Hey guys, found a 1977 F250 for sale close to home with no motor in it. I was wondering what it would entail to swap in a 7.3 IDI? I know theirs a few guys on here that have done the swap and was hoping to hear from them.

 

Its not hard, there is plenty of room i know thats for sure....

 

It's actually a bit tight, since you have to have the oil pan above the steering linkage if it's a 2wd. If it's a 4x4, there's acres of room.
I'm wrapping up a swap involving a 69 F250 2wd, it's been a pain but it fits like it was meant to go in there. Details area bit harder, like the clutch master cylinder, throttle pedal, etc but not too bad.

 

i was under the impression John wouldnt have a 2wd lol.

 

haha dont go assuming things lol. Its 2wd right now, but I can tell ya it wont stay that way long LOL

 

ah,just keep looking for a 4wd.you'll be money ahead man.

 

hell you dont live in my area man. you dont even see ROTTED OUT 70s trucks around her, other than fully restored ones and they want 15 grand for those. I have a 79 F350 4x4 that i could take the necessary 4x4 parts from

 

it is due able if your going to 4X4...the only real issue would be your choice of trans...some may be using the c6 in married or divorced form dedepnding on the truck...some of the guys try to swap in the aod from the newer 7.3 idi...the np435 is strong and will work but that first gear will kill ya...i'm currently stuffing an 85 6.9 into a 78 supercab 4X4... used my np435 with an 83 manual linkage 6.9 bellhousing... the issue i ran into is the banks turbo setup and down tube...i either have to channel cab to clear the down pipe or a body lift....still debating on which...the oilpan and filter pipes all clear... i converted to an 80's cable gas pedal and fitted a 86 deisal van radiator....plans still include a zf-5 swap and an intercooler.. good luckk either way...

 

Is there room in those 70's Ford to run a van engine without swapping the drivers side manifold? If anyone knows....

 

if your talkin 460 or 6.9 they both fit...my 6.9 came from a 85 van, pulled it myself..my 79 f250 460ci mud truck ran van manifolds until i swapped in a 1971 460 with 70 dove heads and l&l headers...

 

Cause the IDI manifolds aren't the same, only the drivers side one, from a truck or van.

The truck one is aimed up to make room for the oil cooler to clear the engine cross member, while the vans have a "normal" looking manifold.

 

didn't kknow that my first idi is the 85 van one and i haven't finished the exhaust setup because of down pipe/cab interance issues..looks like it will all go in without issues....once i resolve the cab interferance issues...

 

They're all over around here. My F250 is one of the worst I've seen, and it just has a couple holes in the floor on one side, and some cowl rust. The bed is mostly gone, but that's because of a layer of plywood under a pile of leaves for quite a few years.

 

Depends on placement. But no matter how you go with it, i would not say there is "acres" of room. There are things that get in your way, aka the engine crossmember will hit the crank pulley, the head and bell housing hit the firewall. The front center section hits the oil filter, the starter hitting the frame rail. Factory AC box will hit the valve cover etc. My swap has a 2" body lift and the seam on the firewall was sitting ON the bell housing. Realistically though, it is not a bad fit once you find its "happy place". I can pull my starter without lifting the engine, and i used the factory exhaust Y. I made mine go in where it was as far back and down as possible. Im happy with how the truck handles and rides. Without 4"+ of suspension lift you will have to relocate the oil filter. If a little firewall work isnt a problem for you then there is room to work with, by firewall work i mean cutting and replacing, not BFH work. Especially in the bell housing area. Let me find a pic that might help you out.

Oh, and the PS pump pulley really wont like the steering box either. Iirc, the serp. setup would allieviate that problem.

 

Here you are, hope they help.