I could buy as a tow rig, an 86 Ford EX Cab F250 Diesel w/auto.... It's a 4wd, 8lug TTB front... It has about 105K on it... What is it worth, is the motor/tranny/tcase any good, or should I pass on it? TIA, Mike

i would pass... ford diesels werent very good at all until they were badged as the Powerstroke. save your $$$ and buy a newer model with a manual (5spd or 6 spd) if youre going to do heavy towing.

I think it just depends on what you can get it for. It proably has the C6 , being it's an 86. You won't have to worry about that trans. I punched in the stats on kbb.com and put good conditon, it said around $3400, but only you know what conditon it is. With it being a diesel it'll have the 6.9. Nothing like the powerstroke, but if you can get a good deal you can always add a Banks or something later. The one thing I warn you about is cavation(however you spell it) Go to www.ford-diesel.com and do some searching you'll find tons of info.

The cavatation thing is more for the 7.3 then the 6.9. The 6.9 has thicker wall around the bore. Should you watch out for it, yes. Worry about it no. I have a 86 with 6.9 and ATS. Just over 250,000 miles on it. The c-6 is a strong tranny, however it also sucks up alot of HP to turn it. The truck will be a slug, but it will pull like a bastard.

That's good to know that cavation is more likely to occur with the 7.3 and not the 6.9. I've been looking at trucks with the 6.9 and turned them down, thinking that since they were older that they would more than likely to have it versus a newer one.

I Like my powerstroke, but there are advantages to the older mechanically injected engines. (IDI) You should hear both sides and make an informed decision.

With a Banks or ATS turbo kit a 7.3 IDI will run with a stock Powerstroke.(but not one that has been bombed!) You are limited by head gaskets and head bolts to around 14psi boost though. Though expensive, compared to what powerstrokes will go for, the kits are affordable.

Powerstrokes like frequent oil changes (3,000 milesand they hold 14 quarts. And the filters cost $10. This makes for a ~ $30 DIY oil change.

The injection system on a Powerstroke is EXTREAMLY complex. The IDI system is MUCH simpler by comparison. Cam Position sensor failure in particular is common and can leave you dead on side of the road. The beasts are nearly unmanageable without vacuum pump (for power brakes) and power steering. The IDIs use easy to find V belts. The powerstroke needs a long, wide, serpentine belt (with tensioner and idler wheels to fail) that can take three of four parts stores before you find one.

Why does this beast have a TTB? I thought the 250 HD's and diesels had solid fronts?

Originally posted by Gozuki
Why does this beast have a TTB? I thought the 250 HD's and diesels had solid fronts?

The engineers for that one were hitting the same crack pipe as the ones for the 1/2 ton's and the rangers, dude.

I wanna say, not sure correct me if I am wrong guys, it was 99 they threw the solid back in it. Might have been 98.

It should be a dana 50 TTB though, so its plenty strong. Just not very "flexxy". Atleast I think thats what they slapped in them. If not, I am sure someone here knows.

Originally posted by Gozuki
Why does this beast have a TTB? I thought the 250 HD's and diesels had solid fronts?

NO trucks had solid axles from 80-85.

Only F350 and 450 had them from 85-97

After 99, all the SuperDuties have them. Diesel never had anything to do with it.

There weren't any 98 model F250SD, F350, F450 trucks.

the only thing diesel had to do with it was all of the diesels got the dana 50 TTB, whereas some of the gassers got the dana 44 TTB, just like the half tons, only with leaf springs. So half ton = dana 44 TTB with coils, 3/4 ton = dana 44 TTB with leafs standard, dana 50 TTB with leafs optional, 3/4 ton with diesel = Dana 50 TTB with leafs standard, and 1 ton after 1985 = dana 60 straight axle with leafs.

Originally posted by CrazyHorse
3/4 ton with diesel = Dana 50 TTB with leafs standard.
No it is still an option. We had a 89 F-250 w/7.3and even though it had the FF 10.25 rear, it only had the 44. And a friend of the family also has an 89 250 with 7.3, also 44TTB in the front.