Buying a 7.3 idi Tommorw hopefully

[Kevinhicks4689]

Hey I'm hopefully going to be buying a truck Tommorw here's my concerns it's a 94 and it has a 88 7.3 idi in it not sure why exactly he did swap he said it was for better gas mileage ? Truck has 160,000 on it and the motor and tranny in it have 88,000 allegedly which is nothing it's a c6 auto with a shift lot he claims and the tires are almost new was wondering if anybody could check out the post and see what you think and hopefully give me some pointers on what to go look for Tommorw when I look at it thanks here's a link to the craigslist ad http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/cto/4069303729.html

 

[TWeatherford]

Ask to cold start it, and feel the engine to see if its been warmed up before you start it. Look in The radiator to check for nasty coolant, or oil mixed with coolant. See how it starts, if it has some trouble it's likely something simple like glow plugs, gp relay, air intrusion, or worn batteries or starter, and not a worn out engine, but you can use that to bargain. Drive it up to highway speed and see how it does. After you drive it, get it up to full temp, shut it off and see if it starts back up. If it doesn't, the IP is about done.

Check the oil for fuel smell and trans for burnt trans fluid as well. If it is a C6 they're pretty stout but have no overdrive, the E4ODs aren't too stout.

Do you have to do emissions testing or inspections where you are for registration? If so, watch out - sounds like it had a gas engine originally, and with the diesel swap may be hard/impossible to register depending on where you live.

 

[gandalf]

I'm going to address only what I can see in the pictures, not the areas which you should look at for common problems. I'm sure some one will hit those.

The bed and the cab do not line up on the passenger side. They should on a truck looking that nice. Ask about that, and listen for a BS answer.

The front fender, driver's side, has been either replaced or poorly repainted, by appearance. Again, ask about that, and listen for the same BS answer.

A '94 engine replaced with an '88 engine "for better fuel mileage"? Sounds like a smoke screen.

The '94 came with an E4OD transmission, assumming it was automatic from the factory. That had an overdrive top gear. The C-6 is an older transmission, arguably more stout, and not electronic, but it did not have an overdrive. The C-6 will kill fuel mileage, as compared with the E4OD.

Just a feeling, but I'd be very careful about this. If you have a friend who knows these trucks, I'd suggest taking him along to look at it.

 

[jwalterus]

Pull off the seat cover and check the seat wear/foam shape, it'll tell you how many hundred thou the truck actually has

decent looking truck, but overpriced in my neck of the woods