compression into cooling system 1990 F350 7.3idi

hey guys, I'm buying back a truck I sold about 7yrs ago to a buddy. he hasn't put more than about 10,000 km on it in those years, was his summer toy for pulling around his 86 bronco mud truck. he said its blowign compression into the rad and I think I remember an issue with cylinder porousity on this year idi, its been a few years now since I worked on these trucks new , but I still remember soem things?

I'm buying the truck regardless along with his 86 bronco, the truck had been my dad's years ago and I had been in chrage of all the maintenance , i put 7.3 idi turbo headgaskets into it about 11 yrs ago. I always had dreams of makign the truck into a shortbed dually before we sold it. throw the ideas at me , I've been delinquent in my 7.3 idi experience lately.

should be picking up next weekend, I think my crewpile can haul it.........pics will follow

Now I'm curious. Why did you put Factory Turbo head gaskets on your engine? Are they different than ones for a N/A engine?

IDIBRONCO said:

Now I'm curious. Why did you put Factory Turbo head gaskets on your engine? Are they different than ones for a N/A engine?

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They are indeed, the fire ring is different as well as the outline of the gasket is different to be externally distinguished. There’s a few other minor differences as well.

Thanks, Wes. That's new info for me. Obviously thee different fire ring isn't required for a turbo since you run 6.9 head gaskets.

the factory idi turbo head gaskets cost more than complete top end kit, but when you put them side by side they don't even look similar.

my dad is all excited, talking about selling his all original 88 F250 supercab with only 115,000 km on it and putting the proceeds into restoring his old dually. I told him I will sell it for him but we need to go over the dually first to see if its worthy. rust issues here in Ontario can creep up real fast . his 88 is a nice truck but the 5.8 efi C6 is a lazy **** compared to the 7.3 idi turbo and uses twice the fuel trying to do it. . this was past its limits>

dad is 82 and is looking for a project he can dig into. restoring a dually might be over his head even though he is still in great shape. it is nice to see him get excited about it .........

compressionignitionrules said:

restoring a dually might be over his head even though he is still in great shape. it is nice to see him get excited about it .........

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Guess who will be doing the restoration then.

IDIBRONCO said:

Guess who will be doing the restoration then.

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Yeah I know.........................I'm already the family mechanic , at least I don't do bodywork. other than change panels.




and on a lighter note: my 16 yr old daughter passed her G1 license written test yesterday so she can drive my vehicle with my supervision on secondary roads with a max speed of 80km/hr. she will learn in the winter with a 5spd manual damnit. there were even a couple other excited dad's at the test center. (I promised myself I wouldn't cry) was a very proud day for a gearhead dad!

compressionignitionrules said:

she will learn in the winter with a 5spd manual damnit.

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That's the way to teach her! I'm proud of you.

had a look at the truck tonite and had a visit, will pickup the bronco first on Saturday and maybe the dually on Sunday, it was running this spring but hasn't been on the road for 3 yrs now. it was already dark when we got there so I didn't take any pics.

It's a Ford. It will run again!

well I finally got it home ,the little 5.8 dids its best......talked dad into not restoring the 90 dually. BUT I am toying with the idea of going over it and putting it in my 78 Bronco survivor. truck just isn't worth much as a running driving truck. will get started on the inspection of the engine next week. this was all the little 5.8 C6 would do...........


got it home just as the serp belt started smoking and my PS quit working for good.

Were those windshield visors factory equipment, mine has one and I thought it was aftermarket

they are Lund brand, jsut were very popular in this vintage. my 97 F350 crewcab has one on it too.

outer duals were removed so tails/turns were visible. sure looks wierd......

compressionignitionrules said:

outer duals were removed so tails/turns were visible. sure looks wierd......

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Yup. That's why when I had a blow out I flipped the inside wheel around so it wouldn't look so goofy