Hi guys it's my first thread here so here we go. I'm looking into repowering my F350, yes diesel is a posibility, but I'm wondering if any one has thought about the newer modular engines? I'm thinking the 5.4. The issue I'm haveing is with the bell housing. I have a t-18 and wanna keep it. Thanks ahead for any help.

 

I think the 5.9L cummins/ZF5 trans is the way to go. They match up and you have overdrive.

 

Am currently wrapping up a 4.9 EFI/TFI swap into my 73 F250 Camper Special 2wd. Gone is the gas guzzling 390. Why the I-6? Ford put these in everything from bread trucks to the F600 over the years so it has been proven to produce enough torque for my needs (pull a travel trailer or car hauler). And the only way gas mileage could be worse than the 390 is if the gas tank sprouts a leak. It won't win any acceleration contests but it should pass many more gas stations than it did in the past.

 

I'm thinking fuel injection is gonna be way better than carb for more than just fuel economy. But it's also an F350 crew cab with an 8ft bed so it's no gas sipper any way. Any body hear good things about dt 360's. There is one for sale close by for a grand with 5 speed. Yes no maybe so.

 

I've never heard of anyone putting one in a pickup, though it may have been done. They're fine engines but they're also big and heavy and will present more of a mounting challenge than an engine that has been installed in pickups at the factory. The DTs mount like big truck engines. One mount on a crossmember under the front of the block, one on each side of the clutch housing the probably one over the top of the trans. However, the Cummins 5.9, for example, has mounting provisions on each side of the block which end up close to your current gasser mounts. Fitting an SAE clutch cover and the larger bellhousing under the front of the cab may also be difficult because of the size and shape. A body lift would help with that. I had considered a CAT 3208 for mine because I'm a CAT fan but it would have been an expensive one off custom with the same challenges I just described. Instead I did the Cummins/ZF5 thing due to the simplicity and what I found on fleabay and Craigs at the time. There's so much aftermarket support for the swap that it's getting to be like putting a small block chevy in a '32 Ford at this point. 6.9/7.3 swaps are easy to do also. Another thing to consider is the fact that you can get parts for the smaller diesels at any O'Reilly or Vatozone so you're not limited to heavy truck supply houses or the International dealer.

<a href="http://s742.photobucket.com/albums/xx65/Fordworth/1975%20Ford%20Highboy%20Cummins%20ZF5%20Swap/?action=view&amp;current=IMG_20110716_195407.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i742.photobucket.com/albums/xx65/Fordworth/1975%20Ford%20Highboy%20Cummins%20ZF5%20Swap/IMG_20110716_195407.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

Ok thanks for the info. I'll keep my eyes out for the idi's then. I like the cummins but it's all to common to find a cummins in a Ford and even other trucks. My father in law loves his 7.3. So I think I'm gonna try for a 6.9. I'm not worried about an overdrive tranny cuz its not a highway truck, And the t-18 is still tight. Thanks again guys

 

Do some searching on here and you'll find some guys who have done IDI swap and good info on how to go about it.