IDI VS early PSD

[NapaBavarian]

I've been looking at E350 ambulances a little recently, initially I was looking at IDIs, but I've been wondering about the early PSDs, it would be 1997 or older to avoid the CA diesel SMOG laws, power is not a concern, biggest advantage I see is no need to locate a van turbo.

I'm interested in:

-Fuel economy, realistically how do they compare

-Reliability, more parts and more electronics worry me

-Repairability, this will be converted to a back country 4x4 motor home, I want to be able to carry a spare of every part that might go bad in a fairly small box and not need a mess of special tools to get it done.

I like both body styles, either way it will get a ZF5.

 

[93f250idi]

I've owned both an idi and an early psd. I liked the idi better .

 

[itsacrazyasian]

Then again we are on a IDI forum lol. Hands down i'll take a well maintained IDI. I owned a extended cab dually F350, a 97 PSD. Loved that truck, had a few issues, most notably HPOP, fuel injector leaks, cam sensor and a APP sensor failure, and valve cover gasket connectors/harness.

I built my F350 because i wanted an OBS Ford for its toughness and i shoved the IDI in because of their reliability/durability. No electronics!

 

[Double-S-Diesel]

im partial to psds

 

[Diesel_brad]

I am partial to PSDs too. that is why I am going to be going thru the trouble of pulling out my IDI and putting a powerstroke in my 86.

The most common thing to go on a PSD to leave you stranded is a Cam Position Sensor(CPS) But it is a $30 part that takes 5 min to change.
There are other thing that can go like the IDm or ECM but those are VERY rare cases. Unless an injector fails, you can do most repairs on the side of the road. Hell, if you were ambisious enough you can do those too

As far as fuel economy my 97 F350 reg cab 4x4 4:10 5 speed w 35" tires got 19mpg on the highway

 

[94turboidi]

My brother and I pulled some crazy heavy loads, probably not very legal across the us for awhile. It was probably a 99 or 00 truck though. The only problem we had was going up a mountain some hose running by the fan blade rubbed enough to wear through and we had to limp to a town to fix it. Then going out west when it was real hot we had trouble keeping it cool but the radiator was all plugged up w/ bugs and we were pulling alot of weight. The trailer was 40' plus 10' of flat area over the gooseneck area and we were loaded to give you an idea. I know the engine was no powerhouse compared to the new trucks but it kept up pretty good most of the time.

 

[Black dawg]

Im partial to the idi because its what I have. the early stroke does get slightly better mpg unloaded and better mpg loaded. and they do have more power. I would pick an idi over the stroke because I like them and I can take apart and fix every part on them.

 

[tech51]

I like my 95 PSD but I'm selling it to finish my 75 F350 flatbed IDI and my 76 F350 CC 4x4 2nd gen 5.9L. I like the idea of a lot fewer power wires and injectors that you can run just about any thing threw them.

 

[94turboidi]

Yeah I want a cummins down the road for simplicity. If I could afford it I would probably go with a newer computerized engine but this is what I have so I am trying to make it pretty dependable. I think you really just need to look at whats in your budget for the vehicle your shopping for and see which ones are in better shape, service condition, etc. If its an idi and they have owned it for very long and don't know anything about sca's then I would be a little nervous. I didn't know anything about it when I got my truck from texas several years ago but the guy started telling me about it, guess I got lucky for my first diesel that they were maintained.

 

[NapaBavarian]

Keep 'em comming!

Overall I think a running PSD would be cheaper, locate a 5 speed, Pick-n-pull a T-case or a local oilburning member might have a spare, pricy part will be the front axle, but if I'm lucky I can get a Quigley or similar axle used, otherwise it's find a D60 from an F350 and make brackets for coil springs.

I found a '98 for $3000 today, only omne year too new!

 

[bike-maker]

I've had one 97 PSD, and 2 IDI's. The stroke was a great truck, so were the IDI's. If I had the choice between 2 identical trucks at the same price; one IDI powered, and one PSD powered, I would choose the PSD. But the extra initial vehicle cost isn't worth it to me.

 

[tech51]

I have a nice 95 F350 4x4 CC 5speed srw with a lot goodies for 9,000

 

[bike-maker]

I didn't think there was such a thing as a 98 powerstroke

 

[itsacrazyasian]

In a van there was. Just no 98 MY f250+

edit: when i say F250 i mean a stupur doooty, the F250 was just a 7 lug F150 in 98.

 

[bike-maker]

Learn something new every day.
The thing that sold me on the PSD's was my brother. He's been a paramedic for quite a few years. He was always really impressed with the PSD's in the ambulances he rode in at work. When they get a call, they start the thing up stone cold, and go straight to full throttle right after it fires; and they still would run great after 200k miles.