Hello everyone. I just wanted to post and introduce myself to the community. My name is Eddie and I love working on anything with an engine. My first truck was a 78 Ford Ranger 150. I got rid of it and regretted it ever since. My son is finally old enough and getting interested in vehicles. I picked up a 79 Ford F150 4wd. I love customizing and changing things. I also have a donor truck 86 f250 with the 6.9 idi and the 5 speed with a body that is just falling apart and rusted horribly. 120k miles on the drivetrain and frame is still really solid. Everything is fine on the 79 with the 351M in it and its an automatic. I am wanting to do one of two things. Transfer the entire drivetrain from the F250 to the F150 with or without axles depending on which are better, or swap the body from the 150 to the 250. I am torn and have recieved a lot of conflicting information as to which way would be easier and possible. I have a pretty well equipped shop and the knowledge to do either or figure out how to. I guess my main question is... Will it be easier to modify body mounts or motor mounts as all my research has basically brought it down to these two main points on the swaps. Anyone done the Motor mount fabs and have pictures as to what I am in for? With a complete donor truck here will I even need to fab them or can I use the ones out of the F250? Thanks ahead of time.

 

Welcome to FTE and wow what a project you have ahead of you, either route you take.

I have see a 74 reg cab body on a 01 ish running gear with a diesel, and the complete newer truck dash swapped over into the 74 and it all worked.

The biggest issue looked like the inner fenderwells and the hood hinges, quite a lot of work on the front end firewall, not to mention all the electrical issues.

Another thing to consider is one is a F150 radious arm/coil front suspention versus the F250 leaf spring front end.

I think I would go with a body swap and tackle the elec versus all the suspention mods.

 

Yeah the suspension on the F150 already has a 3 inch lift and is beefed up pretty good. I don't think the weight of the 6.9 will have much of an effect on it to be honest. That is why I am leaning towards putting the engine tranny and Tcase from the 86 into the 79. The suspension is pretty much done already. Yeah I figure its going to be a nice long project we are taking it to the frame and Blasting everything coating repainting etc. We are pretty excited. I just want to decide which frame I am using before I start tackling that lol.

As far as I knew the electrical for the IDI and teh 5 speed is nonexistent minus the injector wires and the glow plugs right? The older IDI's are like single wire start and go. Pretty sure all the speedo gears and cables etc will bolt right up and I plan on doing a custom gauge Sheet metal dash so it will have its own wiring harness essentially.

 

I think you will find that the diesel is heavier than you think and the F150 front end will not like it. Also think about fuel tank and lines, different axle newer brake line ends to older ends ?? Transfer crossmember and d/s length possible issues?

 

Yeah all that little stuff is pretty much why I chose to get a donor vehicle rather than just an engine or engine/tranny.

I plan on pretty much running all new fuel/brake lines etc while I have the body off and media blasting the frame. I wonder, are the fuel lines larger for the IDI over the 351M?

As for the front suspension, you are probably right. A buddy of mine put in a 460 which is about 100 lbs lighter than the IDI and his dropped a full inch or so over the small block. Add another 100 lbs to that and I would probably lose about 2 inches out of my 5 inch lift. That much pressure on the front would probably cause something to snap if I hit a bump to quick.

I will have to think about really upgrading that suspension possibly putting a 3/4 ton suspension under it. Thats why I love this forum. You guys are super helpful and get me thinking about things I havent thought about yet.

 

As fas as the fuel tank and lines, I think the only concern is there ability to pressure seal it since there is a lift/priming pump that increases the fuel pressure before it goes to the injector pump. Also look at the turbo down tube space needed.

Inter cooler rad is larger and might have to get tricky with its placement along with the plenum?? And is the water separator is on eng right? or fire wall?

Its been done just not to sure about how much in here but I am sure enough help to get thru it.

 

You will have to fab up the motor mounts, but it's not all that difficult.

