Reasonable Diesels: Old Fords

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
08/11/2019 at 20:41 • Filed to: diesel

This 85 F-250 has my Gambler 500 team going nuts. $750 but apparently the seller is silly flexible. Bet he’d take $ 500.

Can’t even remember the last time I saw one of these without cancerous rust. It has the 6.9 International engine.

Apparently just needs a starter or alternator. Would make a decent work truck or Gambler for someone!

There was also an $850 diesel Centurion that disappeared before we finished drooling.

Link in the comments as well!

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DISCUSSION (19)

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 20:45

So, why is this post not titled, "Look at my new truck!"?

Mercedes Streeter > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 20:50

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/619927081864171/

Mercedes Streeter > Rainbow
08/11/2019 at 20:52

My Ranger put me at max 4 wheeled vehicle . Can’t buy more unless I got a bigger garage for storage. lol

Amusingly, that's the problem everyone in my team has. Someone even street parks 8 Gambler cars in Chicago. lol

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 21:47

That might make someone a very, very slow truck, on the off chance there is anything left of the injection pump after a 10+ years of running ultra-low sulfur diesel. I once owned a 7.3 IDI. It was slow when the truck was unloaded. With a load it became deathly slow. As in, we’re going to get killed by an 18 wheeler who isn’t paying attention and going 20mph faster up this grade than we are slow . I can’t imagine how slow the 6.9 is...

Taema > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 21:55

I've been trying to find an Oregon gambler team. Good on ya. I've been keeping an eye out for a samurai or similar. Small as possible.

Mercedes Streeter > Taema
08/11/2019 at 22:04

Join the Gambler 500 Rally Group. You’ll find people to team up with! :)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2029121940735267/

Taema > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 22:13

No Facebook. But I might make an account bro check it out!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 22:28

The 7.3idi had some glow plug relay issues, so that might be a thing on the 6.9. His burnt down, right after he sold it.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Mercedes Streeter
08/11/2019 at 23:28

These sound ridiculous with dual exhaust. Like super loud!

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter
08/12/2019 at 05:58

That diesel centurion is like a redneck fever dream vehicle. Needless to say I would’ve been all over it given the chance.

The only thing better would be a Dodge Dreamer.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Mercedes Streeter
08/12/2019 at 07:53

Holy shit, that’s a fucking steal.

Mercedes Streeter > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/12/2019 at 12:16

Interesting! I don’t know much about diesels aside from the fact that people want $20+k for rusty Cummins Rams.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Mercedes Streeter
08/12/2019 at 12:22

The old IDI Fords are gaining ground, people want basic diesels. They may not be fast, but they will go forever and are stupid simple.

That truck could easily bring $3.5 k up here if not more. If I didn’t have 4 vehicles in the driveway already I’d be on my way to pick it up, sight unseen, it’s exactly what we wanted for a replacement for our 04 when the time comes.

Mercedes Streeter > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/12/2019 at 13:07

Oh no, now that’s SUPER tempting! I’ve long wanted a diesel something in my fleet; preferably a smart but that may never happen for years . One of the Gambler guys from last year has a 250 of similar vintage and the thing’s loud enough to wake up an entire campground on start.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Mercedes Streeter
08/12/2019 at 16:07

Lack of a Turbo to drown out the sound.

At the price he’s asking I’m still seriously considering hitting him up, it looks relatively clean.

Mercedes Streeter > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
08/12/2019 at 16:36

Same! Only actual barrier for me is a way to get it home. Have a tow vehicle, not so much a trailer or dolly large enough for it. lol

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Mercedes Streeter
08/12/2019 at 17:14

Jump the starter and see if it starts, if it does, drive it home.

Friend of mine drove his 7.3L IDI like that for over a year. Surprised he never killed himself.

jimz > Mercedes Streeter
08/23/2019 at 13:24

I had a couple of those old IDIs. fairly reliable engines, gutless by the standards of modern diesels. Eat glow plugs like popcorn. Oh, and by about 150,000 miles cylinder taper worsens and they start chugging oil at the rate of 1 qt/500-750 miles. they’ll run forever like that, though. and the distributor-style injection pumps were good for ~80,000 miles on ‘90s diesel fuel. Don’t know if they’d last as long on today’s ULSD.

jimz > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
08/23/2019 at 13:27

nah, the problem on the ‘83-87 6.9s was the fragile controller, which would die and leave the glow plugs inop. you could keep replacing the bloody thing, or do what the P.O. of my first truck did and just wire in a momentary button to activate them manually. But they used 6 volt plugs back then for rapid heating, so the difference between “hot enough to start” and “burned out” was literally 1 or 2 seconds.