat-out don't exist, for any price.

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[jwalterus]

Those critters are really hard to come by, even out here.

That's funny.
Around here, you can't hardly go to a store without seeing one with a for sale sign.
https://www.bismanonline.com/harvey_nd/91_d_250_cummins_a

 

[jayro88]

Thank for the pointers. We will have to see what the insurance says on Monday.

Then decide for sure on what we are doing.

 

[Cubey]

I got my 87 6.9 NA just south of Ft Worth for $2500 off Craigslist, with a recently rebuilt transmission.

It was immediately drivable but I’ve spent more than I paid for it in parts and repairs in less than a year.

I rebuilt the whole front end myself, except the alignment. Other stuff I have done myself include alternator, vacuum pump, glow plugs, brake master cylinder, rear wheel seal, air filter, steering gearbox (used junk but doesn’t leak like the one it had). It needs v-belts soon too. It all ads up.

I used all high quality moog problem solver front end parts and good Monroe shocks so that drove up cost.

I had to pay shops to do the differential ($1600), driveshaft carrier bearing ($277) and starter (about $300).

 

[Sidewinded_idi]

I got my 87 6.9 NA just south of Ft Worth for $2500 off Craigslist, with a recently rebuilt transmission.

It was immediately drivable but I’ve spent more than I paid for it in parts and repairs in less than a year.

I rebuilt the whole front end myself, except the alignment. Other stuff I have done myself include alternator, vacuum pump, glow plugs, brake master cylinder, rear wheel seal, air filter, steering gearbox (used junk but doesn’t leak like the one it had). It needs v-belts soon too. It all ads up.

I used all high quality moog problem solver front end parts and good Monroe shocks so that drove up cost.

I had to pay shops to do the differential ($1600), driveshaft carrier bearing ($277) and starter (about $300).

Should’ve just bought a whole rear! I got one on eBay for 320 shipped complete

 

[towcat]

That's funny.
Around here, you can't hardly go to a store without seeing one with a for sale sign.
https://www.bismanonline.com/harvey_nd/91_d_250_cummins_a

that's a 2wd. any ext cab 4x4's?

 

[Cubey]

Yeah I should have probably. Thing is too, after they tore it apart they went up from their original $1000 verbal estimate. Not much you can do at that point.

 

[satx78247]

jayro88,

GLAD to hear that your wife is OK. - Vehicles can be easily replaced.

There are LOTS of very low mileage & even one-owner IDI trucks here in South TX. = I've bought 3 of them in the last 4 years.
(I'm about to buy a 1990 2WD F250 with ZF & 161,000 miles out of an estate sale, to replace the PU that was stolen for 2200 bucks.)

Frankly, I don't need a 4WD, as I've been "stuck" exactly ONCE in 2 decades & in that case it took a big/diesel tractor to get me out of the hole.
(I dodged a Black Angus calf on our farm & went off into a deep hole.)

Take a look at craigslist.com for San Antonio & nearby areas & you'll likely see a suitable & rust-free IDI for 3,000.oo or less.
(IF you want me to look around for you, send me a PM.)

BEST WISHES on your search, satx

 

[jayro88]

jayro88,

GLAD to hear that your wife is OK. - Vehicles can be easily replaced.

There are LOTS of very low mileage & even one-owner IDI trucks here in South TX. = I've bought 3 of them in the last 4 years.
(I'm about to buy a 1990 2WD F250 with 161,000 miles out of an estate sale, to replace the PU that was stolen for 2200 bucks.)

Frankly, I don't need a 4WD, as I've been "stuck" exactly ONCE in 2 decades & in that case it took a big/diesel tractor to get me out of the hole.
(I dodged a Black Angus calf on our farm & went off into a deep hole.)

Take a look at craigslist.com for San Antonio & nearby areas & you'll likely see a suitable & rust-free IDI for 3,000.oo or less.
(IF you want me to look around for you, send me a PM.)

BEST WISHES on your search, satx

My parents live in San Antonio. Maybe combine a visit with a truck pickup. I have seen quite a few 2wd that look nice in the range that I am looking. My van does fine in the snow, just not sure how a younger driver would do with a 2wd truck in the ice and snow.

Still gotta think on it a bit.

 

[oregon96psd]

Is Idaho too far?
I'm going to try and get rid of this one again, it was a daily/backup until about a year ago and it's been sitting in the backyard since then. The other side has a couple primer spots from some rust repair, and the front fenders don't quite match anymore....a little lighter shade of brown. Runs and drives good though.

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