Gary Parsons cut holes in...
Gary Parsons cut holes in the bumper of his '89 F-350 for two reasons. One is for increased cooling and the other is so he has a handy place to step while working on his truck.
In times of uncertainty, it is comforting to know you still have the power to make your diesel truck last forever. But when talking about forever, it's important to realize there is a big difference between getting a vehicle to last a million miles, and just keeping it running for 30 years. Believe it or not, it's much harder to make a vehicle last a couple of decades than it is to turn a million miles. The reason for this is a vehicle needs to be driven in order to keep it in operation. You have to use it, or you lose it. If you're driving it, maintaining it, even breaking and fixing it year after year-you're going to get a lot more miles out of it than if you park it in your garage. Keep in mind though, you want to make sure your truck serves you, not the other way around. Sinking a ton of time and money into an expensive lawn ornament is not the goal.
Aren't Diesels Designed to Last Forever?
Engine manufacturers use probability to measure just how long they are willing to say their engines will last. Cummins says its 5.9L ISB series engines have a 350,000-mile B50 engine life. What that means is of all the engines it produces, 50 percent of them will still be running at 350,000 miles. The others will have needed major repairs. The definition of major repairs includes removing the oil pan or cylinder heads. According to International, the B (in B50) stands for bearing, since it was the bearing industry that first came up with this type of testing. The point is, every engine will need some major work at some point
It is a good idea for you too to set a mileage goal for your truck. Then once you've reached it, make sure to have an exit plan. Maybe you could give it to someone as his or her first truck, or you could keep it as a ranch or shop vehicle.
 It is important to have the...  It is important to have the know-how and special tools needed to get the job done. Here Parsons demonstrates how to adjust the timing on IDIs. To advance the timing, use a special tool (T83T-9000-C) and twist the injection pump toward the passenger side. Two degrees of timing equals about .030 inches of movement. On another note, that radiator is a custom Rodney Red unit made from aluminum. |  It is important to update...  It is important to update your truck so it continues to serve you. Parsons has done just that. Check out the Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive two-speed transmission. Also take a look at the Holley Red electric fuel pump. Parsons likes this pump because he says it lessens the risk of having fuel being dumped into your engine, which can happen when mechanical pumps fail. |  Proving you don't have to...  Proving you don't have to buy specialty tools, Parsons pulled out his custom-ground 9⁄16-inch wrench. It is used to loosen the fuel injection pump. |