Essay on People with (IDI'S) in Thier Late Teens Early 20s

CharlesAllan9073

Registered User
Joined
Jun 10, 2018
Posts
13
Reaction score
14
Location
white hall MD
hey im a new member. ive used the threads many times for help with my truck and I appreciate the help ive gotten. im currently have a 1990 f250 on its way to transitioning into a 1ton. but im doing an essay on people in my concourse group (people in my age group also driving/building IDI's).

Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo?

do you daily drive it?

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with?

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage?

do you use your truck for work or recreation?

and anything else you think would go good in an essay of things that would put us in the same group

thank you
 

Thatoneguy

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Posts
615
Reaction score
130
Location
Boerne, Texas
Well I'm 24. I use my truck for work work and more work. It's my toy too but whenever I'm not working I drive the wife's car cuz it's cheaper. Can't think of any bad experiences I've had with shops, cuz I rarely go to one. All my maintenance and repairs are done by me.
 

79jasper

Chickenhawk
Joined
Oct 13, 2012
Posts
17,367
Reaction score
1,930
Location
Collinsville, Oklahoma
Your first question doesn't even make sense. N/A, pre-turbo, and powerstroke having absolutely nothing to do with each other. And a turbo idi is not a powerstroke.
Could you clarify?

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 

chillman88

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Posts
6,022
Reaction score
6,152
Location
Central NY
Your first question doesn't even make sense. N/A, pre-turbo, and powerstroke having absolutely nothing to do with each other. And a turbo idi is not a powerstroke.
Could you clarify?

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

Perhaps he means why would you choose an N/A IDI over a powerstroke? For me it was primarily cost of components. Injectors for the powerstroke are like 2-3 times more expensive.


I'm technically out of your age group, I'm high 20s lol!

I daily drive it, do all the maintenance and repair myself. So far the most frustrating thing I've had to deal with was fuel system problems. Between running out at 1/4 tank and my tank switch valve going bad on me, it's been frustrating. Everything likes to stop working in the winter!

I bought the truck to eventually haul a 5th wheel camper but I guess technically the answer to your question would be work. She's my tow pig.
 

FordGuy100

Registered User
Joined
Apr 1, 2006
Posts
8,749
Reaction score
282
Location
Silverton, OR
I daily drove mine from 16-21 years old until my commute made it so it wasn't financially smart to do so over a commuter car.

IDI's are less expensive, which is a big factor for the younger crowd. I'd wager thats the reason why you would see a young person in one vs a newer Powerstroke, Cummins, or Duramax. There will be those who like the simplicity, but the vast majority of it will boil down to funds.

They are easier to work on, and less expensive generally.
 

no mufflers

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Posts
2,238
Reaction score
1,087
Location
rhode island
I have a lot of people who get confused with a 7.3 idi turbo and a PSD. for some reason when I say I turboed a 7.3 it becomes a PSD.cookoo

Anyway.... I'm 24, and do ALL the work to my truck. I have a few build threads on here. I do automotive repair so over time I have bought more equipment so I can almost do everything I need to.
 

IDIBRONCO

IDIBRONCO
Joined
Feb 5, 2010
Posts
12,235
Reaction score
10,925
Location
edmond, ks
Most of the ones I run into don't know the difference period. Turbo or no turbo. They don't realize that Ford had two TOTALLY different diesel engines in their trucks with the same 7.3L displacement. My latest experience was with a neighbor with a 6.0 PSD. I pointed at his Explorer and said that a 7.3PSD is like the engine in your Explorer, all computer controlled. Then I pointed to my 81 F150 with a 302 and told him that my 7.3IDI was like that engine with no computer controls at all. He didn't seem completely convinced so, remembering that he's a OTR truck driver, I told him that my engine has an injector pump. I think he finally understood after that.
 

Golden Helmet

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2015
Posts
498
Reaction score
323
Location
Monterey County, California
hey im a new member. ive used the threads many times for help with my truck and I appreciate the help ive gotten. im currently have a 1990 f250 on its way to transitioning into a 1ton. but im doing an essay on people in my concourse group (people in my age group also driving/building IDI's).

Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo?

do you daily drive it?

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with?

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage?

do you use your truck for work or recreation?

and anything else you think would go good in an essay of things that would put us in the same group

thank you
Just going in order:

1: Each of those engines has their own pro's and con's. My truck is NA and I like it because you can get to all 8 injectors and glowplugs with ease, but I wouldn't say no to a turbo IDI. The Powerstroke is an entirely different animal and I wouldn't say no to one of those either, but given the choice I'd pick an IDI over a PSD because the parts are cheaper and you can do most of the work yourself.

2: Yup, unless it's like 105* outside, my AC doesn't work so on those days I borrow a Chevy LOL

3: Some jobs I do myself, like changing my water pump, alternator, radiator, easy stuff like that. Jobs that require special techniques and tools (like timing), or just raw muscle are the ones I let the shop or specialists deal with. I am very much an amateur when it comes to wrenching. Things like oil changes I CAN do myself, but I prefer to just pay the $20 for the local shop to do it because changing oil on my driveway in the wind sucks. These trucks are very easy to work on, so for me the only frustrating thing is just not having a work bench, garage, or space to work with, and working in the constant wind is aggravating, but that's not the truck's fault.

