I've been talking with a guy about purchasing his 1985 f250 with a 6.9idi mated to a 4 speed standard 4 wheel drive and have a question. The truck in question about 160,000 miles on it and i'd say at least half of that was used to pull a fifth wheel horse trailer. is this truck going to develope transmission issues anytime soon or are they pretty stout? Could other issues arise from this. The current owner says it doesn't fall out of gear under load. Anything else i should be worried about?

The plan for the truck is a 2'' lift, 35'' tires, detroit locker for the rear and thats pretty much it. I want to build a reliable truck to drive on road trips (up to 600miles per trip) this summer out in the back country of California and not worry about being stranded 70 miles from the nearest help. Thanks for any input you all may have.

 

I had a 85 f250 supercab diesel with the 6.9. It had 325,xxx on it when I sold it. The only real problem we had with it was the radiator core support fell part and had to be replaced twice.

 

I've been doing a lot of research on these trucks and they seem pretty solid. I just don't to buy a truck and have a bunch of mechanical issues. I know that there are gonna be some things that need to be adressed, thats a given for a truck that is over 26 years old.

 

well 2" lift on a ttb,must be a body lift,6.9 are solid ol motors,4 speed will leave you wanting a over drive.12-13 mpgs if your lucky.sound like it would make a great farm truck or play toy,if its a great price id buy it,but 2-3k you can find a 7.3 5 speed 4x4.

 

The whole cavatation issue worries me with those 7.3 motors. However, a 5 speed would be nice and the extra power, which isn't much, would be another bonus as well. No bodylift for the truck i get just suspension. I might even do a 4'' lift but i want the truck low enough to get my dirt bike in without breaking my *****.

 

if your gonna lift it go with a straight axle,cheaper to just find a old f350 straight axle with same gears and swap,it would give you 3-4 inch i think,i have a friend with a 86 f250 4x4 6.9 4 speed runs great,its turned up 2 flats smokes like a tar kettle will pull anything just not fast.

 

i have an 87... it has an 88 7.3 4 spd. and 4x4 ... i did the add a leaf leveling kit on the front end .... runnin 35's and royal purple synthetic oil, I get 20 on the highway..... also i have installed a 6" K&N filter.. which is loud in cab but sound beefy as all hell...also installed a 4" Dynomax Diesel muffler and its ... turned up the IP 1 1/2 flats and se pulls and hauls awesome...... royal purple,Z max, and Lucas Synthetic oil stabilizer runs about $135.00 and I'm running the oil changes 10k between changes.... also running shell diesel 5% bio-diesel much better power and less smoke.... #2 fuel smokes bad.... ATF will help power and cleans the injector tips as well......

 

did the add-a-leafs limit articulation? Sounds like you have a pretty good setup.

 

no my add a leaf actually helped when i did take it rock crawling.......love the truck, just wish it was a solid axle with a 4 link and some coil overs.... but the wallet wont be having any of that.... no job not helping !!!! Washington state is commin up but not fast enough
been doing mobile mechanic work now for almost a year.... if any one near tacoma needs help post me or e-mail me .... johngatesjr@yahoo.com