[The Boss]

Originally Posted by mzbk2l

One trick I learned my first summer over here is that Humvee's love to not start (or die while running) when it gets hot out. Didn't take long to figure out that dumping a bottle of cold water over the injector pump will get it to fire right back up. Can't tell you how many soldiers I amazed with that trick.

You would think they would have figured that out early on & made the modification necessary to eliminate the problem.....

[mechanic17]

Good scoop with the forum links, guys. I am reading them in between checking in here. Having talked myself into it, I'm like a kid in a candy store--unfortunately I only have enough coin to buy the one treat.

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by Ben M.

Depends on where you live. Where I live, the 6.2 is rare but goes for peanuts. The 7.3 is more common, but the also costs a few grand more just because it's the 7.3. The 6.9 is a bit cheaper, but most of those trucks of that era have had the snot beat out of them.

Some of the Ford guys swear the 6.9 gets better fuel economy. Problem with the 6.2s is if the glow plugs get swelled; you canot get them out and have to yank the heads. Keep that in mind if you're looking. Also it seems around 200K alot of the IDI Fords injection pumps like to retire. Not a hard job to do if you get the truck cheap enough. Also, I've picked up several IDIs for cheap where the glow plug relay went bad; seems commons and it's another easy fix.
Can't give you much sympathy on the area; rust there is nothing. Not bad here like up north, but still bad.

[The Boss]

For all things Ford http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

[mechanickeith]

Originally Posted by 455Grandville

Some of the Ford guys swear the 6.9 gets better fuel economy. Problem with the 6.2s is if the glow plugs get swelled; you canot get them out and have to yank the heads. Keep that in mind if you're looking. Also it seems around 200K alot of the IDI Fords injection pumps like to retire. Not a hard job to do if you get the truck cheap enough. Also, I've picked up several IDIs for cheap where the glow plug relay went bad; seems commons and it's another easy fix.
Can't give you much sympathy on the area; rust there is nothing. Not bad here like up north, but still bad.

Dont allways have to pull the heads. Pull the injector & use a pair of angle needle nose pliers to pull the glow plug tip out through the injector hole. Have done this many many times with success. Dont have to worry about dropping the plug tip as it will stay in the combustion cup in the head. Magnet helps a lot also.

[mechanic17]

Have expanded my search to Step Vans-- alot more Chevys and GMCs there, but mostly gas engines. Would really like to score a Cummins 6 or Duramax 6.6/Allison in a reasonably sized (under 24 ft.) stand-up vehicle. Utility cabinets a big plus, and inverter/wiring and/or gennie desirable. Like an old Snap-On truck. Anyone knows of anything, I'm trying to stay under $8k.

[Ben M.]

There's quite a few for sale here on the local craigslist that meet most of your criteria, but it IS California and most people aren't interested in coming out here for cars.

[mechanic17]

I am willing to travel, but to go to California it would have to be THE ONE.

[AROWHED]

I've got a 94 Chevy K3500 6.5L 4x4. It had the PMD remote mounted on a heatsink already but was starting to show signs of failing injection pump, so I did the mechanical pump swap to it. Runs real well now, but sure wont win any diesel drags. Trans is the manual 5 speed, 3rd gear buzzes everytime but I can still get it in easily...heard it has carbon fiber synchros.
Body is going away to rust, though...anybody got a 8' Chevy dually bed they don't need?

[PonchoV8]

I'd get something you can go from cab to rear in. The one pictured might just be a pass thru only.

Mike, where do you get cold water in the desert? I remember that picture of the pallet of bottled water stacked in the Sun.

My 1999 6.5L ran fine until I learned there was an 11 yr 110,000 mile warranty on the IP from GM. I had mine checked due to lots of soot and they replaced it due to codes ti tripped. It didn't take long until the PMD started going. Pooring water on the thing makes it fire right up. I bought a replacement PMD and a piece of heat sink material, but never had to install it after buying it. It hasn't failed to start and run since. It used to take me to work. By afternoon it wouldn't start to take me home. I always kept a bottle of water in the cab. Tepid water was all it needed--half a bottle.

[mechanic17]

Here's what I ended up with, for those interested. 1992 International 4000 ambulance body with a all-mechanical DTA360/Allison 545. Same combo as in a lot of Bluebird schoolbuses. Bought in Miami, rust free 110,000 miles.

Only got a disappointing 10 mpg on the 1500 mile ride home, but they were trouble-free. Runs great! Never saw temps over 180 for water or tranny. Oh, has 4-wheel disc brakes too!

I'm doing the PMs on it now. So far found 6 filters to change: two oil, two fuel, one coolant, one external tranny. The air has life left yet, and I'll get to the in-pan tranny filter when I can afford the 4 gallons of fluid.

Anyone think it's worthwhile to go synthetic oil and/or tranny with this beast? (I used Delo 15w/40 already). I'm new to diesel so any advice appreciated.

