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New to me Diesel tow & expo rig!

sixb

sixb

1/2 ton status
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
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Location
West Jordan UT
My current expo rig:pimp: is a 99 F250 superduty crew cab 4x4 v10 4-6 inch lift on 35" bfgs I hate the lift but it came that way.
This truck has been great except for the mileage. I am the 3rd owner and picked it up 3 years ago with 108k in perfect condition, it's still in perfect condition but with 138k
I am a diesel guy and my other 6 vehicles are diesel even my toys.
I'm looking at getting a 94 3/4 ton suburban 6.5 auto with 158k and also in near perfect condition.
I guess my delima is whether or not to get rid of a perfectly good gas hog for a vehicle that has such a bad rap with the engine?

The Ford is ready to go with the only needed mod being a bigger tank (areo 55gal @ 730.00)
The burb.. geese I'm already dreaming of a modern 14 bolt factory disc with e brake conversion, bigger exhaust & crossover, pmd delete with complete 93 setup, optimizer/p400 swap and you get the point spending to much $$$
:dunno:
I really want the burb!
 
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Put a Cummins in the Ford, best of both worlds. I traded my old super duty in on a Dodge, sure do wish I would have just done an engine swap. Ford builds a nice truck. I wouldnt want a 6.5 in the driveway.
 
^^^^^^^^
What he said. Love burbs and k5s, but like u said too much $$$ that im running out of :eek1:. I'd prob. keep the ford. Just my opinion
 
I support the diesel swap. Ive come to like the leaf spring super duties after working out of them. You could even consider a 4bt if you're not going to pull insane amounts.

The burb is gonna need a SAS to boot to be on par with the ford also.
 
I understand wanting all kinds of stuff, but IMO you're lightyears ahead of that burb with the current truck.

Not to mention the lowish miles. If nothing else, what about a 7.3 swap?
 
A swap is out of the question in my county, also I'd just sell it and buy a 7.3 before doing a swap. My reasoning for the superduty at the time was I'd rather pay for fuel than Ford diesel repairs, my brother had real bad luck with an 05 Ford diesel. Also I paid around 8 or 9k for the Ford and a diesel in that kind of shape would have been twice the price.
The advantage of buying and older diesel is no emissions on 97 and older diesels in my county and I just like the older ones better.
Also I probably wouldn't do a sas on the Burb, I've never seen one that's low enough for me to like.

Here is the Suburban I'm thinking about.
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/239043?ad_cid=7
 
79rustyk10 said:
I'm guessing the 05 with all the issues had the 6.0?
Click to expand...

Yep. I believe they started 6.0's in mid 2003. The early ones had leafs. The 6.0 isnt a bad engine, and can make a ton of power. It just didnt come from the factory set up right. It takes a few things to make them run, and last.

As for the 6.5, I would keep the current superduty.

If you want a low SAS, use Kerts kit with 4" 47" springs. It will be low enough for you.

YellowK20, you read this? You have answers to all his questions :deal:
 
I should also mention the superduty is now only used for trips. I'm planning a trip to the Canyonlands NP with my kids during spring break. Not sure which district were gonna explore but the Maze is automatically ruled out due to the fact the truck only has a range of 200-280 miles depending on conditions. Having the Suburban in such a remote place also with all it's known issues bother's me to. :dunno:
Here's some pictures of the Ford.

2009-04%20(Apr)%20095.jpg

2009-04%20(Apr)%20096.jpg
 
Stomis said:
I support the diesel swap. Ive come to like the leaf spring super duties after working out of them. You could even consider a 4bt if you're not going to pull insane amounts.

The burb is gonna need a SAS to boot to be on par with the ford also.
Click to expand...

Have you spent much time driving a 4 cylinder diesel? They are really rough. I have had 2 bread vans with the 4bt and am now driving a 91 Jetta TD that get's awesome mpg but it's rough.:woot:
 
Well I'm picking this truck up tonight:D Here's the F/S description.


CLASSIC!! Has been driven about 4000 miles in the last ten years. Has been in totally enclosed storage. The basics: The original 7.3 diesel was removed and replaced at about 120,000 miles with a later model 7.3 w/turbo. This vehicle has a 5 speed transmission. It boasts new paint and pinstriping. It has new Yokohama tires and custom alloy wheels, full front to back diamond plate running boards, near perfect shell with a complete carpet kit. The 8' box was rhino (?) lined prior to the carpet kit being installed; custom chorme drop bumper, sony sound system and the interior has no flaws (Navajo seat covers have almost always covered the original upholstery). There are no dings, dents or pimples on this one and the bug shield keeps a bug or two off, no cracks in the any glass.


Of course it's not that perfect, there is paint bubbles over the rear wheels and some on the bottom of a couple doors, also there is a rock chip in the windshield. The seats are like new under the covers and so is the dash.
I'll see how it goes with the idi but first impressions are it's a real dog. I do have a spare Cummins though which would be a bolt in with the auto-world stuff.

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A couple more, also the running boards and the bed carpet kit will be the first to go. It's a 88 F350 The guy bought it in 1990 as a bank repo with 12k.

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Nice!! hard to go wrong with an IDI

Shackle Reversal
Ditch the sway bars
37" hummers


I had the same truck in New Mexico and loved it I also had anotehr one with a 460 and really like it too . Superduty springs will swap in and are much smoother ( actually any leaf spring ford part will swap except rear highboy springs )
 
The 7.3 idi is a great engine. It wont quite do the mpg of the 6.2 and 6.5, but torque is better, and overall durability is way better.

Do you know what turbo kit it has? Boost/pyro guages?
It is pretty easy to get these to 250/450 at the flywheel.
 
pretty sure you can put a little tuning into that 7.3 and pick up a little pep. enough to keep you amused for a while.
 
Yes it has a pyro but no boost.
Not sure what year the engine is or what type of turbo.
It does run good and has very little blow by, checked via looking at smoke coming from the oil fill. Compared to my stock 90 Dodge ctd it's gutless. 250/450 wouldn't be bad but 300 at the wheels and 35 psi of boost would be better and that's not asking for much from the 5.9 ctd.
I will give the idi a year or 2 while finishing up some other projects to see if it grows on me:dunno:
I will build this truck over time and plan on keeping it for a loooong time.
 
The idi will do 300 at the wheels, but cooling (towing)becomes and issue. I have had lots of 6-9-7.3 idi motors, and they are great engines, but if you plan on keeping it forever and have the cummins I would plan on putting it in.
 
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