austin7.62
Registered User
Hello, I have been lurking for a long time, but have finally decided to join. I have really a growing interest in the old IDI diesels, and I am wanting to pick one up. First off, I don't have much experience with diesels, but I have done quite a bit of research. So anyways, I am looking at a 1989 F350 DRW pickup, with the 7.3 IDI and Zf-5 transmission. It is 2wd, and has 4.10 gears. I would use the truck for working mostly. Hauling sod, gravel, lawn equipment. Anyways, I went to look at this truck today, and I really liked it. Cosmetically, it has virtually no rust, just a bit of surface rust from use. It only has 131k miles! Mechanically, it seems to be in good shape. The owner has installed an aftermarket temp gauge, and it never got above 190 when i was driving it. It also seemed to have a good clutch that starts grabbing near the bottom of the floor, which I like. It doesn't have any strange vibrations or noises. When I was driving it, the power seemed good, and it idled smoothly. So all is going well on the test drive, but as I was about to turn off onto the owner's street to take the truck back to his house, it just died as I was slowing down. No warning, no rough running, nothing. It just died! I had put the truck into neutral as I was coming to make the turn, slowing down without engine braking when it shut off. I kept it in neutral, and turned the key, and it fired right up, no problems. It didn't run poorly after it shut off either. The owner said I probably let the clutch out too soon, but all I did was put it in neutral. He wasn't really paying attention anyways. What could cause this? Like I said, there was no indication or warning, it just happened. I did notice that the fuel was low, maybe a little under 1/4 of a tank. I'm going back and forth if I should get this truck or not now. To me, it seemed like a nice truck, but I don't want to buy it, just to put thousands of dollars into it right off the bat. I know it's old, but still, you hate to buy something and not be able to use it immediately! So, I guess in a roundabout way, I am asking for advice on what I should do? I really have a lot of respect for this community, and I need your help! Thanks!