The New to me wood truck

I picked up a 1987 3500 dump flatbed for lumber deliveries it is a work in progress some rust repairs on the bed ,I have to replace the headboard the truck did leaf collection duty and landscape work it is nice to work on a simple truck 6.2 diesel 4 speed 4x4 JB

 

That’s a sweet truck congrats!

 

I could not pass up 112000 original miles only 60,000 on engine his father ethered the original engine to start once and broke piston rings they put a brand new gm engine in it everything is original it needs cosmetic TLC (tons of labor and currency) but for a old work truck it is in really good shape body has minimal rust even the rockers are good just needs cab corners always projects to do JB

 

I’d take it. I need a 1 ton dump for gravel and wood and junk hauling.

 

A perfect work truck.
Glad to see its a 4 speed...diesel and automatic back in those days made for a gutless wonder!

And these guys all roll their eyes at me whenever I mention about being careful/stingy with ether use...

 

Nice find for sure!
Ether bad in those. Put 12v glow plugs & a push button in. They last way longer. About 30 seconds hold to start at 32F.

 

OEM was 12V, no?
I agree with the manual control for sure!

 

Nope, 6v so they heated fast. That's why they burnt up so fast.

 

Well how about that...not even noon yet and I dun went n learnt something already!
I've only ever fooled with a few of the 6.2's...more 6.5's and the 7.3 IH.
I like the cold start system that I ran across on an old forklift one time...Perkins I think it was...had a single glow plug that once heated up, it had a source of diesel fuel and would light up...open flame warmed the intake manifold and incoming air. Never seen another like it before or since. No ether allowed!

 

X3 on the no ether! I work at a trucking/ excavation company so I have seen more than one engine destroyed with ether. 87 k3500 is a beast of a work truck, and yes that granny 4 speed is the only way to go for serious hauling

 

Nice truck, congrats...

 

Last year of the square body GM trucks, and a fine specimen at that Congratulations JB Sawman

 

I have also fixed my share of ether damaged engines in heavy equipment the best thing I ever saw was a customer had several 85-86 ford plow trucks with the 6.9 diesel he got tired of replacing glow plugs so he took a piece of hose and ran it from the inside of the cab to the air cleaner so he could spray ether from inside while cranking it !! he did that for years JB

 

I remember hearing a story about my grandpa bricking his new 68 JD4020 with ether.

 

A little bit goes a long ways...

 

That's Awesome! Those 6.9 Fords are pretty tough. I seen someone spray a whole can of ether into a 60 series Detroit one time. Destroyed multiple engine parts. Boss was PIZZED

 

The local shop has a tweaked rod out of a 6.9 on the wall in the engine room...the wall where they display the ether casualties...
If I recall correctly, it was twisted pretty good...but yeah, those 6.9/7.3's were built heavy and low HP, so lasted durn near forever...you could add an aftermarket turbo kit (for some semblance of HP) and they'd still hold up well!

 

Yep, my old 89 7.3 IDI ain't no power house lol. She'll pull as long as you don't get in a hurry, but at 130K it's barely broken in. I expect to get a lot of life out of it.

 

True story...I've seen so many of those things with 300k (and more) on them its not funny...ever see one with a factory turbo?
Most people don't realize Ford offered 3 diesel options in '94...the N/A IDI 7.3, the factory turbo IDI 7.3, and then the "Powerstroke" (although the name didn't come until '95) was available late in the model year with a 5 speed trans only.