When I did mine I used the towers off the 77, sectioned (narrowed) them to line up with existing frame holes, they also get shifted forward.
Once you have the 6.9 hanging in the frame (my vibration damper is abt. 11/2" off the front crossmember) you can figure the height and angle, cap them with a piece of 5/16-3/8 and your done.

A 460 weighs in around 650 lbs., the 6.9 comes in at 1000 lbs..

I have 2" lift Skyjacker coils on mine and when I set the motor down they didn't budge.
Been running a d44 front on mine for the past 7-8 yrs. with no problems.

Dennis

 

The 6.9 IDI in the donor I have is not a turbo. i may want to turbo it later though so yeah I better see how that is going to clear firewall and ac stuff etc.

The radiator support does trouble me but I figure if I need to I can track down a super cooler from a 460 to keep the IDI cool.

I have scoured this forum and countless others for information on this swap. I feel pretty confident on what I am getting into lol. That would be the first sign of trouble I am sure. My biggest question comes from the mounting of the engine, I am not sure if the frame in the 86 250 is the same width of the 79 150 and if I can just reuse the mounts in the 86 or not.

 

Thanks 77F250, I am glad that its not to bad to do the mounts. Any chance you have any pics of the mounts you fabbed? I am going to get the donor truck tomorrow and start tearing it down. My 79 is coming the following weekend. I am trying to make a list of everything I need off the donor. I dont have the space to have both in my garage and my neighborhood will pitch a fit if I park one outside.

 

Sorry, no pictures of the mounts, everything was clicking that day and didn't think to grab a camera.

When you get the truck take a look at the stock mounts on the 79 and you'll understand a bit better.

The fuel tanks will be fine, just clean them out.
You'll need a return line back to the tank, braze/weld a nipple onto the filler neck.

Check the clearance of the oil fiter to the pumpkin, you have a suspension lift so you might be okay, I went with remote filters.

Wiring is a piece of cake, just don't use the coil wire for the inj. pump, it's not 12v.
Glow plugs, I went manual, button on the dash to a starter solenoid to the glow plugs, simple.

Clearance is tight at the firewall and the radiator.

If your going to turbo it (highly recommended) the downpipe clearance between the motor and firewall is very tight, body lift or notch the floor pan.

If your going to intercool a powerstroke intercooler will fit.................
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Any other questions just let me know.

I'm guessing it was your son over on Oil Burners who contacted me ?


Dennis

 

Dennis,

Again thanks for the knowledge you are a wealth of it. I am sure I will be asking a lot of questions of you.

No my son is 10 I hope he didnt contact you . He loves lifted trucks and is pretty excited. As soon as I get the trucks here I will get some pictures posted of what I have to work with. I plan on using the fuel system from the 250 since it is already diesel then I don't have to worry about the residue.

I am curious if the gearing in the 79 rear end is the same as the gearing in the 86. I need to find out what axles are under the 86 to see if I can or should just swap the 250 suspension under the 79. Guess I need to do a little more research on this side of it.

 

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - emorain's Album: My Diesel Swap Project - Picture

 

Hey you guys, quick question. I got the donor and started looking at it. Should be pretty easy tear down from what I can tell. Was thinking though this IDI has about 120k miles on it but it is 25 years old. I know gas engines and what I do to them whenever I swap. Is there anything I should do to this IDI while I have it out. Should i tear it down and regasket it or anything? Not sure on these IDI's of just maintenance that is easier while its out. Thanks.

 

Well Just about ready to actually pull the 6.9 out of the donor. Man the rust I found half the bolts to pull the front clip off broke due to just being rusted. Hopefully will have the clip the rest of the way off tonight and be able to yank the engine/tranny tomorrow. Thats the goal anyway.

 

Ran in to some issues trying to get the motor/tranny/tcase out. The transmission cross member is so rusted in its rusted/welded itself in place. I can't break the bolts lose with a 4 ft breaker bar. Its soaking in pb blaster going to try to get it broke loose again tonight.