Ok, I figured someone would beat me to it, but had to throw it out there just in case.

I do know in the late 60's, M&W made a turbo kit for the Ford 5000 (before Ford went ahead and made the factory turbo'd 7000 in '71), which was originally a 67hp tractor. I've heard of some people installing this kit and cranking the fuel til the little 256 would hit about 100-105hp. Not the smartest idea, but it netted results. The aforementioned 7000 is basically a turbo'd 5000 with a slightly beefier bottom end and some components better suited to a turbocharged engine. It was an 83hp tractor.
There were also small 3 cylinder diesels from 29-52hp, but again, these figures are all @ the pto and weren't tuned for "performance", per se.

Another candidate I forgot about is the 6.0L's little brother, the vt265 (I believe...it's a v6 6.0)...

 

5 cylinder MB with trans from a Sprinter. Sprinter bodies are not great, and there are a ton of them around. Not perfect, but at least it's road worthy vs. a tractor motor that is going to need some work and maybe a couple OD units to make road speed.....

 

I was kinda leaning more towards the "American made/parts availability" side of things. But the engines I listed off will spin around 2200-2400 rpm stock. The only thing you'd need to consider/change is that they're load governed instead of speed governed. I hadn't thought about mating it to a Trans, though. However, tractor rear ends are where the low gearing is...but how cool would be to have an 8 speed with a 2 speed power shift? LOL

But that international v6 I mentioned went in the little cab over box vans, very much like a sprinter (which was also a slick idea....very plentiful). The vt265 I saw had twin turbos on it!!!!

 

Tractor engines do not have enough power. And most of them are also setup for governor control. You have to do some fiddling with the injection pump to make them work on the road with a throttle control for a vehicle.

You could put a turbo on them, but they are still underpowered. That's one of the reasons the old Rangers and Escort diesels didn't last on the market. All those early diesels were considered slow, just like the old rabbits and others. My old 7.3 is a fairly slow truck when it's empty.

 

I definitely hear you on the "American made/parts availability" aspect, but it doesn't seem like there are a lot of light duty pickup-worthy options that are built here at home. Also, the VT275 is electronically controlled... Simplicity is definitely a pro for a swap like this into an older truck, and I myself would rather have mechanical vs. electronically controlled injection. Granted, possible...

That's pretty much what I thought as well. Good point with the governor control as well, I didn't think of that. While some people have to have the fastest truck around with smoke blowing out both stacks in the bed, some people like would rather have a good running economical workhorse of an engine. My SuperCab Longbed 4x4 F250 with the 6.9L got out of it's own way. No it wouldn't light the tires up, but lighting the tires wastes money anyway if you're using it as a truck not a toy...

 

True story ^

But you are right Franklin, a tractor engine would be kinda like a 300-6 in a one ton lol. But if I want a hot rod, I'll run a 460

 

I've been hoping for a tough little diesel powered truck for years.
Toyota sells their diesel Hilux in every market but North America.
I was even hoping the rough and ugly Mahindra would make it to our shores.

 

How come you want a little tough diesel powered pickup? is the 460 powered 3/4 ton not tough enough?

 

Exactly. Run big blocks for fun and let the Diesel get the work done. It's too bad they never built a Diesel based off of a 300. Before someone tries to get me... I said based off of, not out of. Haha.

They would probably sell like hot cakes. It's pretty ridiculous that we don't have a Diesel light truck option by now in this country. Well, I guess that's the reason for this whole discussion. Take a simple and tough Ford truck (not to mention one of the best looking ), and build what should have been for years. They're cheap, plentiful, and the newest ones have already been battle tested and proven for 28 years on the road.

There is another pro as far as the '80-86 trucks go... A lot more freedom as far as engine swaps are concerned. I know in this state of NJ, '96 and older Diesels are emissions exempt, and the last year of this body style is also a classic. I'm not suggesting just because it's exempt that it shouldn't run cleanly, but you don't have to deal with the all the new-fangled emissions systems.

That's this state anyway; California I'm sure you could take all the emissions crap off and tune something to run perfectly and pollute less then when it was new, but it will still fail.

 

Mitsubishi 4Dx engine a viable option, like out of a Fuso?

 

Matthew,
There are times I need to go to work and don't need a ton of stuff.
It would be nice to have double digit fuel mileage.
I think a small diesel could reliably get into the 20's

My truck is finally past emissions testing here in Connecticut.
I keep it because it is the very last of the non-computerized trucks.
The bricknose 'styling' has to be the most homely visages ever on the F-series. (IMO)
I don't think they're so plentiful anymore here in the salt belt.

But I like your idea and look forward to see how you figure it out!

 

I'm sure it could be done, or a UD/Nissan.

Remember how heavy these things are.
You don't want to have to go to a heavier front suspension and 8 lug wheels.

 

The Mitsu engine is about the same size at the 4BT and Isuzu. It is a perfectly fine engine but has even less support for swapping than the Isuzu.

 

 

That's cool and all, but I don't see how they are any quieter that a 4BT.

Good Ole boy is worried about the oil companies but is still buying diesel.
Maybe he ought to convert the gas engine to alcohol and run it on 'shine.