1987 f350 diesel

I'm thinking about buying a 1987 f350 diesel 7.3 regular cab dually. The folks had the fuel pump rebuilt and they personally put it back on. Now the engine starts but don't run long. Has anybody here had this problem and fixed it? I really don't want to be upside down in this truck.Thanks for any help.

I don't think the 7.3 came out till 88. All of the 87's I've seen had a 6.9. No power, hard starting, glow plug eating SOB's. Had one of each and they are a PITA and only get worse the older they get. Run away fast, unless you can make money hauling it to the crusher.

They are very simple and if the price is right they can be a good beater truck IMO. Just don't expect them to run like the newer stuff.

It could be a late 87 7.3.But will be NON Turbo and have a inj.pump. I have some parts for one if you need them.Look on the Valve cover,it should say on the spec. sticker if it"s a 7.3.

Good old engines, love them - I've had a few. My first one had 401,000KM when I bought it. Easy as hell to work on and cheap too. GP problems can be solved easy with the pump timing bumped ahead the width of a dime and lose the GP relay in favour of a push button on the dash. Once the engine is warm at all it doesn't need the GP's on to start. Not a lot of power but they are good old engines - made when International knew how to build an engine....Their new stuff is pure junk. If it runs for a short time and dies it's likely sucking air into the fuel system. You can get a return line kit for them cheap and it usually fixes this symptom most times. I used to run mine on a mix of diesel and waste oil, worked like a top.

BigRigTech wrote:Good old engines, love them - I've had a few. My first one had 401,000KM when I bought it. Easy as hell to work on and cheap too. GP problems can be solved easy with the pump timing bumped ahead the width of a dime and lose the GP relay in favour of a push button on the dash. Once the engine is  warm at all it doesn't need the GP's on to start. Not a lot of power but they are good old engines - made when International knew how to build an engine....Their new stuff is pure junk. If it runs for a short time and dies it's likely sucking air into the fuel system. You can get a return line kit for them cheap and it usually fixes this symptom most times. I used to run mine on a mix of diesel and waste oil, worked like a top.

my old 93 F250 had a 7.3 none turbo it pulled like a train it wasn't a speed demon but got the job done. they are cheaper to work on than the power strokes are you can buy a whole set of injectors for what 1 power stroke injector cost. plus no computer to worry with.

The 92 F350 dually 4x4 that I have now came with a 460/5spd. It would pass everything but a gas station - vicious on fuel because the truck is 8500lbs empty. I put an IDI in it for about 5yrs. Worked good but under powers so I bought a 95 F250 with a 7.3 powerstroke and re powered it again. Love it now, pulls great and even better on fuel. I'm building a 2005 F250 2wd now. I converted it to a dually, reg can long box. It had a 6.0L but I bought it as a roller and I'm putting an 02 7.3L in it. 7.3 PSD's are where it's at, NO egr or regen BS. A couple mods and a tuner is all you need to get decent power out of them.

I looked at the truck closer and talked with buddy again today. Yea, he said rebuilt pump, put it back on, truck may run an hr or hr 1/2 or so and then dies. He said he can pour some fuel in it and it's liable to start again. He said after it dies it still gets fuel or pumps fuel but just want start. One fella said gp's. It's on charge. He is gonna crank it in the am wen I go by there. It's a 1990 7.3 regular cab dually, need paint, cold air, inside is ok. Don't remember the miles. What's it worth?
Thanks

I have a good inj. pump if it needs one.

I gave 2000 for mine 4 years ago and sold it the 1st of the year for $1500 it was a 93 f250

He's asking 3500 the way it sit which I can't see giving that and not know what's wrong nor how much it'll cost to get fixed. I may offer him 2700 or something like that.
Thanks

Does it sound like the pump has a problem or need to be tightened up better? He said he can pour some fuel somewhere and it'll start back up. Anyway he's gonna crank it in the am.
THANKS

If it's sucking the fuel filter dry on the engine then it's sucking air between it and the tank or air is getting in the return side. Either way it's a cheap and easy fix.

I had several over the yrs. they are good engines. Sounds like it may be getting air some where. Or maybe the lift pump is going out. They have a mechanical one. Check for any cracks or any source of air that can get in the fuel system all the way to the tank. They are hard to start but only if it is very cold. I will blow the glow plugs if you use either to start it and do not disable them. I've seen the glow plugs explode and be next to impossable to get out. The lift pumps are notorious issue. The easy fix is to a electric pump like a holley red pump in line. Also they have a air bleed at the filter. Looks like a tire valve. Elect pump makes it easy to bleed. Overall they are good just got a bad rap because general public don't know about cranky old mechanical diesels. Keep good battery's starters clean fuel and air out they will run forever. They are basically farm equipment. Worst problems these trucks have is a very weak fire wall. This is only a issue on manual trucks. We ran them for yrs as service trucks for my fathers buissness