[Jake N]

My bro is thinking of buying a 1994 turbo diesel (pre-powerstroke). My question is, are they good trucks? I am trying to tell him to spend a little more money and get a powerstroke. So what is everyone's opinion pros vs cons.

Jake

 

[THEDIESELMAN]

I'm with you I think he should spend some more money and get a powerstroke becasue they better running engines and they are easier to mod.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

It depends what you are looking to do with the truck. I just wanted a cheap Diesel for a daily driver / work / play truck. I will admit I was surprized how much I like this truck. I started out with the 7.3L Powerstroke, & now drive an IDI. You can't expect to mod them as much, you more or less take them for what they are. I like them because they are very simple to work on & make a good amount of power.
My next truck will be a Powerstroke, but not saying I would pass on a cheap IDI in good shape if it rolls by. :ford:

 

[Dieselboy]

The only problem with the 94 is they dont offer many parts for them. See what happend is right before the powerstroke came out they put a turbo on an IDI, for only half a year or something. So really the truck your bro is looking at was only availible for half of a year. Hence why there is very little availible aftermarket parts made specificly for that engine. My buddy had one, it was great before it blew up. basically it was: Get it rebuilt (5500$). Or put in an IDI (the cheapest option). Or upgrade to a Powerstroke.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

Nope 93 or 94 IDI could have had a Turbo. Mine just wasn't ordered with one. The mounts are alread drilled & tapped out though.

 

[Mr. Bob]

I have a 1987 and loved it.... traded it for my 2002... I love my 02 as well, but the *& had lot of character!!! I would buy another IDI in a heartbeat!

 

[Powersmoker]

How well does as a 1994 IDI tow ? This is a 5spd. Could it tow 10,000 pounds? I just came across a killer azz deal for one. 100k miles too.

 

[squeeks]

if its got 4:10's and the screw turned up, I would think it would tow 10,000lbs ok

 

[smokin86]

they are very reliable. i know we beat the $hit out of mine and it never missed a beat:ford:

 

[69W900A]

How well does as a 1994 IDI tow ? This is a 5spd. Could it tow 10,000 pounds? I just came across a killer azz deal for one. 100k miles too.

They'll tow just fine. We still have 6 IDIT's left in the fleet and they weight 10k unloaded and tow up to 10k. You just won't brake any speed records getting there.

Things to watch out for are coolant maintance. The IDI's tended to pinhole blocks if people didn't take care of the coolant in them.

Also, don't get greedy with the boost. The 7.3L are basially the same block as the late model 6.9L, so the cylinders are much thiner. Run too much boost and it'll crack a cylinder.

The IDI and IDIT are good engines, reliable, made decent power for their time.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

How much boost do your fleet trucks normally see?

 

[69W900A]

I dunno. Been a long time since I checked actual manifold pressure on any of the IDIT trucks. I gave them a slight fuel and timing bump a long time ago and think they are running around ~8-10psi.

 

[Cat_Rebel]

Mine has seen more then 8 lbs so far but I'm not sure what it will do with a trailer. In either case the motor seems to be happy with the extra air.

 

[countryboyz04]

Mine has seen more then 8 lbs so far but I'm not sure what it will do with a trailer. In either case the motor seems to be happy with the extra air.

My uncle has hit 20 lbs with his 6.9 :badidea:

 

[smokin86]

My uncle has hit 20 lbs with his 6.9

I can vouch for this. it hasn't happened often, but it has happened!:shrug:

 

[crazystroke97]

My uncle has hit 20 lbs with his 6.9

ya some of you may have seen this truck at schieds
and smokin 86s truck hits 15psi under hard towing and has had crap beat out by his two older bros still runs like new :gun::gun::rockwoot::smirk:

 

[smokin86]

:flipa: i forgot to say crazystroke97 and countryboyz04 are my older brothers. :doh:

btw, be watching for a twin turbo idi soon.: ointlaugh:

 

[Cat_Rebel]

Nice to see we have 3 brothers with 3 diffrent gens of Fords on here. LOL

 

[69W900A]

6.9's will take a LOT more abuse than the thin-walled 7.3's.

 

[countryboyz04]

We like to give each other a bunch of crap on who's truck is the best :gethim: