Hey guys I've had a few gas Fords in my life and my current truck is a '97 HD 5.8L with 255k. Its a work truck and a daily driver. There's a bunch of work it needs, probably uses/leaks a quart of oil a month depending on how much I drive. I was thinking about replacing it with a 1990 7.3 NA IDI with a little bit of work done to it, but still needs a few things. I have no problem with mechanical work, but never owned a diesel before.

Everything I've read about the NA 7.3 is good, except its slow. Its a work truck, so I don't need to be fast, but will I hate the difference? Sometimes I trailer cars around, but that's about it. Its probably overkill for my towing needs, but I was more thinking of the reliability factor. I'm also a fireman, so I need to get to work in the worst weather without fail.

How much more life can I really expect to get out of the 5.8? Anyone ever owned both? Preferences?

 

It would depend on what has been done to it in the past. Hows the body? If the transmission, front end, everything else is original, you could be fixing up a potential money pit.

 

Every picture I have of my nephew's 95 F350 7.3 is with the hood up and him underneath it or on top of it. It's probably the reason he sold it. I don't know much about IDI's but I am a member of several facebook OBS groups - most folks either love them or hate them. My advice would be to drive one first. They are a COMPLETELY different experience from gassers, in my opinion.

 

I drive a tiller ladder for work, so anything less usually feels like a sports car anyway. I just never know when to part with something and move on. Too attached to rusty metal haha

 

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto...278058717.html