International 6.9 IDI
International 6.9 IDI
I recently finished up building a new engine for my 86 Ford F-250. i thought some people might appreciate an interesting build and some pictures. when i got the truck it was running well and had a new transmission. however it had a crack in the block by the block heater. it was a known issue with the early 6.9 however the truck was cheap and so are the engines and parts. so i decided to get the truck and build an engine from the ground up for it. the first step was getting a used but ok engine off of craigslist. [img]<a href=[/img]" />
next was to strip the engine down to the bones and inspect and measure everything.[img]<a href=[/img]" />[img]<a href=[/img]" />
then i began the process of blueprinting the engine. first while the block was at the machine shop i balanced the rods and pistons to within a gram of each other.[img]<a href=[/img]" />
i have worked on everything from 25cc 4 stroke engines to 4360cu/in 28 cylinder twin turbo supercharged engines and holy s### that crank was heavy for an engine its size and power rating i weighed it in at 117lbs.[img]<a href=[/img]" />then i had the block decked .010" and the cylinders bored out .030" i honed all the cylinders to within a few ten-thou of each other. i don't have any pictures of the block after getting it back but here it is right before i sent it out.[img]<a href=[/img]" />
after putting the heads on and starting to assemble it. at this point i was rushing to get it together so i don't have as many pictures. however i re-cut both the valves and seats with a three angle job. then i studded the entire engine with ARP's.[img]<a href=[/img]" />
liberal use of both machinery gray and ford blue.[img]<a href=[/img]" />
accessories going on and getting ready to drop it in the truck.[img]<a href=[/img]" />and finally looking quite nice in its new home[img]<a href=[/img]" />
I think this is cool, nobody likes to give attention to any Diesel engine besides the regulars.
What's your future plans with it?
There is a video online of a 6.5l with twin belt driven rotary pumps in a tractor
i am planning on fabricating some manifolds to mount a turbo amongst other things. however it was mostly built for reliability and efficiency. the only other choice in engines from that era that could do the same work was the ford 460. and good luck breaking 8MPG with that beast. as it is i get ~15MPG in a 9000LB truck with a C6 automatic (3 speed direct drive 3rd no locking converter and 4.10 rear gears). its an interesting engine it was in circulation at the same time as the first gen of Cummins 6BT however it is more reliable (if you get one after 84 once they solved the block heater issue) and it makes more power despite being N/A (170HP @3300 & 338LB/FT @ 1400!)
IMore reliable and more power than a first gen? I may have to disagree with you on that aspect lol, maybe on paper. Three farms in our area all bought diesel trucks when they first came out. Ford, Chevy, and we bought our 1st gen cummins (1990). All pulling the same load on the same hill our first gen would be at the top of the hill while the other two were belching smoke and still only half way up the hill.
The trucks all had the fuel turned up, and we had gotten rid of that awful large exhaust housing at put a much better 12cm on wastegasted at a moderate 20ish psi. And both of those others trucks have been long gone, while our cummins keeps on ticking, 300k+, no blow by and surprisingly no engine replacement parts besides valve cover gaskets.
But this thread is not for debating engines, so back to the coolness of your build
What charger do you plan on using?
i don't disagree that the 5.9 could make more with some simple tuning it is a turbo diesel so more boost and fuel and there you go more power. i am not disparaging the 6BT at all its a great engine with a lot of potential and i love in-line engines more than V engines. however bone stock the 6.9 makes a tiny bit more lol. however it is limited by the lack of a turbo. as for the reliability the 6.9 was originally made for 2 ton trucks and combines before ford started putting it in pickups. i have seen some with over 500K still creeping along so thats kinda subjective i personally favor it. maybe some day ill win the lottery and get to go crazy with the mods. there is at least one guy i have seen on youtube that has taken one of these engines that far (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX2RvcdroIE). they sound incredible with a turbo and a strait pipe BTW (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP-uCabQbfQ)
I wouldn't be upset if that were fitted into my little Mazda, then again I tried similar before and ran out of money and time.
At work I daily a newer international, 7.6L 6cyl CDL flat bed, and on occasion I to drive the 9.3L tandem. International makes great motors.
Of course I still miss my 8.3L cat motor with the 2spd diff, that could accelerate uphill while fully loaded
I dream of owning an mechanical injection diesel V8...unfortunately the only ones I've seen in NZ are the infamous Oldsmobile LF9, 6.2s or the huge Cummins V504. In fact the other day I was astounded to see an 80s diesel Caddy in town
(07-27-2016, 11:09 PM)NZScott I dream of owning an mechanical injection diesel V8...unfortunately the only ones I've seen in NZ are the infamous Oldsmobile LF9, 6.2s or the huge Cummins V504. In fact the other day I was astounded to see an 80s diesel Caddy in town
(07-27-2016, 11:09 PM)NZScott I dream of owning an mechanical injection diesel V8...unfortunately the only ones I've seen in NZ are the infamous Oldsmobile LF9, 6.2s or the huge Cummins V504. In fact the other day I was astounded to see an 80s diesel Caddy in town
Have seen a V8.510 for sale yes, my grandad has an HJ45 with a tired engine so just thinking of options if I wanted another money pit lol
most of the older mechanical engines here are quite cheap. i paid 500 for the engine and trans off of craigslist it was in running condition too. and a total rebuild is about 1200 in parts. so it might be within your budget to import an engine if you saved up. that being said i don't know the legality of importing and using an engine never offered in an on-road vehicle there.
Legal yes. Probably just as easy to import the whole vehicle here actually. Engine swaps here are more about the safety side than emissions lol
i love these old 6.9's. i had a 85 with he old school banks kit on it and it was almost as powerful as my ex-wifes dads 99 7.3, and that factory DI and turbocharged. only thing is they had no wastegate and the egt's would get out of hand on a hill with a load. cant wait to see this thing finished. i do have the pedestal from that old truck i'd give to you if you pay shipping, bolts to the back of the motor with a t3 flange and have a spot for egt probe. I imagine your gonna do something better tho with you talking about building your own manifold's.