Have a 6.9 1984 F250 diesel, I have not been able to find a mechanic in Ca to fix it right, been to three shops and Iam repair poor over 12 k and my truck is in worse shape runs like crap, anyone know of a good diesel shop in ca
Help with 6.9 Diesel, trying to find a mechanic in the Sacramento area is like pulling teeth no one wants to work on it
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TheRadBaron
Registered User
These type of questions pop up regularly on IDI groups and forums.
I’m not trying to be a smartass but I think that if you want to own one of these trucks the only approach that makes sense is to learn to wrench on it yourself.
I see story after story just like yours. Can’t find anyone that’s willing to work on it and when they do the “diesel mechanic” takes them for thousands of dollars and doesn’t fix the truck.
The good news is that these engines are pretty easy to work on and there are forums like this to help out.
I’m not trying to be a smartass but I think that if you want to own one of these trucks the only approach that makes sense is to learn to wrench on it yourself.
I see story after story just like yours. Can’t find anyone that’s willing to work on it and when they do the “diesel mechanic” takes them for thousands of dollars and doesn’t fix the truck.
The good news is that these engines are pretty easy to work on and there are forums like this to help out.
gandalf
Senior Member
As posted above, you should start learning the basics of working on your truck. These are really very simple engines, pretty easy to work on, once you understand them. You might start with just reading select articles in the Tech Articles
What you're really running into, is that the number of people with deep experience with IDIs - is just getting thin. That said - expand your view of who can work on it.
Sacramento is a Farm Town, surrounded by some of the worlds most productive farm lands. Therefore - you will find people who work on the many diesel's which you see in farm equipment, and people tend to try to keep them running - including these IDI motors. I'd also look for shops which work on RVs and light trucks (3/4, 1 Ton etc are Light Duty trucks). Lineville Brothers (El Camino and Business 80) does most of my non-engine work.
Imler Diesel has been in town for decades. They used to do performance diesel work, but they're not doing as much work as they used to, and have been selective about what they work on. Start there - if they don't want the work ask for a referral given the issues you're having.
Orangevale Diesel is also known to work on a lot of Light Duty Diesel trucks - but I'd think of them as more of a "spec shop" than an engine builder. Transmissions - A1 Transmission on Fulton Ave, is known for doing Imler's performance and transmission rebuilds.
Use Google Maps, and start calling around town. Do a bit of research to understand what other agriculture tractors and heavy equipment they were used in - and start calling to find out who is still working on old mechanical diesels. You want to know if they a) work on mechanical diesels, specifically IDIs, b) have a mechanic who specializes in them, do they regularly do engine work? Etc.
If you really can't find something, then I would call Daves in Utah. They might have some ideas, and even take the work - When one of my Ford's engines go - I've already decided to trailer mine out there. They do good work, and more importantly - they're honest. https://shop.davesautorepairutah.com/
The last idea - is to convince one of the really smart wrench's here on the list. I'm not a good wrench, but more to the point: if I start another project I'm likely to be sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future.
Indadesert
Registered User
What’s wrong with the truck. For 12k you could have had a whole new engine and transmission built and installed. While I agree that to own you means you should work on it your self if you want to ship it down to so cal I’ll fix it right up for you.
XOveralls
Registered User
mikes diesel cortonwood ca - Bing
Intelligent search from Bing makes it easier to quickly find what you’re looking for and rewards you.
A little further north, in Cottonwood.
Mike’s Auto and Truck Repair.
Did work on my 89 F250 7.3 idi and my dad’s 2002 F250. Good guy and solid work. I picked my truck up in Cali and he did some work on it, drove it back to Montana, ran like a to and still is. Hope that helps.
Lotsa farmers in dixon
Lotsa farmers in the sac delta
I usually figure that where there's a lot of agricultural gear, there's guys used to seeing manual idi's and how to keep them running.
Ask around when you see old school guys, "who's good" don't confuse them with the average farm workers tho...
Have you put a meter on it yet?
Lotsa farmers in the sac delta
I usually figure that where there's a lot of agricultural gear, there's guys used to seeing manual idi's and how to keep them running.
Ask around when you see old school guys, "who's good" don't confuse them with the average farm workers tho...
Have you put a meter on it yet?
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