Hello I am new to this forum and I own a 77 f150 4x4. The PO had swapped a 460 into it in its early days and that motor is about done for. It also has a C6 and np205. Now I just bought an 87 f250 with a 6.9 with a turbo kit and a zf5 transmission and I plan on transferring the motor tranny transfer case and axles into my 77. Has anyone out there ever done this swap? Is there anything I should look out for before I start tearing the trucks apart and start the swap?


PS. I bought the 87 specifically for its motor and tranny. The body is beat up and a lot of the electrical is trashed but the motor runs great and tranny shifts smooth.

 

77 was a change over year for frame rail spacing, may have to adjust spring mounts. The only other thing is the hydraulic clutch and supporting the firewall, search some threads on the subject. Should be a straight forward swap, the idi and a manual trans is stone simple and tough.

 

Not sure, but if it *came* with a 6.9 and ZF, it may have a nearly obsolete clutch assembly. The 6.9 single mass 11" with a ZF is a rare setup, but you can bolt in the 12" DMF setup, or a 7.3 SMF fly/clutch assembly. I know some folks have redrilled the 6.9 fly to accept the newer style SMF clutch stuff too.

PS I'd take a close look at the TTB setup and have a good plan for how to swap it over. Obviously a 44 8 lug live, or a 60 would be easier. I don't *think* it's terribly complicated to convert the 44 to 8 lug, but if it's closed knuckle it might be nice to ditch it regardless.

Oh, and be aware that it is possible to bolt the 205 up to the ZF. The combined gear ratios won't be as great (2:1 vs 2.6:1) but you can twin stick and the diesel grunt will kind of make up for the close ratio diesel ZF that it probably has- 4:1 1/R. Obviously this can introduce driveshaft woes, and the IP of the 205 might need to be changed. I'm pretty sure the auto 205 gets the normal splines, but not sure if the count is right.

 

Not the exact swap, but I put a late 86 6.9 and T19 into my 79 F150 4x4. It was fairly straightforward, with a few exceptions. The main things I can think of off the top of my head that will need special attention (aside from engine mounting) are drive shafts, trans tunnel cover, body lift to clear valve cover (unless you hydroboost or can mount engine low enough), gas tank cleaning or replacement, and adding another battery if you don't already have two. There's a lot more to it than that, but those are the main things I can think of that can often be overlooked when planning.

Here's my build thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-pictures.html

 

Have you considered swapping the 77 body onto the newer frame? Almost seems to me like it'd be less fabbing.

Build some body mounts, figure something out for steering, brakes, and clutch (which you'll have to figure out anyway since you're going from auto to manual trans) and you'd have it.

Just a thought

 

I want to keep the body on the frame due to the 77 being a single cab short bed and the 87 is a supercab long bed. I plan on using this truck for camping off-roading and mild towing so I would like to keep the short bed for the off-roading aspect which will be the main use

 

I saw on there in the pictures that you have an aluminum radiator in there and I was wondering where you got it from? Did you have it made or order it from a website. I'm going to need a new one seeing *** the one I have on it now is pretty trashed and the one on the 87 is to wide and too tall

 

Here are some Photos of the trucks

 

I honestly can't remember where exactly I got it from, but it was online. It's a 3 row aluminum radiator though, for a 351m/400. It does a great job too. It's very similar, if not the same as this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-ROW-KKS-1968-79-Ford-F-Series-Bronco-All-Aluminum-Radiator-KKS433-/221760988596?fits=Year%3A1979%7CModel%3AF-150&hash=item33a1fc25b4&vxp=mtr
Yeah, I thought of using the diesel radiator but decided it would be more work than it's worth to get it all to fit.