l-8000 l-9000 conversion

[paulo g]

i have a 1987 short nose L8000 7.8l 270 hp 800lbs. there is a l9000 1982 short nose with a 3406 first gen 325hp 1000lbs.could the 3406 engine fit the L8000

[pbr man]

You need to check where your motor mounts are. The 3406 has the motor mounts on the bellhousing and in front of the harminic balancer.
I'm not familiar with the motor you are taking out so you will have to check the overall length and how it mounts. If you have the room, it is very easy to put the mounts in the frame for the 3406, just have to get the motor into place and mark and drill for the mounts.

Radiator hookups will have to be considerered. No after cooler on the 3406A so that wont be a problem



What tranny are you using? If the 3406 is longer than what you have now you just have to put a couple of bends in the shift lever or cut another hole in the floor to bring it up in the cab.

[nevrenufhp]

What's going to happen to the 7.8? Not many out there with the 270hp rating, that should up the price just a smidge.

[paulo g]

i dont have the engine with me. i live in montreal canada.the truck for sell is 300 miles from here. so before i go there i was wondering if someone has tried this before. my trans is a SAE 1 clutch housing RTO 6613.i know my diff ratios have to been droped to compensate for 1800 rpm cat versus 2500rpm ford but thats not a problem. my problem is i dont want to send 2200 dollars for the truck engine when it dosent fit or you have to cut crossmembers and adapt for fabricate parts out of nothing. if someone hase done or tried it or know someone who did or heard somthing like that and knows more than me and would like to share info .i would kiss your feet

[paulo g]

my full story is i bought an L8000 1987 with a 7.8l 270hp 10 wheeler in 2007.since the truck had a long frame i put a second steering axel becauce in quebec canada u are allowed to have a quad sterring ( 2 front steering axels single wheel but the second axel must be in contact with the floor at all times.) usa and ontario laws let u put a non steering double wheel axel that lifts up when u need to turn the corner. we here in montreal quebec are not allowed to have that. u can drive a americain truck here but cant use the solid axel on the floor. it has to be up so you become a 10 wheeler instead of 14. you cant carry as much and the extra weight just hanging there is weight you cant put in the box. 60000lbs max or 12wheeler 82000lbs.anyways i was looking at auto trader magasine and found a L9000 1982 6 wheeler tractor for moving trailers in a paper fatory. the truck never drove in the streets and is for sale 2200 dollers with a 3406 engine325hp and a 5 speed roxel trans .could that engine fit in my L8000 with little very few mods.the truck is 300 miles from here so i cant compare engine bays by telefone.has this been done or tried before. any info is good and would save me the trip and time and money and work if it just cannot be done.

[rbaker6336]

you will probly have to modify the doghouse and floorboard,the 3406 will have more inside the cab

[paulo g]

any website for L8000 or 9000 or heavy trucks becauce most truck sites is for pick-up. a pick -up is not a truck its a pick-up truck

[nevrenufhp]

There are a couple sites that have dedicated HD trucks in mind. Try largecarmag.com .
I would say to go for it, the L trucks are so much bigger under the hood than the F7-900s. If anything, you can pull the engine & trans, and make a profit. I would suspect having to re-do the accelerator linkage. The 3406 pump is on the driver side, while the 7.8 is on the passenger side. Since you have a donor, everything sould be there that you need. As said already, the mounts sounds like the big hurdle.

[paulo g]

yes the engine mounts could be a problem.i am checking that know.thank-you for fuel pump .i didnt think of that but the donor is there. my cross check truck is a kenworth c-13 and 18 speed box 2008. if measurments are standerd for all trucks or very little diference i'll take pictures and mesurments with me. i think the frame on a L9000 is wider from rail to rail or larger c form. clutch linkage is probaly off to

[Kenworth]

Hello frenchie

The first question is this Ford a LN model if so your going to have troubles. If the truck is originally a standard Lousville you should be okay.

Now first problem the 3406 your getting should be out of a L-9000 if not your in for some serious headaches. To make the engine tilt your going to need ALL the parts off of a 9000 Ford. To try shove a 3406B engine out of another truck ISN'T going to work.

To get a 400 Big Cam Cummins or a 3406 Cat under the hood of a L series truck the engine is tilted to the passenger side. The second problem you will have to cut a dog house into the cab it will stick inside the cab atleast 1.5 feet.

The transmission you will need to find a 12513 Road ranger 13spd the 6613 won't survive long.

For the amount of work your getting into its not going to be worth it. Especially on a old Ford.

If you want more power and want to keep the truck put a 300hp L-10 into the truck the L-8000 Fords came with them you don't have to tilt the engine. It will slip into your current truck with little modifications.

The other option which isn't the best but a 475hp 8v92 Detroit will fit under the hood of a L8000.

Good Luck

[rbaker6336]

Originally Posted by Kenworth

If you want more power and want to keep the truck put a 300hp L-10 into the truck the L-8000 Fords came with them you don't have to tilt the engine. It will slip into your current truck with little modifications.

I don't think an L-10 ever came in an L-8000,All I ever saw was 1145,1160 and 3208 Cat,653 Detroit,240 & 270 HP Ford engines

But even in an L-9000 except an LTL it's a pain to put a 3406 or big block cummins in a truck they didn't come in,been there done that

[heymrdj]

If the L9000 is in excellent condition, I'd just buy the 9000 outright and use it. If having the bigger engine is that important to you anyways.

[Kenworth]

The L-10s did come in the L-8000s they are not common but they are special order in the single axle trucks.

I like the old Louisville trucks I learned on a LTL tandem with the 1000lb hood man they are heavy. The old Louis with the short hood they turn good the only problem is with a 400 Big cam the engine is sitting beside you a little noisy and in the summer a sweat box.

In Montreal tandem tandems are really common more common than anywhere else in Canada. We can't use tandem tandems here you will never beable to get into our construction sites. There is one tandem tandem mixer in the area it can't get into anywhere.

[paulo g]

Originally Posted by rbaker6336

I don't think an L-10 ever came in an L-8000,All I ever saw was 1145,1160 and 3208 Cat,653 Detroit,240 & 270 HP Ford engines

But even in an L-9000 except an LTL it's a pain to put a 3406 or big block cummins in a truck they didn't come in,been there done that

what have you done ?

[paulo g]

Originally Posted by heymrdj

If the L9000 is in excellent condition, I'd just buy the 9000 outright and use it. If having the bigger engine is that important to you anyways.

its a 6 wheeler i want to put it in a 12 wheeler