1989 idi 7.3 or 6.9
 

I picked up a 89 f-350 4x4 from work. They said it has a blown motor but didn't know anymore than that. I know if I rebuilt it I would want to put the powerstroke dish top pistons in it along with the 4000rpm governor and mild custom cam but I don't have the budget for that right now. My buddy has a 6.9 out of his old truck that has new injectors and glow plugs and an ATS turbo. It only needs an injector pump which I'm guessing I can swap from my 7.3? But he only wants 450 for the motor and turbo. Do you guys think I should do that for now while I tear down the 7.3?

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Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm new to the diesel world :)

well powerstroke pistions wont work. so scratch that idea.

as for the motor for sale, get it. the turbo setup is work atleast double that.

easiest way to tell a 6.9 apart from a 7.3 is the headbolts. 6.9 has 7/16th 12 point heads. the 7.3 has 1/2 in 12 point heads.

i would rather have a 6.9 than a 7.3 due to the possibility of cavitation on the 7.3.

everything externally from a 6.9 will bolt onto a 6.9

Ok thank you. How much power difference is there between the two motors? Is that 7.3 worth rebuilding? Or should I just upgrade the 6.9? What kind of modifications can I do? I heard I could get injectors and pump out of a factory turbo motor?

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Well my buddy decided to keep his 6.9 so I'm stuck rebuilding. All my boss told me was that the motor was blown. And it has 211k miles on it. I heard the bottm ends are damn near bullet proof so what is a common fault with those motors?

possibly dropped a valve(common sorta) or they cooked it. be sure to send the block out and haver it tested for cavitation. or just sleeve it.

be a rebel run the old 6.9L the turbo kit is prolly a $1500 + add on

well i have a few options... theres a guy in reno that has a fully rebuilt 7.3 short block that he just dumped 1600 into at a shop and he only wants 400 for the block and rotating assembly. i called the guy and he sounds a few fries short of a happy meal but i'd say the motor is worth it. OR theres a running 6.9 for sale for 600, but its been sitting in a garage for 4 years... so im leaning closer to that rebuilt short block in reno and just swapping my heads and everything else and picking up that ATS turbo. sound like a better idea? or just rebuild what i have? this is my first diesel so im pretty green when it comes to this. thank you all for your help :c:

find out what was all done to the shortblock. if it was bored at all, stay away. if it was sleeved, find out if the sleeves sit on a lede at the top or if they were on a ledge on the bottom of the cyl.