[Sirrotica]

I have a 7.3 444 N/A 1988 with a Spicer 5 speed in it that I'm building a wrecker from (mine's a ex U Haul truck that I shortened the chassis about 8 feet) It has 4 wheel discs and air ride and in my opinion it's about the perfect chassis for a light/medium duty wrecker self leveling and 4 WD and a pretty much bullet proof driveline and engine. Mine got 12.5 MPG on the road about 250 mile trip.

Air and fuel filters are important and if your going to just going to use the factory style oil filters 3-4000 miles oil change intervals. Synthetic is usually a better choice for any lubricant if you can justify the expense. I use Shell Rotella 15-40W, but Delo is probably comparable.

I see you have lo-pro tires, hope they're in good shape because the 19.5s are about $2-300 per tire.

Should make a great camper...............

[vin63]

Originally Posted by mechanic17

Here's what I ended up with, for those interested. 1992 International 4000 ambulance body with a all-mechanical DTA360/Allison 545. Same combo as in a lot of Bluebird schoolbuses. Bought in Miami, rust free 110,000 miles.

Only got a disappointing 10 mpg on the 1500 mile ride home, but they were trouble-free. Runs great! Never saw temps over 180 for water or tranny. Oh, has 4-wheel disc brakes too!

I'm doing the PMs on it now. So far found 6 filters to change: two oil, two fuel, one coolant, one external tranny. The air has life left yet, and I'll get to the in-pan tranny filter when I can afford the 4 gallons of fluid.

Anyone think it's worthwhile to go synthetic oil and/or tranny with this beast? (I used Delo 15w/40 already). I'm new to diesel so any advice appreciated.

That's pretty cool! Congrats! That fuel mileage has a lot to do with the weight. I use Baldwin filters for my diesels, and I'm an oil-is-oil person, so the Delo is a fine choice, but I do use a TES 395-rated fluid in my Allisons.

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by mechanic17

Here's what I ended up with, for those interested. 1992 International 4000 ambulance body with a all-mechanical DTA360/Allison 545. Same combo as in a lot of Bluebird schoolbuses. Bought in Miami, rust free 110,000 miles.

Only got a disappointing 10 mpg on the 1500 mile ride home, but they were trouble-free. Runs great! Never saw temps over 180 for water or tranny. Oh, has 4-wheel disc brakes too!

I'm doing the PMs on it now. So far found 6 filters to change: two oil, two fuel, one coolant, one external tranny. The air has life left yet, and I'll get to the in-pan tranny filter when I can afford the 4 gallons of fluid.

Anyone think it's worthwhile to go synthetic oil and/or tranny with this beast? (I used Delo 15w/40 already). I'm new to diesel so any advice appreciated.

The 7.3s in those chassis usually do much better then the Dt466s , I would have thought the Dt360 would have done a little better, but it's a good little engine that should go many miles.

[mzbk2l]

Not that you're still under any warranty on that thing, but Allison likes synthetic fluid enough that they used to offer double the warranty on a new transmission if it came equipped with their TranSynd synthetic fluid. They must find some benefit to it.

That said, there are millions of AT545s running around with whatever low-bid fluid the agencies purchased in bulk. You'll probably be fine either way.

[INJUNTOM]

What are guys getting for fuel mileage on the 7.3 Fords? My buddy says he gets 18mpg on his '99 Doge 2500 4x4 Cummins. It's a long bed.

I've recently been looking at 90s model Dodges, but I haven't ruled out the 7.3 either, but fuel mileage is a plus for me to make the move since my gas truck gets 9.5 unloaded. Never checked it pulling, but it has to be worse.

[The Boss]

16 mpg combined around town & some highway - pulling an empty trailer on the highway it's close to the same, loaded I get around 12.

2000 F-350 Crew Cab, long bed, long wheel base, single rear wheel. 217,000 miles.

[INJUNTOM]

Originally Posted by The Boss

16 mpg combined around town & some highway - pulling an empty trailer on the highway it's close to the same, loaded I get around 12.

2000 F-350 Crew Cab, long bed, long wheel base, single rear wheel. 217,000 miles.

I have a 2wd '94 F150 5.0 that doesn't get that. Come to think of it my gas '85 Chevy with a 4.3 Vortec swap doesn't even get that.

[The Boss]

I did 700 miles on Tuesday with it & left here with a full tank, filled up when we were close to empty and still had a 1/4 tank when we got home.

[mechanic17]

I'm really hoping that the fuel mileage will improve as I learn more and do better. The tire pressure may not have been optimal on the trip as one of the inner stems is not accessible. I need to pick up a 3/4" impact gun. I was trying to keep 85 psi in the front tires (the outer rears never needed any) but could not always get to air.

Also, the truck lived its whole life in one Florida town and did not run often. Probably saw very little highway use. I have not determined the gearing yet but was running about 2300 rpm at 60 mph (which I tried to stick to, as I sometimes had a vibration at 65). As someone pointed out, it has 19.5" tires. I believe the Allison is a 4-gear without overdrive.

I'll look for a K&N air filter. Also want to do the rear end fluid with the tranny. Am I missing anything?