Hi guys and gals,I am a new guy on this site but have been building and racing Fords for over 30 years. I am looking to move back to Arizona and get a Ford pickup project. I am leaning toward a 1972to1978 Ranchero (full frame) or my second choice is a '80's Ford F-150 Short-Bed.
I'd like to drop in a 7.3 Power Stroke mated to the 6.9's C-6 trans which will have a Gear-Vender O/D unit installed in place of the tail-shaft. If the 7.3 power stroke is to wide to fit between the shock-towers of the Ranchero then I'll go to plan B the '80's F-150. I know thanks to a guy on Ford Barn that the 6.9/7.3 frame mounts will fit the F-150 frame and the F-250 front coil springs will fit the F-150 too. What I need to know is does anyone make a wiring harness to to fit the 7.3 into a non computer truck??
I plan on running the tow rig on homemade Bio-Diesel

 

I'm aware of a couple of 6.9 and 7.3 IDI's that have been swapped into late 70's half tons. Never seen a PSD swap tho. I would assume you would need a donor truck as you would likely need the entire wiring harness to include the dash gauge cluster and the assorted control modules.

Powerstroke is nearly 1000lbs wet. Roughly 400lbs heavier than a 460. Taller and wider too. Probably would have to cut the shock towers and box a Ranchero

I love the idea! But probably a great deal of tedious work.

Welcome to FTE!!

 

Thanks Scott,
I don't want a lot of work redoing the Rachero so I'll switch to plan B and locate a good Rust Free F-150 Step-side and drop the Diesel engine into it. If I can't find an aftermarket wiring harness I'll still to a 6.9 or 7.3 non Power Stroke.
? How much smaller is the 6lt power stroke? I ran into a place in Arizona and the only thing they do is rebuild them and fix all the stock problems. They give a 12month unlimited mileage warranty and the long block was $4800.00

 

The PSD swap can be doen into older chassis trucks, in fact there are several guys on here that have swapped one into a 70's vintage truck. However, the consensus is that the easier thing to do is to take a 3/4 or 1 ton chassis and put the older body on that chassis. The 3/4 ton frame is a lot more stout and holds up better to the abuse that a PSD power plant can generate, plus then you can maintain a lot of the same heavy duty features of the beefed up design, and then set the body of your choice onto the frame. Putting a 1000 lb engine that is capable of over 1000 lb/ft of torque with the right mods into a 1/2 ton chassis just doesn't sound like a great idea in my opinion. A far better alternative would be an F-250 frame and rolling chassis with an older body on it.

I won't lecture you on your choice of transmission, but a well built E4OD is, in my opinion a better alternative to the C-6. You could still do your O/D unit if you like and have a double overdrive. Nothing against the C-6 but the E4OD was designed to work with the PSD and its computer and the integration with the electronics of a PSD rolling chassis would be a lot more seamless.

At any rate, this sounds like a fun project! Welcome to the site and good luck!

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but a member with SOMETHINGhighboy put a PSD in his highboy...
I dont know if that is his exact Screen Name, but something close.

Maybe ask him his opinion!

And again Welcome!!!

These guys will help you spend your money... trust me.

 

not quite.
there is no such animal as a "79 highboy"
the last year for the "highboy" pickup was 75 i believe

 

Yeah My bad Tom.
I am just trying to recall another member who is around sometimes in this section and he has "something"highboy as his name and he put a PSD in that highboy.

or maybe it was DIESELhighboy...
IDK Im still on my first cup o joe

 

His username is 1973dieselhighboy. I think he put a '96 PSD into his '73 Highboy F-250. I can't seem to find his build thread though...

 

Thanks for the correction fellas.
Was just trying to give him a referance.

Doesnt work well when you dont know who the referance is exactly lol

 

WOP F150


WIDEOPEN PERFORMANCE TS 2011 - YouTube

 

Somehow I doubt that's what the OP had in mind, lol. But nice for sure!

 

Actually its 76...

 

Thanks for the info. I'll stick to the C-6 as it is a very good 3 speed transmission and with a Grear-vender unit added to it you have a bullet-proof tans with a bullet-proof O/D unit that you can tow in O/D all day long. Plus with the Gear-vender you can split your gears and end up with a 6 speed transmission. Makes for a great way to keep the engine in it's power band for great mileage.

 

Is there a way to mate up the electronics you will need for the pcm from the C6?

 

since there are no electrics on a C-6, the answer to your question is no, you can not hook it up to the PCM.
you would need to use a manual trans PCM.