Bottom $ Diesel

IDI Build-Up

Posted October 7 2008 02:41 PM by jason.thompson
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Just the big trucks

Last weekend I became the proud owner of this gem.

What I like about this 1987 F-250:
1. ZF 5-Speed manual transmission.
2. No electronics on the engine. This will make alternative fuel experimentation easier. Possible fuels include hydrogen, bio, vegetable oil, cng, propane...but I am open to anything that will combust. Plus I would like to use waste heat to make the tires spin.
3. Regular cab with bench seat.
4. No rust.
5. Classy Ford two tone paint scheme.
6. Regular box.
7. Full floating 10 1/4 rear axle.
8. It was cheap $300.
9. Smog exempt.
10. WWII pilot stickers on fender signifying "?"
11. No rust did I mention that? Yes. But I'll say it again. Amen

What I don't like:
1. A quart of water came out when I drained the oil.
2. It hasn't started but batteries are on the way.

Random Thoughts:

1. This truck doesn't have a turbo. I wonder what a good setup looks like?

2. What would you do to this truck?

3. I bet I will feel like Uncle Jesse from the Dukes of Hazard when I drive this truck. It might need a gun rack and an old man seat cover.

4. It was funny to hear the neighbors chear when the tow truck arrived to take this (to them eye soar to me masterpiece) truck away.

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Reader Comments:

1. I can't wait until the oilburners hear about this. Jason, you are my hero.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted October 7 2008 02:49 PM

2. I would say go with the Hypermax or ATS turbo kit but how about a custom setup with a HX35 or HX40

bluetech151 - Posted October 7 2008 04:06 PM

3. Oh, and most of all have fun. 300 bones is cheap and leaves a good budget to build off of.

bluetech151 - Posted October 7 2008 04:14 PM

4. Right on guys. Yes us.....err.....those oilburners are excited!!!!! Nice to get some good IDI info on there.

IMHO A HX35 or HX40 is way overkill.....unless you build the motor, you dont need over 12-15psi of boost.

You need to find out where that water is coming from.

To be honest I would find a used turbo kit, and show readers how to rebuild a turbo for the cheap. Becuase lets face it, those of us that drive IDI's dont exactly have the money that the newer truck owners have, so a $1500+ turbo system is out of most of our budgets. So find a used turbo, rebuild it, then throw it in. Dyno it N/A, and then turbo. Turn up the pump and dyno it again. Do all the fluids, swap over to synthetic. Then, throw in a intercooler. That should be good for fuel economy. Might wanna do some fuel economy tests as well, to see what it will do. Overhaul the fuel system, either go with a stock rebuilt IP and new injectors, or a Moose pump and moose injectors. Then go on your alternative fuel's route, tank heaters, line heaters, ect.....

Those oilburners are behind you guys 110%

FordGuy100 - Posted October 7 2008 05:39 PM

5. Looks Great Mike, You gotta love those Rust Free California Trucks! (thats where mine came from)
Let me know if you need any parts, I seem to have a collection. I agree with finding a complete used turbo setup. Well be watching!
Darrin

DarrinT89 - Posted October 7 2008 05:48 PM

6. water in the oil sounds like a sand hole in the blook. find an IH ap 7.3 (you may think that your engine is the same as in an IH truck but it is not they have a pump with a bigger head lower compression different injectors they don't even sound the same) and put it in no turbo. these engines have to much compression for a turbo to really work.

dt466c - Posted October 9 2008 04:00 PM

7. You should start a Humaine society type thing for used and unwanted trucks! Id adapt one bro.

SmokenGun - Posted October 23 2008 06:37 PM

8. Build the 87 6.9.
Much better engine that the 7.3 can ever be.
Plus the 87 was the best of the 6.9 blocks offered.
As for the water in the oil, my guess is head gaskets.
Without propper CDR maintenece it was common for excess oil being burnt to raise the rear of the heads. This eventually killed the head gaskets.

You can bore a 6.9 and not use sleeves in the cylinders.
Not so with the 7.3.

Head bolts are the weak point, ARP sells head studs the will eliminate that problem.

The 87 should have the 7.3 style rockers, better than the early 6.9 style.

Turbo boost, with out head studs better keep it under 10 PSI.
Head studs, good for 20 then.
Want more, mill the pistons down about 20 thou and go for 30.

DaveSponaugle - Posted January 11 2009 05:03 PM

9. The water in the oil could be a few different things. Most likely it is the head gaskets but they could also be cracked block but this is the most unlikey thing. The one other thing it could be is water in the fuel but also unlikely. Most of the time it is head gaskets. Good luck. I am in the middle of fixing a '69 ford 100 up. Almost done

onlyanInline6 - Posted February 9 2009 08:01 AM

10. The 6.9 is probably the strongest of the idi diesels. I say tear it down and build it to the hilt make some big power gains without the turbo.

calrangeloff - Posted February 22 2009 09:46 AM

11. How would you make big power gains without adding a turbo?
22.5 to 1 compression in stock form.
Piston to head clearance is the thickness of the head gasket in stock form.
The fuel delivery is already set as high as it can go without more air.

The biggest single power increase to a NA diesel possible is the addition of a turbo.

DaveSponaugle - Posted March 5 2009 05:42 PM

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