I have been slowly working on my 79 f-600 4x4. I am thinking of putting a 3208 cat diesel in it. I found a rusted out 76 f-700 locally for cheap with a very nice running engine in it, even has the factory reverse hood scoop. I want to put this engine in my truck, should be an easy swap since they are allmost the same truck.

My problem is the road speed of the truck, it has a direct drive 5 speed manual transmission. My truck has 7.17 gears, I have a parts truck that has 6.17 axles, that will help, I also plan to go from 9.00-20 tires to 11.00-20's. this will leave me at around 45mph at 2000 rpm. I'd like to run at least 55 with this truck. I know I can push the 3208 a little harder, but it seems to like running at 2k the best, and I don't want to kill it with the high rpm's. Any suggestions to get some more speed out of this? I thought about running 16.00-20 super singles, but that would take alot of lift and I'd like to keep it close to stock.

Also this engine is out of an air brake truck, I'm am thinking of trying to convert my axles to air brakes, or is there an air over hydraulic setup that would work?

Thanks for any help or ideas.

 

Converting to air brakes will be difficult.. Going to want a parts truck for sure..

Re-gearing will be expensive with the front axle. Best thing to do is probably find an OD trans, and put an od brownie behind it. If you do end up putting air in the truck you could use a double od fuller trans. That'll get you moving!

 

overdrive is kinda what I'm looking for, but not sure where to look and what will work. The truck that has the diesel has air brakes, so I can use all the parts from that truck as it is all in good working order. what did the double overdrive's come in?

 

RTOO fuller transmissions were probably most common in Peterbilts and Kenworths that were specd by whoever bought them. Kinda rare.. Easy to find if you've got about 4 grand.