I recently sold my '72 GMC and bought a '93 W250 Cummins with 150,000 miles on it. The body is junk but it has a really nice flatbed on it. I have a line on a NICE '75 F250 Extended cab a/c pickup with a 428 (for use in the '66 ). I would like to have a 4X4 Ford cummins. Would I be better off to use the Cummins frame/drivetrain and ford body, or stuff the cummins in the ford and convert it to 4 wheel drive. I want to do this the best/cheapest/most reliable way.

 

just put your 75s body on the other truck there is no reason to try and convert if you already have what you need already done good luck

 

I looked at doing the same thing(93) with my 72 crew on the ex cab chassis. After taking some measurements that project was going to take alot more work than just putting the Cummins in the Ford frame.

Check your wheelbase. Your donor frame would have to be right or at least close.

 

It doesn't matter as much because I have a flatbed that could be slid forward/backward.

What was the next difficult thing? body mounts?

 

Body mounts, length of front end, etc. can all be tricky.

It will be fab work either way but my guess is the body swap can be MORE work.

Here's a dentside body on a '94, longbed dodge frame. The guy had to stretch the hood and fenders to make everything fit. Much more work than just swapping the motor IMO. Then again - I HATE bodywork!

 

Stuff it in there? you haven't seen your engine bay have you
The 5.9 has plenty of room, no reason to STUFF it in there.

 

So why can't the body be set over the cummins if I have to make my own body mounts anyway? I just have to position the firewall close to the motor, don't I?

 

yeah - if you're going to make all the body mounts, etc - you can put it wherever you want it. But, that's as much if not more fab than just swapping the motor in.

Plus you might run into some floorpan or firewall fitment issues. Can't say this will be a for sure thing, but guys putting the 70's body on 80's/90's frame have had to do a big body lift or some floor cutting to get the body to sit.

 

IIRC the dodge frame was about 4 inches narrower than the Ford in front of the firewall. The benefit of the frame was it is massive compared to the CC

 

Length is the issue. In order to get the Cummins in, the firewall commonly has to be relocated just a little to accommodate it and keep a working mechanical fan.

 

I can definitely be done without "relocating" any firewall

 

I'm thinking that any mods required to put the Cummins in the Ford frame are all in front of the firewall other than a trans CM. If I put the crew on the dodge frame....pretty much nothing will fit the entire length of the truck. Hmmm.

When the Cummins does finally get pulled from the donor I will reevaluate the sitchiation. Plenty of bodywork for me in the meantime.

 

Scot has done several refits, this one is done in a 78 super cab. 1978 Ford F250 4x4 - '78 F250 SC Cummins

 

Might as well throw a link to mine up too.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-crew-cab.html

 

Ditto. I made no alteration to the firewall whatsoever.

The engine will fit but it winds up in one place, due to its length and width.