value of a supposed good 7.3L IDI?

[GM Guy]

hey guys, surely a good complete 7.3L IDI is worth 700 bucks isnt it? guy pulled engine and trans from a rear ended truck. already bought the ZF5 2wd version for 200, and I was sure that was a deal.

 

[Crankme69]

I got $3K for my 1990 F250 that had over 300K on the clock. It ran like a top, them are some stout motors the E40d trans cheap to replace, not the best. A hand shaker would be nice with that setup.

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

Just be careful that it hasn't suffered from cavitation in the cylinders as that is a known issue with the 7.3L IDI's.

 

[robzombie4551]

Just be careful that it hasn't suffered from cavitation in the cylinders as that is a known issue with the 7.3L IDI's.

You mean 7.3 motors need to brush their teeth [cylinders] all eight of them.

Should he have a dentist look at it before he buys it. LOL

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

The 7.3L IDI's suffered from cavitation problems around teh cylinder walls as FORD didn't use low silicate anti-freeze from the factory in many of them. It was of a problem with the early 7.3's from what I read on them. Basically the regular anti-freeze would actually eat away the cylinder walls from the cooling passages inward due to the silicates in it from the harmonics that the engine created when it fired. Everytime the cylinder fired it would allow the silicates to hit the cylinder walls like a cutting stone and erode.

 

[94turbo-]

My 1991 f250 7.3 idi had 450,000Km when I gave up on the body, and especially the auto transmission, it had many, many many (did I say many?) oil, coolant steering, trany, and diesel leaks when the cold here reached -30 to -40. So if the engine is or was running, and not burning oil then I'd say you got a good deal. I'd reseal it, maybe a few gaskets, it may be worth installing in another truck!