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

IDIBRONCO

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In my defense, I did start working on these trucks when I was 23 and I developed my love for them at 20.
 

Mike_42

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Well I'm 18 and owned my 7.3 IDI E4OD for over a year now with an ats 088.

Id like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo? I prefer over PSD for simplicity and easy to work on and maintain, cheap to repair. Can do the same things a PSD can, just slower.

do you daily drive it? Yes

do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with? Myself, yes. Fuel problems are the most frustrating, be it air intrusion, bad fuel pump or IP.

have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage? Don't trust any shop.

do you use your truck for work or recreation? No
 

Dieselpowerking

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I had my first idi at 16 loved it drove it for 2 years before it blew the head gasket and got rid of it. Then I ended going to college became a diesel mechanic and ended up in a 6.0 powerstroke. I really enjoyed it til all the problems came one after another. So I sold it because I still really wanted an idi it never left me hanging it always started. So then I bought my 1990 7.3 idi n/a and spent a year fixing it up. This truck had yet to leave me walking. The only reason I went with another one is because I don't like the computers things can really messy with that. They are cheaper to maintain then a powerstroke that's for sure.
 

Runningaford

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So I'm confused a lot(grin), I do have arrested development at times; some people even claim I never left my teens; I maybe qualified for this thread.

I guess I just like my truck, because it's mine, and I didn't pay 80k for it, and I've done just about everything with my truck that an 80k truck would do.

If I need to prove my worth, as having arrested development, I guess I'll have to add the Dixie air horn, turn up the IP to roll coal, and well hell, while I'm at it, throw Gadsden flag in the back, I hear that's popular. Oh wait, I could go extra cool, and throw in one of those trashcan stacks I've read so much about. Top that off with naked chick mudflaps, and a **** on some other brand decal(that may just be redneck, not sure yet)...muhahahaha
 

adamsanders

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I'm 24 and have owned my 91 IDI for about a year now. I bought it when I was in college studying Mechanical Engineering. I specialized in Automotive Design so I had a lot of theoretical knowledge on diesel engines but I wanted to get more practical knowledge. I bought the truck knowing it would need some things and it proved to be a great way to learn a ton. I had quite a bit of experience working on gas engines so it was a nice change.

I'd like to know why an n/a over a power stroke if its pre turbo?
Mainly cost, will probably buy a Powerstroke next (6.7L) as my budget increases.

Do you daily drive it?
No, probably only a couple of times a week.

Do you do maintenance yourself and what was the most frustrating to deal with?
I have done 100% of the work myself, too much to list here really but a quick rundown would be I replaced the entire fuel system right out of the gate (from the IP to the rear tank) Redid all the electrical for the charging/starting circuit (starter, group 31's, battery cables, alternator, glowplugs), U Joints, Brakes, and various cosmetic things like clearance lights on the cab.

Have you had a bad experience at a diesel shop or garage?
Never been

Do you use your truck for work or recreation?
Mainly recreation like pulling boats or camping, occasional around the house work.
 

Charlie B

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I’m 23 and just got my first 6.9 IDI with an ATS turbo. I daily drive it and it’s very fun. I don’t usually use it for heavy work, I just love diesel trucks. I think an Idi is much more cost effective for a younger crowd and easy enough to learn on for people just getting started with Diesel. It’s not fast like a power stroke, that’s what makes it not as fun, but it’s the best starter engine you can get. Super reliable and parts a quarter of the price. While I’m ready to upgrade. I still love my IDI
 

Macrobb

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So... Just want to point out a couple more interesting points:
1. A good friend of mine is currently driving my '92 F-250 5-speed with Banks turbo and Stage 1's. It's really snappy, makes 15+ psi of boost really quickly and just plain /goes/.
This friend of mine likes to race people at stoplights. He's won quite a bit against people with newer duramaxes and cummins, mainly due to the snappiness off the line and the ability to get more HP to the wheels sooner, vs the slipping torque converter.
This truck hits the governor around 92MPH. I've seen and heard this truck get up to that 92 pretty nicely.
Also, just last weekend I had him haul my Bobcat 975(around 11K lbs + trailer weight, maby 14-15K total?). It was a little slow going up a steep grade, but once he got onto the highway, he went 60-70 the whole way.
These trucks, with turbos and fuel... pull quite nicely.

2. I keep watching Reddit - /r/diesel and /r/forddiesel. I keep hearing horror stories about the 6.0 PSD, 6.4 PSD etc. Like in the "I just spent 4K on injectors and now it has more problems" type story. Or "I got water in the fuel, now I need a whole 15K fuel system". Or the same, but gasoline causing massive damage.

Meanwhile, I go pick up a $500 IDI truck with auto trans issues. Get water in the fuel and it dies. Drain the fuel filter, pump the system until fuel comes out, put the filter back on, prime the system and... fires up. Drive it home(at 35 MPH in 2nd gear). Park it for like 6 months. Go out with a battery and some ether, and she fires right up.

Or, I just recently picked up a F-350 with a 12x8 flatbed and turbo for $600(had a bad ring gear). She'd been last registered 10 years ago. It had been fired up once and driven to a shop. I bought it, drove it until it died(I think honestly it found some water in the tank; after some new fuel and some priming it fired up again). Hauled it to a safe location. Did an oil change, replaced the ring gear with one lying around. Fired it up and drove it 50 miles home.

It now fires right up, and I'm getting it registered tomorrow.

It's just amazing what sort of abuse these things will take and... not care. Compared to these newer vehicles where something goes wrong and you kill an injector or the whole fuel system.

This is why, if I need more power I'll build an IDI to make it. The newer stuff is just too weak. Yes it makes power, but it's not reliable power, not if you drive it around worrying about what will fail next(I've heard this from 6.0 owners many times).

I don't really worry about things failing on an IDI, because it's affordable to fix. Heck, even if I threw a rod? A week of evenings and $300 and I can have a running motor dropped into it.
 

chillman88

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Definitely not 8-9 times the life span, and much less labor changing them on an idi

Plus no wiring harness to screw with. I'm not sure where he got them but a friend of mine had to replace his and the harness that goes into the valve covers was crazy expensive.
 

79jasper

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much less labor changing them on an idi

Sure, unless you're doing it right, replacing the whole fuel system. How often do we hear people cry about the lines being in the way? How about readjusting timing as well. (Since that should be included) how about the IP as well? Oh, what about leaky caps?
Apples to apples.....

Plus no wiring harness to screw with. I'm not sure where he got them but a friend of mine had to replace his and the harness that goes into the valve covers was crazy expensive.

Yeah, if you need them. About $200 for both sides. He likely got motorcraft. Which is the only option if you want quality/longevity. None of that dorman junk.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
 

Thewespaul

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Sure, unless you're doing it right, replacing the whole fuel system. How often do we hear people cry about the lines being in the way? How about readjusting timing as well. (Since that should be included) how about the IP as well? Oh, what about leaky caps?
Apples to apples.....



Yeah, if you need them. About $200 for both sides. He likely got motorcraft. Which is the only option if you want quality/longevity. None of that dorman junk.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
I can have the IP, lines and injectors replaced in three hours for under a grand, do that in your modern diesel :angel:
 

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