I have an 89 F-150 4x4 and was wondering what it will take to put a 7.3 liter diesel in the truck which currently has the 5.0 efi motor. What modifications/fabrication has to be done. I do realize that the trans and stuff like that would have to be swapped, but I would have all the 4wd parts, transmission, and motor from a 94.

Thanks

 

front suspension, leafs, morotmount, fuel lines and tanks. It isnt that difficult of a beast as it is mechanical but when you do it, i would go with ripping the gauges out and just going all mechanical in a custom setup. There will be lots more than i mentioned but overall it will work, just beef that front up due to the engine weight.

 

why dont you fix up the 94

 

I might do that but the 94 has been sitting a while and is only a single cab long bed. The 89 is an extended cab long bed (which better suits my needs). Are the frame dimensions/thickness the same for the 1/2 vs 3/4 ton trucks?

Thanks

 

No I'm pretty sure they are not the same frame

 

The frames for the 3/4 ton and 1 ton are the same (from what I've read), but the 1/2 ton is quite a bit lighter. You can beef it up if you have a welder and cutting torch (or better yet, a plasma cutter). Just have to reinforce and box the front half of the frame with 1/8" plate steel. Beef up the springs, swap the motor mounts, etc.

The problem it that the 6.0 / 7.3 motors tip the scales at right about 1000 lbs - pretty close to double what the V8 gasser weighs. The frame and suspension are going to need some help to handle that much extra weight...