6.9 worth buying?

[prepowerstroke]

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/3499975689.html

hey guys my brother found these trucks on craigs list but we're only woried about the ford because chevy isnt worth buying, but the 6.9 sounds like a good deal but we heard the first couple years a bad blocks, so any probs with 6.9's in general? i got a 7.3 idi and never had a 6.9 but thinking bout getting rid of my 7.3 for a 6.9 for myself. any info would be nice

 

[riotwarrior]

Low miles....sounds ok to me...

 

[lindstromjd]

'83 was the block to be careful of. Right around the block heater. It's the only one I know of.

 

[91idi]

I would buy it. That truck looks ****, even in blue!

 

[GOOSE]

Awesome plow truck. Of course, its a shame that pushing snow will expose it to salt and brine, ultimately leading it to a faster death.

I'd buy it.

 

[GOOSE]

Keep in mind that that era F350 has a TTB Dana 50 in it.

 

[gdhillon]

What's so bad about that goose?

is 83 the first year the diesels were made?

 

[GOOSE]

'83 is the first year of the 6.9 in a Ford pickup.

I have no beef with the D50 front end. It's just rare to see an example of an F350 with one in it. It seems like most are 86 and up D60 equipped.

 

[gdhillon]

O ok, I thought you meant there was issues with them. Sorry to thread jack but I have anther quick question.....from what I understand the dana 60 has 4.10 gearing (not, really sure what the gearing means) and the d50 has 3.55?....so does this mean trucks with the 50 have better fuel mileage/not as good for towing?

And after 83 did ih resolve the block heater cracking issue?

 

[Can30Diesel]

If I recall right, there were a few issues with block leaks and head cracks in the 83 year range. 84 and up were good years for the 6.9. In my opinion they are actually more reliable and solid than the 7.3 since they were not as prone to cavitation and overheating. Just not quite as much power.

The TTB Dana 50 is a good diff, but traditionally people try to stay away from them because of maintenance pain. The Dana 60 is a much stronger and easier to work on diff. Either class of diff can have a variety of gearing. However its common to find Dana 50's with 3.55 and Dana 60's with 4.10 gearing.

Regarding gear ratio, the bigger the numbers the more the engine rotates to rotate the wheels, though the transmission plays a part as well. As an example, considering a situation where the only thing that changes is the diff gearing, a truck with a lower gear ratio (say 4.10:1) will run at a higher RPM doing the same speed as a truck with higher gearing (say 3.55:1) so it will probably use more fuel.

One common reason people go with a lower gear ratio is because as a result of the gearing change, you gain torque. Torque lets you pull and haul big loads and deal with hills a little easier.

 

[justinray]

My D50 is 4.10:1

Edit

And just called my buddy, although it's a chevy, it's still a dana 60... His '82 2500 has a dana 60 with 3.42:1

 

[Kevin 007]

I have had better luck with the 6.9 then the 7.3. Less valve guide issues, cavitation issues and they don't heat up as easily due to the extra coolant passage that is blocked off in the 7.3. The fuel filter header doesn't have as many spots to leak. And apparently, the precups are designed slightly different; which may or may not be the reason that I have always found 6.9's to start easier then the 7.3.
As for the early blocks and cracking, I have and have had early blocks, im running a lower rad hose heater instead of the block heater. easier on that part of the block.

 

[bagpiperjosh]

I have an 83 and there is no crack around my heater.it runs great.. Just take a look for white streaks near the block heater.

edit: did i miss what he was asking for the ford?

 

[GOOSE]

Both the Dana 60 or the TTB Dana 50 came with 4:10's or 3:55's. 3:73's will fit as well but do not think that was an option until the powerstroke era. Is it the 10.25 rear axle that limits our gear set availability?

 

[Knuckledragger]

did i miss what he was asking for the ford?

There was no price in the ad, unless he is selling both trucks for $1200 each. Might be a deal.

The one thing to be wary of is that the 6.9 from the factory had a faulty head gasket that generally needed replacing by 100,000 miles. Since this has a turbo added, it may already have been done.