How Reliable Is A '90 CTD W/O Intercooler?

[sweeks]

Need guidance on this one; I'm considering buying a '90 CTD with 144,000 miles. Since they didn't have intercoolers until later,is thi engine a problem waiting to happen? Are there other things you'd recommend I look for on a '90?Any comments would be helpful. Thanks in advance. Steve W.

 

[sweeks]

What's the deal? Are all the 1st generations up in Canada? Thanks,Bushwacker, I'll look for the sticker. Steve

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have the EARLY '91, which WAS non-intercooled, and has the 3. 07 differential (see sig). I haul our 8,000 lb. 5th wheel regularly, frequently in Sierra or coast range mountains. There was NO problem towing dead-stock, but eventually I added the Banks stuff for even better peformance, and the US Gear OD for better RPM management out on the freeways empty. The OD added 15mph to the original 80mph top speed, and the Banks stuff delivered the same 15mph speed increase on 7% grades - all in high gear with the original non-OD 3 speed 727 automatic transmission. You definitely DO NOT want steeper gears than 3. 07 in that '90, UNLESS you are planning on towing the maximum load up steep grades, otherwise the penalty when on the open road EMPTY will leave you at maximum engine RPM just to keep up with traffic!

One other item to be aware of, is that these early Cummins powered Dodges suffered from poor engine cooling when worked hard, the radiator is very marginal, and its greatest failing is that the water inlet and outlet are directly above/below each other, which allows coolent to "short cycle" - which results in poor coolent exposure to airflow. There are a couple of fixes for this, mine was to have a radiator shop install a diversion baffle in the top radiator tank to force incoming hot coolent from the engine completely ACROSS the top of the radiator - which has ended the tendency of my rig to run hot as it did before - addition of an aftermarket intercooler such as the Banks will noticeably increase cooling problems, so attention to cooling is a high priority.

My '91 has nearly 107,000 miles on it as described - not ONE BIT of trouble with it outside what's mentioned here, and it's easily the BEST truck I've ever had in my 64 years...

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Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

 

[Lil' Dog]

Gary, good idea with the diverter plate in the rad, makes good sense. With the OD unit, now you have a good range of gears, 1 more than the 5 spd LOL. Again with our climate we only have short stints of 80°+ weather and thats when the cooling falls short. I was thinking that only a rad change-out to a 91. 5+ unit would be the fix.

sagwagon, you will know the gears once you drive it. If it has a tach, at 60 MPH it should be around 1800RPM, with 4. 10 it would be around 2100 RPM. Other than that just keep a heads up #ad
for the obvious leaks that may slow you down, transmission, diff etc .

J

 

[sweeks]

Gary; Sounds like if the rest of it checks out and it's been maintained,the fact of it not having an intercooler wouldn't stop it from being reliable. I appreciate the info. Any other suggestions regarding things I should look for on this 1st generation truck? Thanks again. Steve

 

[Mr.B]

My father has a 89 ctd 4x4 auto with 4:10's. He bought the truck new and it has 260,000 miles on it now. He is a contractor and he drives it everyday (which frequently involves pulling a tractor that weighs 13,000 lbs). The only thing that has been done to it is a trans. rebuild at 100,000 and a new head gasket me and him put on it a 240,000 miles. I would definitely say its reliable.

 

[DJP]

The pistons in the early model (Pre 91. 5) non intercooled cummins will handle more heat than the intercooled (post 91. 5) model years. However, the pre 91. 5 model years had the 9mm injector ports in the cylinder head which are prone to cracking. My 89 has over 215,000 mi, and my head has not cracked yet, but I suppose my time will eventually come. As for EGT temps, I have seen 1400 on my pyrometer on a couple of grades during some very heavy towing, and have not seen any problems as a result of this.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, K&N, straight piped, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K and still going. 91 W-250 5 speed, 4. 10 Limited slip, 16cm2, 6" Skyjacker lift, RS9000, Dump bed, 18K original mi.

 

[sweeks]

Hey, DJP; With so much mileage on that '91, you need to sell it to me quick before it's all used up! Thanks for the feedback. I'm still a little hesitant in that I'm not the most mechanical guy in the world. Sounds like it's worth a looksee. Got a guestimate for a price on this 2 wheel drive reg cab? Steve

 

[Lil' Dog]

Problems????
IMHO look for a 5 spd with 3. 54 rears. The auto and the 3. 07's seem too steep for towing with only 3 speeds.
You can get some reasonable power with close monitoring without the intercooler. But if you are going to tow all the time, look for a 91. 5 and up with the intercooler or have one installed. I don't tow alot so the heat issue doesn't kill me. As for the engine, well its a Cummins... It lasts!!! They are a tough truck, no matter what anyone tells you, they just need TLC.
Good luck shopping, by now they are all going to have 150,000 and up with some hard miles on a few.
Let us know how you make out. Drop a line if you want more info.

J-eh

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Jason Hoffman
Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 5 Spd 3. 54 Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", BD Injectors, Banks Pyro/Boost, 3. 5" Exst tail section straight. E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, PIAA 80W/80W HdLites. 100W Drv,55W Fogs. 237,500 miles (380,000 Kms) 7850 Hrs.
Cummins Power Booster member.
The Original Turbo Diesel

Lil' Mack Pics

 

[sweeks]

Jason; I'm supposed to go see it tomorrow,has 144K, 5 speed,I doubt he will know about gearing. Says his father was the original owner, unfortunately passed away 3 years ago, says this is his daily driver. I'll just be hauling firewood, no heavy towing. Steve

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

If I'm not mistaken when you lift the hood there should be a decal on top of the grille sort of in front of the rad cap which will tell you your diff. ratios. Mine has it there I believe.
Good luck!

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93. 5 D250 4X4,HD Spring Pkg, Rancho 7000's, Rear Swaybar,Dual Shock Front Stabilizer,BD Injectors,31/2" Mandrel bent exhaust,16cm 'Hot End',Modest Pump Tweaks/Timed,K&N Air,Isspro Pyro,Tach,transmission Temp,Auto Meter Oil Filled Boost Ga. , 3:54's, 4 Speed Auto, Clubcab, Aftermarket Reclining Buckets w/ctr Drop Down seat/console, Black over Silver, 21psi,285-65R-16's,American Racing Clear Coat Mags, Amsoil 15W-40HD Marine,12,000 lb. Warn Winch,KC Spots. 97,000 Kms.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Somewhere under 10 grand, depending on condition...

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Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

 

[DJP]

Steve,
As matter of fact, I just sold my '91 W-250 today for $10,000. 00 cash. The buyer didn't want the 6" lift, so I put it back to stock height in exchange for the lift kit. I got it listed in the TDR classifieds. I rekon I'll have to modify my signature now.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, K&N, straight piped, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K and still going. 91 W-250 5 speed, 4. 10 Limited slip, 16cm2, 6" Skyjacker lift, RS9000, Dump bed, 18K original mi.

 

[sweeks]

DJP; I darn near cried when I read your post. Steve