Non-Turbo IDI F250 for Race Car Hauler?

What can you guys tell me about an '84 F250 with the IDI non-turbo engine? I'm a truck noob and am thinking of going to take a look at one of these tomorrow for use as a tow vehicle. It's a crew-cab dually. C6 auto trans. Anything I need to keep an eye out for, specifically?

I hear these are pretty darn slow - any idea what the max highway speed is going to be towing an open trailer? What about a single-car enclosed trailer? Would really like to be able to hit 65mph on flat ground. What about MPGs? Have heard 16-17 while towing is possible.

Any input you guys have is much appreciate. Thanks!

Slloooowwww. I had an F350 wrecker with a 6.9 and a 4 speed. It was the slowest small truck I ever drove. It was as reliable as gravity though and never gave me a bit of trouble. Did I mention it was slow? I never checked the fuel mileage. I should have as I had the time while I was waiting to accelerate. Wow it was slow.

Oh, I forgot this until just now when I read the ad again. Apparently it has a '94 7.3L IDI engine. ('84 chassis though)

I had an F350 work truck with that engine and a manual. SLOW. Couldn't overload the thing though and it just did the job with no fuss.

So, when you guys are talking slow, does that apply as much to top speed, or are you mostly talking acceleration? Since this will mostly be a highway hauler, acceleration isn't an issue, but I don't want to get something that's gonna top out at 55 mph on the interstate.

Never had trouble keeping up with traffic, just took a while to get up to that speed.

It all depends on your expectations. It will do the job just fine, but you will not hear the turbo spool up and get a kick in the pants like you do with a new common rail. It will maintain highway speeds easily but acceleration will be slow and you will gear down on the hills. But it will return decent economy and be as dependable as a brick.

I had a 91 F350 crew cab with the 7.3L IDI. It moved out decently and got decent mpgs empty, usually 16-18 mpg. It will drop pulling a trailer, how much depends on the weight of the trailer. They say an IDI will pull a house, just don't be in a hurry to get anywhere. Very reliable. Ask if they used the coolant additive for cavitation, if they haven't you may want to pass.

I never went far enough to hit highway speeds.

My friend has an Econoline with that engine in it.....he added an overdrive unit to his c6 and returned 18mpg cruising at 65 pulling a open car trailer with a 3200lb car on it. O.o 70mph yielded 16mpg though from what he claimed. So axle ratios are probably going to be your limiting factor on economy. He loves that van, so I'm sure you'll love towing with a similar truck.

I'd honestly skip the ancient non-turbo diesel motors. Not enough power to tow at modern highway speeds or get up to speed. You'd be better off with a mid 90s F150 or F250 gas engine or the Chevy equivalent. Heck even the early 2000 version of those trucks can be found cheap.

In reply to amg_rx7:

Sorry but that is just not true. I have towed 12000 pounds with a 6.9 ford many times. It would do 70 all day pulling that weight. And return double the economy of a newer gas pot.

Don't forget the C6 has no OD. Not that you'd even use it towing but that'll make a difference on the highway unloaded.

I have a 1991 F250 4wd diesel with an automatic trans. I would NOT recommend towing with one. Just not enough power for any hill of any size. But long after the turbo trucks have been turned into scrap my truck will still be chugging along.

ebonyandivory wrote: Don't forget the C6 has no OD. Not that you'd even use it towing but that'll make a difference on the highway unloaded.

Easily fixed compliments of gear vendors......C6 OD unit.

Wally wrote: Slloooowwww.

qft

I looked at the overdrive units available for the Ford C6 and the price is what killed it. I can buy a lot of gas for $3000! And remember you only have to consider the difference in MPG's between having an overdrive and not. Even if you got 4 MPGs' better, say 16 vrs 12 mpg how many miles will you have to drive to make it pay off?

bearmtnmartin wrote: In reply to amg_rx7: Sorry but that is just not true. I have towed 12000 pounds with a 6.9 ford many times. It would do 70 all day pulling that weight. And return double the economy of a newer gas pot.

The last 6.9 4 speed truck I drove slowed down on hills with a full bed. I couldn't imagine towing 12k with one.

I have a 92 7.3 IDI 2WD 5 speed 3.55 gears. Its not the slowest and will comfortably do 70mph all day long while getting 20mpg. It will also wake all my neighbors in the morning, rattle my brains out over rough roads and get stuck in a gravel driveway... It will pull 10k at 70mph no problem, but you have to work that gearbox on the hills like the Amish churn butter. It is loud smells like diesel creaks and rattles endlessly, but never quits. It's the best tractor I ever owned. But the best truck? I can never decide if I love it because it does everything a truck is supposed to do so well, or hate it because it's terrible at being anything but a truck. In the end other trucks have come and gone from my driveway, but this one has always been there.