Diesel guys? 89 f250 for weekend truck stuff

Being a homeowner and my father being sick of me using his truck (which is a 240k mile 4 cyl 5 speed Toyota) he told me a friend of his is looking to unload this eye candy for $500:


I know nothing of diesels. Or what to look for. But for the occasional use it’ll see might not be a bad choice.
I’ll get more details and update as i go.
Thoughts/concerns from the svtp experts? And yea I seent that banks decal lol

@Smooth any insight for our man here?

Service records would be good, and an inspection of a trusted diesel mechanic. The 7.3L international is one of the few ford diesels I’d consider owning. My brother recently had major service (fuel related) done on his 88, with a little over 300K miles. They’re good trucks if they’re taken care of.


Pick your poison.

Auto or manual?

A 7.3 IDI will be dog shit slow but it'll last forever with little to no trouble.

offroadkarter said:

A 7.3 IDI will be dog shit slow but it'll last forever with little to no trouble.

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Probably get awesome mileage too. I'd drive one.

Zemedici said:

@Smooth any insight for our man here?

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As mentioned here: slow and dependable. These things are pretty easy to work on too. It would be nice to know the maintenance history...maintenance is key with any diesel. And I'd prefer a manual trans. I don't think you'd lose money at $500.

For 500? if it runs and drives take it. Great beater weekend truck.

SID297 said:

Auto or manual?

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It’s an auto

It does run and drive. It mostly sits in storage hooked up to that trailer.
Records of maintenance I’m sure he doesn’t have but per the old man, “mechanically he takes care of it” ‍ He’s under the same thought of if it’s running and driving for my menial bullshit tasks for $500 it’s worth it.

Hell for $500 buy it and see what happens lol you really can't lose anything on that for that truck if it runs and drives. 7.3 IDI's are reliable but dogs like stated; but if you're wanting something for weekend truck things, this would be a good choice for cheap.

I’d buy it for 500

IDI trucks are unbelievably slow, that said they're good engines. Tend to have fuel leaks on the damn spider fuel line(I dont remember what they are actually called) seals but that is the only issue I really know of.

At $500 there isn't much to lose especially since you are just using it for miscellaneous tasks.

That is 7 days worth of Enterprise truck rentals, I find F150 from them for 59.99 per day. . If you need a truck more than 7 days a year, totally worth it.


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the old IDI diesels are huge TURDS. Those things are lucky to have 150hp. My uncle had one with a manual trans, i drove it with no load and it was a complete slug. I cant imagine what it would be towing and trying to reach highway speeds

mc01svt said:

the old IDI diesels are huge TURDS. Those things are lucky to have 150hp. My uncle had one with a manual trans, i drove it with no load and it was a complete slug. I cant imagine what it would be towing and trying to reach highway speeds

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You measure 0-60 with a sun dial.

Buy it , clean it up and flip it for a gasser.

I love me an old, slow, high-MPG diesel. Buy and buy OP. Stop typing, start buying.

It cant be any worse than my 94 non-turbo 6.5 GM turd diesel. Drive mine every single day and love it.

Not sure they made the 7.3 yet, might be the 6.9 that year

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