With it becoming more and more apparent that the 390 in my 73 f-250 isn't going last much longer, I've been kicking around the idea of swapping it out for a diesel. Has anyone swapped in a non-turbo mechanical diesel (7.3 or 6.9) to their old Ford? I though about the Cummins, and it looks like a good motor, but I really want to run my NP435, and I haven't heard of anyone using the the Cummins with it. A ford diesel is a lot easier to find around here too.

I know theres a few problems I would have to deal with, motor mounts and radiator being the main things, but is there anything else that might get in the way? Other than my budget.

The primary reason I'm interested in a diesel is so I could run veggie oil (bio-diesel) I just don't see a gas motor making sense in today's world, the stuff is just too expensive. Why pay $3 or $4 a gallon when I can make my own fuel for $1 a gallon? There is the option of getting another 390 (or rebuilding this one) and running it off of propane, which might be a lot easier. I'll admit I don't really know what I'll be doing, I'm just seeing what my options are at this point.

Sam

 

My opinions only, just starting the conversation:

Compared to the 390, a non-turbo diesel is going to be a world of difference in terms of driving. And, worse, having owned a truck (the highboy in my sig) with a 435NP, you will need more gears than what is basically 3 with the 435NP. The ratio spacing was bad enough for a 360 or 390, but with the limited RPM range of a diesel, you're going to have a HUGE problem without a lot of low-end-torque. And without a turbo, that's going to be something to get used to.

Also, bio-diesel is a great thing. But do you have the TIME to devote to this? Sure it's only $1 a gallon. But how much is your time worth? And how much do you need to make REALISTICALLY? Make darn sure you research what it takes to make your own oil. AND - if you're in a cold climate, there is a whole bunch of other things to worry about - gelling, warming it, extra solvents in it, etc.

What do you use the truck for now? Daily driver? Or moving heavy loads mostly? What is your climate like?

 

Right now the truck is just a project rig, I'd like to build it into a work vehicle than can do whatever needs doing and tackle the logging roads on the weekends.

I live in Seattle, so the climate here is pretty mild. We had a "cold" snap, it got down to about 20 degrees for a few days.

I really do need to research the bio-diesel process a bit more, the equipment to refine the stuff might be a bit of a problem - as well as where to put it.

My plan for the np435 would be to pair it with a brownie box (auxillary tranny), and I've heard I could use a second np435 for that. One member on here set two 435's back to back, and it looked like a pretty nice set up. The first box faced the normal direction, and the other was turned around, so all the gears (except 4th) turned into overdrive.

Sam

 

I'm putting a 7.3 IDI into my 69 F250 in the summer, with a ZF 5speed behind it. There is no point to keeping the NP, really. It's not a lot of work to set up a master cylinder on the firewall, and 2wd ZFs are cheap since everyone wants a 4x4 one. You do have to cut into your firewall to use any of the turbo kits for those engines, though, since they run the downpipe behind the right side head.
There is a guy in the 67-72 forum that put a 6.9 with a turbo kit into a 67 F100 with a C6 behind it.

 

Ok, thanks! It's good to hear from someone who is doing it.

What is the powerband and drive-ability of a non-turbo diesel like? What rpm range are they happiest with? I'd prefer a non-turbo, just for simplicity's sake. I'm not concerned nearly as much with power as I am with reliability.

I'd probably have to change the rear gears as well, right? It's got 4.10 gears in there now, I think that's a bit low.

Sam

 

I just purchased a 87 F250 with a 6.9 diesel and I am very familiar with the processes to produce bio-diesel. The rear end ratio should be somewhere around 3.54. This is the second 6.9 I have owned. They are not the best diesels around but have a lot of advantages over gasoline engines. I have not looked into it but was told that they were restricted to keep from tearing up the light weight trucks. What I would suggest if you want to pull off a swap is find a truck as a donor that will have everything that you need,engine, rear end, radiator, exhaust,etc. that way you will not have to hunt for individual pieces. I am also a member of a diesel swap forum and am swapping a Cummins into an old Studebaker but I like Fords also. The Cummins engine came from a Ford bread truck so I am staying with Ford there and it will have Ford blue for the engine color. There are some hazardous chemicals involved in making bio-diesel but you could always just use straight veggie oil. Good luck with your project and I will be interested in the outcome. Glenn

 

sounds like an interesting swap

 

Done two couldn't be much happier.
I like the auto trans so not much help there.

 

I've done the cummins in to a small block F150 with a S5-42 ZF & it is going great

 

There is a really good thread on this site about a swap that you should check out involving a 4 cylinder Isuzu engine and a '60's model F100. He starts out talking about using a crown vic front suspension (thus the title of the thread), but he also talks about the engine swap. There's even a video of one of his early test drives. It's really a cool project.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/71...7-f100-80.html

 

Oops. . .the link got screwed up. . .

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...7-f100-80.html

 

Those are some nice trucks you have there! What kind of milage are you getting from them?

Sam

 

I'm a little disappointed in the 67 the 4.10s hold it back to 20mpg.
Keep in mind it more then doubled the powered.
The 74 makes 24mpg without an overdrive. We are really looking forward to putting a
E4OD in it.
We may just jump to a 7.3 power stroke with a E4OD.

 

24, now that's impressive! I didn't know it was possible to get that kind of mileage with one of these engines! I'm getting more interested! What did you do for engine mounts? It looks like both your trucks are 2wd, so is mine.

I've read about that f100 with the isuzu, and it looks like a really nice rig. That engine makes a lot of power for being a four cylinder!

Sam

EDIT: Never mind, I found the pictures of the engine mounts in your album. That is one nice truck!

 

The guys on "Trucks" are doing that ford super dually on the Dodge chassis. They spoke very highly of the inline 6 diesel that they are using. They did a few simple mods that increased their horsepower. It is a 1997 model. The engine is supposed to be very simple and easy to work on.