Well as some of you may know, I picked up an 06 Dodge 1500 a while back and I was thinking about replacing it. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, just was wanting to get out of the bigger loan into something lower and I was really wanting a diesel if I was going to keep a loan.

A course the problem with diesels is obviously the added expensive and maintenance, injectors on the 06 Dodge 3500 I part own for our farm business run $300-500 a piece; so I really didn't want to get into something that was going to kill me if one thing went wrong and be stressing out about it all the time as well as added insurance cost!

Ive always been a fan of the 8th/9th gen trucks, or 87-96/7 square body. I tend to like the 92-96/7 front end and interior a little better but I wouldn't hesitate to get an 87-91/2 if it was in good condition. Like everyone I was trying to find a good balance of nice options like diesel and 4x4, not super expensive to work on and maintain, not worn n rusted out and banged up; but also keep it at a fair budget.

So after saying all that, I found this gem out in Illinois which is a good 5 hours from me in Kentucky, and after working all thanksgiving night and getting off at 6am, I drove straight up. Ended up getting a 1990 F250 7.3 4x4, single cab, long bed, 5 spd manual, with 40,000 original miles. It was a 1 owner that had been garaged for the last 22 years and used on a farm, and still had original owners manuals still in the plastic and original floor mats which can def be hard to come by. Plus I was born in 1990 so it's kinda cool being the same age as me as well.

It wasn't my first or even third choice in exterior and interior color but I couldn't pass up the deal; and its probably safe to say that I would not be able to replace it with something just like it again. There just isn't many left to buy still in the condition and miles. But on to pictures.














Ive been waiting awhile to post pictures of it and I still haven't got any recent ones that are good and show what its like now; this was just the day I got it home.

So far it needs a little tlc like you'd expect and ive took off the horrid full length side steps, and replaced some fuel lines.

Plans are swap ac system in it, maybe switch to serpentine setup, solid axle dana 60 up front, wheels and tires, more maintenance items. MAYBE 92-96/7 front end swap down the road and paint but it almost kills me to change up the originality of the truck with this condition but well see down the road.

 

very nice truck! love the 7.3 and manual!!

 

Awesome... that is definitely not something you see every day in that sort of shape!

 

i would kill to have that truck. not a fan of red on red but who cares, it's sweet

 

Nice looking rig!

 

Thanks. It def has the options you want in this kind of truck. Single cab, long bed, 4x4, diesel, 5 spd, manual transfer case, manual doors and windows, and hard vinyl floor.


Thanks. An no it def is not, I would need atleast 8 grand out of it to part ways with it.


Thanks man. An me either but with these gen trucks, they were always doing crazy interior colors from red, green, blue, etc etc.

Im more of black or white paint guy, but for the deal I couldn't pass it up.


Thanks

 

Figured there'd be a little more action with this many views lol.

 

why did you go with an idi diesel as opposed to a powerstroke 7.3? theyll run alot more efficiently.

 

nice truck! looks great for its age. does it seem sluggish?

 

1. initial purchase price/insurance and cost of maintenance. You've clearly never owned both because you can't even compare them lol. The only things they share in common with each other is 7.3 displacement. While id love a square body powerstroke, or even more a 97 and up powerstroke; it just wasn't the right timing for me to pick one up yet.

2. Plus alot more mechanical on this engine vs electronic of powerstroke, which makes things easier to work on and again mainly parts alot cheaper. Not to mention my insurance is crazy low on this truck compared to a powerstroke. I can replace all my injectors for about the price of 1 injector on many other diesels.

I would have loved to have one, but I was trying to find a good mix of diesel and 4x4, low miles and good condition, but also not cost an arm and a leg, insurance not kill me, and maintenance and repairs not kill me if they did pop up.


Honestly, no.

I mean don't get me wrong its no newer diesel, its not even apples or oranges; its apples to bananas to our 06 3500 or any 6.0 and up ford diesel. But for not being turbo'd and for its power level im comfortable with it. Plus you have to remember, mine being the non turbo idi, it makes all its power and torque very low to compensate for that so its not as noticeable because im not "waiting" for the turbo to spool up and make its main power if that makes sense; the powerband helps alot in that area vs the powerstroke just because of the sole fact that it has to with not having a turbo.

I don't see why people complain so much about the power. Maybe because im single cab, 4.10 gears, manual, small tires and low mileage engine that it isn't near as bad for me as it is for others that normally own these trucks.

But for all things considered with the year, non turbo, and hp/tq level im happy; but again my particular setup might have alot to do with that!

 

i thought those trucks had the 6.9 diesel in them and the 7.3 came in 92.

 

around 87/88 it switched

92/93-94 could get a turbo idi

94/95 up powerstroke

Im sure I could look it up and break it down to super specific but thats the gist of it off the top of my head.

 

That's a great looking truck. Mind saying how much you paid for it?

 

That's a beautiful truck. I've got a soft spot for 87-91 standard cab longbed Fords though. Nice buy for sure.

 

I had a 91 crew cab dully with the same motor. Miss it

But that thing is clean!

 

I traded my dodge in to the dealer that the first owner traded in to the day before so I put what was left from my dodge down on it.

But full price would have been about 7-8 on it from a dealer.

Thanks that means alot coming from you. I like your color scheme better and that D60 of yours lol

But I couldn't pass up the low mileage diesel, being a one owner garaged for the last 22 years and all the paperwork he had on it; plus the dealer was one of the better dealers ive ever dealt with.

They even inspected it and gave me a print out of everything they did and everything it needs and the prices it would cost and hours it would call for at a shop if I decided to go that route. Theyve sent me xmas cards, text and call me to see how its doing, filled the dual tanks up, sent me gas card for xmas, etc.

I drove 5 hours to get it at 6am the day after thanksgiving after working all night. The head mechanic that did the work and inspection on it told me over the phone that if I don't buy it that he is going to to put along side is powerstroke excursion but he isn't allowed to until after I made my decision beens I was coming from so far away.

 

I want a 92-96/7 crew cab 4x4 diesel with a passion but I wouldn't get rid of this for one. Someone would have to bring me atleast 8 grand in cash for me to let this go, because I will honestly probably never be able to find another one like this and in the condition to buy. They just aren't left anymore, and if they are; the people aren't planning on selling them!

I bought this as my DD but the funny part is, because of its condition I hate taking it out when its nasty out so I keep it garaged and just drive it once or twice a week to keep everything good. But its been snowy here and ive drove the other cars instead of this 4x4; sad I know.

I plan on always keeping this and putting a crew cab beside it when the time comes.

 

Truck looks awesome. Hope someday I'm lucky enough to find a similar truck in such good conditions. 6th to 9th gen Ford F150-F250 are my favorites.