Hello
I bought a 1989 Ford E 350 Born Free RV last October with 55K on the odometer, my first diesel. I thought it had the 7.3 IDI engine, and the seller told me it was a rebuilt engine with just 20K on it.
A diesel mechanic who mainly works on Mercedes and VWs checked it out and said it sounded and drove great. I got it converted to 4WD with a 5" lift. It being gutless in the mountains here in Colorado I decided to get a Hypermax non wastegated turbo installed.
As the parts started to come off yesterday from behind the dog house I noticed the plate on the valve cover said it was a 1985 6.9 liter! This was interesting as the oil filter and its parts were from a 7.3.
The head bolts however were from a 6.9, so I think that is what was put into my rig when the original engine blew.
The engine was rebuilt by Jasper, and I called them with the ID number on their plate on the engine. All they could tell me is that the rebuild was done more than ten years ago, as after ten years they scrub their records.
The question I would like to pose is; how worried should I be about a lemon?
The good: The engine starts easily every time. It runs smoothly, and on the Eastern Colorado plains can keep the RV going 75mph with little problem. I see no unusual smoke, just black exhaust when I floor it. I ran B100 through it one trip and that cut the exhaust smoke hugely. It has a stink at first in the coach, but the exhaust manifolds were leaking and now it is better after a fix.
The bad: It is gutless in the mountains. (agreed, likely due to being an old naturally aspirated diesel). It has used three quarts of Rotella oil in just a few months and less than a 1000 miles. The rebuild tags that are designed to fall off if the engine is overheated appear to be missing.
I've got a big trip planned in August, 1000 miles one way across the Wyoming Utah and Nevada wilds hauling a trailer. The idea of a rebuilt 7.3 with low miles had me feeling confident. Now the realization that I have a 6.9 of unknown miles that is using oil fast has me worried.
Regards
Rolf
__________________
1989 Ford E 350 6.9 IDI Born Free President RV 4WD
I bought a 1989 Ford E 350 Born Free RV last October with 55K on the odometer, my first diesel. I thought it had the 7.3 IDI engine, and the seller told me it was a rebuilt engine with just 20K on it.
A diesel mechanic who mainly works on Mercedes and VWs checked it out and said it sounded and drove great. I got it converted to 4WD with a 5" lift. It being gutless in the mountains here in Colorado I decided to get a Hypermax non wastegated turbo installed.
As the parts started to come off yesterday from behind the dog house I noticed the plate on the valve cover said it was a 1985 6.9 liter! This was interesting as the oil filter and its parts were from a 7.3.
The head bolts however were from a 6.9, so I think that is what was put into my rig when the original engine blew.
The engine was rebuilt by Jasper, and I called them with the ID number on their plate on the engine. All they could tell me is that the rebuild was done more than ten years ago, as after ten years they scrub their records.
The question I would like to pose is; how worried should I be about a lemon?
The good: The engine starts easily every time. It runs smoothly, and on the Eastern Colorado plains can keep the RV going 75mph with little problem. I see no unusual smoke, just black exhaust when I floor it. I ran B100 through it one trip and that cut the exhaust smoke hugely. It has a stink at first in the coach, but the exhaust manifolds were leaking and now it is better after a fix.
The bad: It is gutless in the mountains. (agreed, likely due to being an old naturally aspirated diesel). It has used three quarts of Rotella oil in just a few months and less than a 1000 miles. The rebuild tags that are designed to fall off if the engine is overheated appear to be missing.
I've got a big trip planned in August, 1000 miles one way across the Wyoming Utah and Nevada wilds hauling a trailer. The idea of a rebuilt 7.3 with low miles had me feeling confident. Now the realization that I have a 6.9 of unknown miles that is using oil fast has me worried.
Regards
Rolf
__________________
1989 Ford E 350 6.9 IDI Born Free President RV 4WD