body swap or engine swap?

The13thPlumber · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2004, 03:48 PM

I have a '77 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive that I love but I want a diesel for long distance towing. what I would like to do is put my '77 body on a '96 (power stroke) or so ford 3/4 or 1 ton diesel chassis. Is this a fisable thing to do or would I be better off swapping in the diesel eng/tranny/rearend and all the related wireing into my '77.? Eitherway I will have both complete trucks at my disposal. I love the styling on the mid 70s truck and think they were the best ford ever had. that is why I want to retain the '77 body if at all possible.

I have already learned a lot from this site and I know I will get straight answers here. I have thought about this for a long time (gas or diesel) and have decided, after reading many threads here, that I want a diesel so I would appreciate any info you guys care to give. thanks
Mike

fordman428 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2004, 06:09 PM

i think i would go with putting a diesel in your 77 heres a website you can find the info to do it www.fordcummins.com

ejustin3724 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2004, 10:05 PM

I think you would be better off putting the body on the newer chassis. I'm really don't know the newer trucks that well as far as how they look under the hood. I would say mesure twice or three times.
Let us know what you deside. Sounds fun!

Torque1st · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2004, 10:09 PM

I think it would be easier to put the body on the chassis but the wiring changes would be tremendous going either way.

The13thPlumber · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2004, 10:38 PM

I agree that the wireing would be the worst part but it shouldn't be too hard if I had everything from the donor truck and good wireing diagrams. basically , it would just involve mounting the new sensors and hooking them up and then splicing the existing lights, etc in as I see it. i realize I will have to run fuel return lines and things like that.
I am not up to speed with the newer models but what i really want to do would be change bodies if the frames were fairly close to being the same. I've heard the front end could be a problem from doing a search but no specifics were given. What ever happens, I will be taking pix and keeping a log for future use (tech article?)
Mike

good 'ol ford · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2004, 12:13 AM

sounds like fun. keep us posted ive thought about doing the same thing to my truck but i think it would be easier to put the motor and drivetrain in the exsisting truck