4: I've had bad experiences with garages over jobs that aren't diesel related, but when I've needed the engine itself worked on, I took the time to find shops / people that actually know what they're doing, so I've never had a bad experience with a diesel mechanic. I did call one shop (Left Coast Diesel, for anyone curious) to try and get the timing checked / adjusted, and the guy told me they'd have to pull the whole front cover to align the gears and etc etc etc, I tried to tell them that's not what my truck needs and they insisted that it did, and told me they had a '96 OBS in there for the same job I wanted. I tried explaining that the 7.3 IDI isn't related at all to the 7.3 PSD, but the guy had no clue what I was talking about so I took that as my clue to find another shop :D

5: Both. It's my daily driver and my road trip machine, but I also use it for jobs around the house or around the shop (dump runs, tree trimming, gravel hauling, etc). It's not a work truck, it just occasionally has to work.

As far as extra credit, one thing that might be worth mentioning is what condition was the truck in when it was bought. Over and over again here, you can see people buying trucks that have been sitting for 5-10 years or more, trucks that their owners thought were worn out and dead, which in reality only needed a new fuel pump or return kit to make it run brand new again. A lot of IDI's get retired because of very minor issues, so that can make them appealing and affordable to people who want to learn the basics of wrenching on a very simple engine.

edit: forgot to add, I bought my truck when I was 23, I'm 28 now. Forgot I'm not in my "early twenties" anymore LOL
 
Last edited:

david85

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Posts
4,820
Reaction score
1,083
Location
Campbell River, B.C.
Welcome to the forum.

Got mine in my early 20s and still have it now that I'm in my early 30s.

There is nothing on this truck that I cannot repair. Except maybe for a cummins 12V, you cannot find a simpler, more reliable, fuel efficient diesel engine with such a low cost of ownership that can actually work for a living.

I used my truck almost exclusively for work as a tradesman when I was in my 20s. Then I went to trades college, found work in heavy industry and used it to commute to remote work locations for shift work. Next job was fly-in fly-out, so the truck stayed close to home and was semi-retired. After a 2 year restoration, it returned to active duty as my daily driver to my current job.

As to your specific questions; See my replies marked in red.


hey im a new member. ive used the threads many times for help with my truck and I appreciate the help ive gotten. im currently have a 1990 f250 on its way to transitioning into a 1ton. but im doing an essay on people in my concourse group (people in my age group also driving/building IDI's).

Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo? Its much easier to make a turbocharged IDI, then to make a mechanical powerstroke .

do you daily drive it? Yes, but not usually.

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with? Yes. For basic maintenance? Hmm...The alternator location was poorly thought out. It blocks easy access to the thermostat housing and also requires a very long V-belt that can be prone to premature failure. Only applies to 1991 and older models.

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage? Not directly, but friends and family certainly have. Ultimately, nobody touches my truck but me. Partly because of choice, but also because few shops would know how to properly troubleshoot such an old setup.

do you use your truck for work or recreation? Both.

and anything else you think would go good in an essay of things that would put us in the same group See comments above

thank you
 

Macrobb

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2016
Posts
2,380
Reaction score
1,234
Location
North Idaho
First, I'm 27 now. I've been driving these trucks since before I turned 18. (learned on a '88 F-250 5-speed).
Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo?
Somewhat contradictory; IDIs may be turbocharged.
My daily driver(s) do have a turbocharger(and lots more fuel). Currently one is a factory turbo engine/turbo and the other is a N/A engine with Banks turbo.
A 7.3 IDI is stronger off idle than a 7.3 PSD - they are pretty anemic until they build boost. I much prefer my IDIs due to ease of working on(no computer **** needed), and the cost is a small fraction of a PSD.
My two daily drivers are easily making more power(to the wheels) than a stock 7.3 PSD in any case.

do you daily drive it?
Yup. I drive mine to work and shopping, haul trailers, move stuff and generally work my truck(s) quite a bit.

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with?
Yes, I do.
Probably the most frustrating part is doing ball joints on one of these, if you don't have the proper tools. You need a ball joint press, big hammer and a nice impact wrench.
I have a 20V DeWalt 1/2 impact wrench that makes like 1,000ft-lbs of torque. This is absolutely amazing for doing major work on one of these - pulling a cross member takes just a few minutes, most of which is getting the socket into position.

Another frustrating maintenance item is the #5 and #7 glow plug on a Factory/ATS turbo setup. They are "under" the turbo and really hard to get to. On a Banks turbo setup, it's nowhere near as bad. On a N/A setup, it's really easy.

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage?
I've never taken my trucks to any diesel shop - nobody knows anything about them in any case. I did have a performance engine shop rebuild a 7.3 IDI for me, and they screwed it up - one head had .010" too little valve recession clearance, and every single valve touched every single piston on that side. I found out about it when the #1 exhaust guide was totally gone from the valve being shoved up by the piston, to the point that it had a good .06" of clearance around it.
do you use your truck for work or recreation?
Both. I don't use it as part of my day job(except as transportation), but use it regularly in terms of "work" - projects and the like.
Recreation - Slapped a camper on it last year and took a week-long trip.
 

jwalterus

Made in America
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Posts
2,550
Reaction score
716
Location
Garrison, ND
Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo? simplicity

do you daily drive it? did until last fall, parking's a PITA in a CCLB

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with? yes and parts store hours, cost of parts/tires when I was younger

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage? I'd have to go to a shop first

do you use your truck for work or recreation? yes

and anything else you think would go good in an essay of things that would put us in the same group: title it "the life of the B.O.O.B." and see what your teacher says LOL

I misread your OP, I'm not exactly in your age group lol

Stupid phone.....
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
91,217
Posts
1,128,479
Members
24,045
Latest member
Ramtough01
Top