Topic: Opinions on Ford 6.9?

[BLACKDOG]

What are ya'lls opinions on the Ford 6.9 diesel?  From what I've read so far, it is a decent engine, although not as powerful as it could be, nor very fast.  Info one way or another is great.  I'm looking at an '86 F250 4x4 with an automatic, 4x4, with 157K on it. 

Thanks

[axled89]

hey man!    i had a 85 f250.    with a gas motor 4speed with the 460 4x4. i like the runing gear and engine.
but honestly the electrical and chassis kinda sucked.     if you use it for pullin and not a dd then i guess it's OK.
      that's what i used mine for trailer/ crawler / camper.   

[79coyotefrg]

Jason, is it the turbo model??  I know reklund had a ford idi diesel he later put a turbo kit on it and i think it now rates like 400 hp

friend of mine here in town has one with about 400,000 on the ticker and ive only seen it down once, and that was for a new clutch

[mudmaster]

I had an '87 F250 6.9 non turbo. Not a powerful as the new diesels, but reliable. I think Banks makes a turbo for this engine still?? Only problem I ever had was with the glow plugs. Never figured out what was wrong as I traded it in.

[WHITE_TRASH]

6.9 is a decent engine, not going to win a drag race but it'll get you there.  A family friend has a 84ish standard cab dually that only hauls a 17k 5th wheel.  We put a T18 in it and a gear vendors OD.  It already had a ATS turbo kit when he got it but the auto SUCKED the power out of it so we put in the stick.  That truck hauls some serious butt for what it is that's for sure.


I'm picking up a 90ish F350 standard cab with a 7.3 IDI and a 5 speed, we'll have to compare notes if you get that one.

[Rockcrawlintoy]

they will pull anything slowly. With a turbo kit they move pretty well. The auto is goin to make it quite a dog i would imagine a manual swap will be in your future

[BLACKDOG [OP]]

Ok, now that I've checked it out, the reason I was wondering was due to the fact that there was an '86 6.9 4wd F250 dually for sale with an 18ft gooseneck camper on CL for 1400.  Called, and they told me everything worked, everything was in good shape, they were just moving to arizona, and didn't want to take it with them.   Sounded to good to be true, and it definitely was.  Apprently a crackhead's idea of "good condition"  is "POS but it works sometimes". 

Truck had 157K miles on it, no stereo, windows didn't roll up (electric), interior was shot, rolling on a spare, took forever to get it started, one dually fender was falling off, a shitload of juryrigged wiring, broken seat, etc. etc. etc.  The trailer was worse. 

Anyway,

Thanks for the responses