Hey everyone, new here. I've been searching for a few hours now all over the internet and have found some information on this topic, but no solid answers. I tracked down the owner of my grandfather's old 1985 6.9L F250 and bought it for sentimental reasons. I plan to fully restore it (I'm an apprenticing second year mechanic) with some help of course.


My problem is this: The guy I bought it off of SCREWED this thing. My main concern is the fact that I'll have to replace the rearmost tank and it's lines going to the water seperator (The thing on the drivers side, mounted on the firewall) and most likely the thing the filter screws onto, among a list of other countless things.. Sentimental value is expensive.

I have access to a cheap 88-93 (Forgot the year it actually is) 7.3L non turbo F250 and was wondering if the rear tank, lines, water seperator bracket / water seperator would bolt into my 1985 6.9 F250? I heard of people doing this swap before but I'm not sure


Thanks in advance!! Would really like this thing to be my daily driver soon. The new diesels are nice, but nothing sounds as nice as an IDI

 

the tank should work, but the 7.3 idi does not have the F/W sepertor like a 6.9 does. the 7.3 one is built into the one on the motor. and IMO, the factory F/W seperator is a major flaw in our systems. they leak air into the system causing hard/no start. replace the factory setup with a RACOR seperator. works better than stock.

 

I've been told you can swap the filterhead from the 7.3 to the 6.9 and use the 7.3 filters with the built in water separator. Thats probably the route I will go with my 86 as I have currently bypassed the water separator all together.

 

Just put f/w sep on mine. Some genius had removed it. I used a golden? filter setup from local farm store. Works fine, but I have the see-thru bowl/filter set. It was $25 well spent.

 

golden rod. they are decent filters.

 

Do the 7.3 filter set-up.Not as many headaches as the fuel/water sep. The filter housings should swap right out. P.S. I agree on the sound of the I.D.I.!

 

the 7.3 water sep/fuel filter setup also can be prone to leaks and air intrusion.